Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge have an opportunity to participate in a very fun and educational activity – the Night Safari. On our recent trip, we were staying at Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge, so I was able to book the safari. I am happy to report that it was a spectacular experience.
When I made the reservation, I was told to check in at the podium at Sanaa restaurant, which is located at Kidani Village. We checked in at 9:45 and were given rubber wristbands. The Cast Member told us to put them on the lights nearby so that they would “charge” – they were glow-in-the-dark bracelets. Our guide showed up around 9:55, and after retrieving our bracelets and putting them on we were on our way. Including my mom and me, there were nine of us participating in the safari that night.
We boarded an open-air truck (similar to what you’d ride for a hayride) that was plenty big enough for our small group. Our guide introduced our driver and then gave us some basic information about the tour. As it was very cold that night, there were blankets under the seats that we were able to use to cover up.
Once we were on the Savanna, we were given night-vision scopes and our guide quickly pointed out some animals and told us about them. They were very easy to see with the scopes, and it was amazing to be so close to them without a fence or cage. We stopped to view them for a few minutes, and they didn’t seem to mind the truck at all. Our guide commented that it was because they sometimes associate the trucks with food. Our guide also showed us how to take pictures (without flash) through the night vision scopes. Unfortunately, I only had my cell phone and the pictures didn’t come out too well.
All in all, we stopped several times throughout the course of the hour and saw many different animals. The one thing we didn’t see were the giraffes. They were in the barn because of the cold. Our guide told us she had a surprise for us – we were going to go into the barn to see the giraffes up close! That was incredible. Once we were done with the giraffes it was time to head back. The hour seemed to fly by.
The Night Safari is offered every night from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m, and reservations are required. Full payment is due at the time of booking, and the cost is $70.00 plus tax per person. Children must be at least 8 years old, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult participant. Call 407-938-4755 for reservations.
I’m definitely going to do this again, although I think I’ll wait until it’s warmer. Have you experienced the Night Safari? Be sure to share your experiences in the comments or join our Facebook Group Magical DIStractions and tell other DIStracted fans your tips for a great safari!
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