The Promise of Spring: Flower & Garden Festival 4.0 -- A Cam and Luke TR COMPLETED 8/27 About This Page:

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by Roxie2006

I love the picture you took of the White Cheek Gibbons with Kali Rapids in the background, that was awesome timing!!!! We all take that MJT with excitement to see who might be the first to find whatever might be in that Exhibit. AK is my favorite Park.

I didn't notice until I had uploaded the gibbon photos to the computer that I had actually captured one of the Kali River Rapids rafts. I was so focused on the apes that I was oblivious to the water.

Originally Posted by dj1028

Wow, sensational animal photos...especially the elephants!

Thanks! It was so fun to be up close to the elephants so that I could get some awesome photos.

Originally Posted by lindawdw

I loved all your animal pictures especially the Lion Tailed Macaque!!! The birds are always one of my favorite parts of the trail. Your artsy pictures were frame worthy.

I had to act quickly to get the photo of the lion tailed macaque as he was on the move. I just showed Luke the black & white photo today and he was amazed. Maybe I do need to frame some of those.

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by purplegal

I could spend hours watching the gibbons, you captured everything so beautifully.

I could, too. They are such playful and fun creatures. Thanks!

Originally Posted by KMB733

Great shots from the Jungle Trek. The Elephant tour sounds amazing and at that price, a really great value! I love all the pictures of those beautiful giants. Baby Stella is so cute!

Thanks! Since it is so reasonably priced, I'd encourage anyone who loves getting closer to the animals to take this tour.

Originally Posted by DMA

Great pictures of the animals along the Jungle Trek!

Thanks!

[wheezie]

Such great photos of the elephants! That tour sounds like so much fun.

[SuperDave]

Great photos from MJT and you timed it right as there was so much animal activity!

[Colexis Mom]

Well that was an amazing tour! Love all the pictures from AK!

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by wheezie

Such great photos of the elephants! That tour sounds like so much fun.

I would do this tour again in a heartbeat. it!

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Great photos from MJT and you timed it right as there was so much animal activity!

Our timing was really good for the trek. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Well that was an amazing tour! Love all the pictures from AK!

Caring for Giants is a great addition to AK.

[Cam22]

NEXT: l See Giraffes and Gorillas in My Future

Day 8 Part 3 Thursday, May 4, 2017


From Maharajah Jungle Trek we made our way over to Kilimanjaro Safaris as we were now in our FastPass window. Before entering the FastPass queue, we stopped at Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery to pick up a Coke to share. We resume our journey to KS and were soon in the FP queue. I had grand expectations for our trek after two wonderful back-to-back safaris a few days earlier. And I would not be disappointed. Up first were the Greater Kudu. The first to appear was partially hidden by a fallen tree, but the next one almost seemed to be posing for me.





Right after the kudus were the Eastern Bongos, and again they were larger in number than we have remembered from past trips. They were also still grazing close by the trail so it was easier to get photos of them.









On our previous safaris this trip the rhinos, both black and white, had been elusive. Usually at the start of the safari there is at least one nestled up against wall napping, but we hadn’t seen that one yet this trip. Today, he was back in his usual spot enjoying an early afternoon siesta.





Our truck now meandered along the trail, arriving shortly at the ponds where hippos can be seen. A bloat of hippos was enjoying their submersion in the pond. It was again a very hot day with a high of 91 degrees. I didn’t blame the hippos at all for staying underwater as much as possible.



As if you all didn’t know, a baobab tree stands on the right side of the trucks right at the point where the trail leads downhill toward the savanna.





As we entered the savanna, the wildebeests or gnus were grazing as a herd along the trail.



And then a tower of giraffe came into view. Disney has really made this area so much more exciting with the inclusion of so many giraffes. Or at for me, it is more exciting. A trio of three were sitting calmly in the grass so close that trucks moved slowly and folks could get lots of photos.









Then another four giraffes, including two of the youngster were standing among the trees.







By the time our truck came around to the other side, three of the standing giraffes were heading off deeper into the savanna and its sheltering trees.



I managed a close up of the one giraffe who remained standing among the trees at the trail’s edge.



