Getting Up-Close with African Creatures at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

In search for a true African safari adventure? You need not go to Africa. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at Lake Buena Vista Florida with its recreation of Africa's peaceful, gentle wildlife plains can certainly mesmerize hotel guests as they look from their balconies African creatures playing, grazing, and foraging in the savannahs.

However, lots of thanks go to the Wanyama Safari because now concierge-level/club-level guests can have an up-close and personal look at these wild creatures in this tranquil animal sanctuary.

Three nights a week just before the sun sets, animal lovers flock outside the lodge (with 1,293 rooms). A guide readies the adventure seekers for a customary game-viewing safari. A vehicle especially made for this North African safari experience is capable of carrying 14 persons.

The vehicle travels through the Uzima savannah, one of the three scenic savannahs that surround the magnificent hotel, as guests get engrossed in studying the plain. Two female reticulated giraffes originally from Northern Kenya momentarily stop grazing and move closer to the vehicle as they strike a pose for the guests' videos and cameras. Safari-goers are really going to treasure this experience with the world's tallest mammals.

This is what the safari's animal curator, Greg Peccie, has to comment about the recreation of Africa's wildlife and free-roaming environment: "We wanted to give our guests a close look at our animals, understand how we manage the animals and offer a glimpse into the training of the animals."

A dwelling to over two hundred exotic birds and mammals, the lodge's savannah is a salad bowl of African wild with Eastern white pelicans, African spoonbills, impala, spiral-horned antelope, wildebeest, zebra, greater kudu, bongo, and much more. Even the blue crane, which was once classified as an endangered species and South Africa's national bird, belongs to the collection.

According to Peccie, the real challenge for the keepers of the safari was how to choose the right animals and how to introduce to these animals the new environment so that they can adjust well in it.

To top whole safari adventure, a traditional South African "sundowner" completes the event. Delectable dried beef, freshly squeezed pineapple or guava juice, and nuts and figs are shared among the safari-goers in that momentous ritual.

Then, the guests head to Jiko - The Cooking Place, the lodge's signature dining place for the next part of the expedition. Flavorful South African dishes are served to the excited guests. The restaurant is filled with the aroma of grains and spices from different African regions.

A basket full of African dips and delicious kalamata olive flatbreads starts the feast. Afterwards, beef rolls spiced with cinnamon, lentil pastilles, plus maize tamales with white truffle oil and herb are served. Do not miss the entrees of roasted garlic and olives, roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, and oak-roasted and chermoula-basted beef filet all served in family-style. Each of the courses are accompanied by famous South African liquors and lovable desserts.

Disney Animal Kingdom offers the Wanyama Safari to all concierge-level clients thrice a week (MWF) at 4 in the afternoon. This 3 ½ -hr. adventure costs only $160 for adults and kids above 10 years old while $80 for kids 8 to 9 years old. A limit of 14 people allowed for each tour.