WDWNT got to participate in a special Kilimanjaro Safaris ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with one of Disney’s animal care managers.

Special Ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris

Animal Care Manager Robyn, who has been part of the Kilimanjaro Safaris animal care team for 11 1/2 years. She talked about how the environments and habitats of the ride contribute to the storytelling.

Just like on a regular Kilimanjaro Safaris ride, Robyn shared fun facts about the different animals. For example, okapis were first seen in the wild in 1901, the same year Walt Disney was born. Robyn expanded on these details to talk about the Species Survival Plan and working directly with the animals.

Walt Disney World has expansive backstage facilities for taking care of the animals. The hippos are trained to hold their mouths open for exams and even teeth brushing.

“One of the really interesting things about working with animals every single day is that they can do what they want to do,” Robyn explained, “and it’s our job to cater to them to make sure that they have the best experience, the best welfare, the best change in their environment as
it makes sense for their natural history.”

The habitats are built to be dynamic, appropriate, and fun for different animals. The team rotates animals between habitats built for them, which means guests returning to Kilimanjaro Safaris might see different species.

If you’ve been on Kilimanjaro Safaris before, you probably know the lions spend a lot of time sleeping. You’re most likely to see them active and roaring in the early morning. But Robyn also shared that they like to climb when it’s raining, so if you ride during a stormy afternoon, you might see them high up on the rocks.

Hear more interesting details about Kilimanjaro Safaris in our video of the ride below.

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The post PHOTOS, VIDEO: Special Ride with Animal Care Manager on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom appeared first on WDW News Today.