Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safari

Psst.. did you miss checking up on us over the weekend?  Click here to see our review of Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurants, Jiko & Boma!

Going to Animal Kingdom?  Here's my advice:

1. If you're in a Disney resort, take advantage of the extended park hours (check which day AK is open early) and get there as soon as the gates open.
2. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, and do not stop and get a churro.  Go directly to the Africa section and get in line for the Kilimanjaro Safari.  Later in the day, the lines for the safari can last well over an hour, and the animals are said to be the most active in the morning.
3. Bring water and sunblock so you don't die, because pretty much everything at AK is in the sun, and HOLY HECKFIRE IS IT HOT.

See all those folks?  We were all fresh off of the Animal Kingdom Lodge shuttle bus, and every single one of them had the same idea we had - straight to the safari!

You mean I can't jump out of the jeep and get right in the face of an African Lion while squeaking a toy duckie to "get the shot"?  Darn.

Front row - oh yeah.

Here's a few photos of some of the furry, scaly, and feather-y creatures we saw.

Okapi... I just call them zebra-butts.  Seems to work.

Mmm.. breakfast.

The safari vehicle in front of us.

Pink-backed pelicans.

Hippos.. doing what hippos do.  Chillin out, bobbin' around, lookin pitiful.

Nile Crocodile.  Crikey!!

"Hmm...perhaps I'll have a nice drink."

"Ok, let's think about this.  Maybe if I.. ok, I'll just bend my knees like this.. then crouch, then bend my neck in half and.. oh dear, there goes my back.  Now I've done it."

The reticulated giraffe was also having himself a drink.

Do you know what makes a reticulated giraffe different?  The darker parts of his coat are larger, and the white borders are very thin.  I never knew that!

Wildebeest.  Someone warn Mufasa in case these things start to charge!

Big-horned Bull.  A most appropriate name.  Those horns are... big.   Matt named him Lance.

African elephant flappin' his ears at us.

Flamingos doing what they do best.  Showing off their skinny legs, flexibility, and unmatched balance.

This guy's name is Dexter.  Why is his name Dexter?  Because OUR Dexter lays around like a big pitiful meatloaf just like this.  So.. say hi to Dexter.

African lion, king of da jungle.. doing what kitties do.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"You bore me.  I haven't the time for this."

"Off with their heads!"

"Urp.. nevermind."

We saw ostrich eggs scattered around in several different places.  Apparently the other animals tend to leave them alone!