I even got the seated giraffes from another angle, and then the giraffe from the above close up began to walk off in the directions that the other giraffes had taken.





But the seated giraffes, well, they continued to just seat there. I find that in extreme heat I don’t really want to move much either.





As we turned further into the savanna, a single giraffe decided to stand right next to the trail and didn’t appear to be concerned about moving. Of course, I enjoyed the opportunity to take photos up close. So beautiful!









The Ankole Cattle who used to earlier in the grasses of the safari now appeared, partially hidden by grasses where they were grazing.



The next shot is back toward the area where some of the giraffes used to hide out. It is also the entrance for them to the giraffe barn backstage.



Our truck had made its way to the elephants, but we didn’t see much activity. I was very pleased we’d done the tour earlier or I might have been disappointed to only get one elephant photo.



Then we were driving by more Ankole Cattle.





Here’s another of the baobab trees on the African savanna.



I was happy to see at least one white rhino out, even he was only napping just like his cousin the black rhino.



Speaking of napping, Mr. Lion was conked out on his rock.



The zebras were up, and about and if you look closely, Somali Wild Ass. I even got another angle on the white rhino as he was still napping, not even twitching an ear.









As our truck breezed by the last of zebras and asses, we noticed two ostriches, one up on the embankment and the other smack dab in the middle of the road. Our truck had to come to a complete stop as did many more as they lined up behind us. Interesting road block, indeed! Our driver radioed to the keepers about the situation three different times as the ostrich would begin moving and we’d inch ahead only for him to stop again right in the road. Then the one on the sidelines decided to move keeping parallel to our truck. Eventually, a keeper arrived and managed to get the wayward ostrich up further into the greenery well out of the way of the safari trucks.

















Because we were the first truck to arrive back after the ostrich incident, I was able to get a photo of some of the theming at the drop off for guests.



Since Gorilla Falls is just a quick turn off the exit for Kilimanjaro Safaris, we decided to explore the area. Honestly, I didn’t take a single photo until we got to the gorillas themselves. It seemed the heat at most of the creatures hiding. We would catch a glimpse of a meerkat before he dived into a hole and that was it. We could hear lots of oohing and aahing come from the glassed in area, and I had a feeling the boys were out playing again. They had a ball and a green bowl they were fascinated with.













Mom was napping with her feet propped up on the glass.



The next couple of photos are of Lilly who does not look like a baby or toddler anymore. But she is still so sweet.





The boys again.



Only one male was visible in the bachelor area, and he was partially hidden.





As we were searching the bachelor area for anymore males, Luke noticed this theming atop the cliff in this part. We don’t remember noticing this before, probably as we were busy watching the gorillas.



NEXT: A Show, Ice Cream Cones, A Yeti, and Apes

[SuperDave]

Great photos from KS and you have certainly hit the goldmine with the animal photos with KS this trip! That was too funny with the ostrich as he might be saying, "This is my territory, not yours and I'm not moving for anyone!"

[rhinohunter]

You got some good shots of the giraffes and the ostrich in the road. Too bad it was not the giraffes walking down the road. Your shots of the rhinos are the same as most of my shots. Occasionally I get them up walking around.

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Great photos from KS and you have certainly hit the goldmine with the animal photos with KS this trip! That was too funny with the ostrich as he might be saying, "This is my territory, not yours and I'm not moving for anyone!"

I did get very lucky with animal photos this trip. That makes me a happy girl!

Originally Posted by rhinohunter

You got some good shots of the giraffes and the ostrich in the road. Too bad it was not the giraffes walking down the road. Your shots of the rhinos are the same as most of my shots. Occasionally I get them up walking around.

I know those rhinos are rather lazy.

[chezp]

Oh my, what wonderful photos you got of all the great animal activity!

[Tara O'Hara]

Great photos from KS, especially of the giraffes!! I love those little gorillas as well!!

[DMA]

Wonderful photos of all the wildlife, but oh my, The giraffe photos are amazing!

[purplegal]

What awesome photo's, you had another great safari. I love the gorilla's its one of my favorite animals, well next to tiger's.

[Disney Fan 52]

Good pics !