Guest Blog: Wild Africa Trek

Hamjambo, everyone! Shawn was kind enough to turn his blog over to me, DisneyLaurel (his lovely wife and partner in loving all things Disney Parks), today so I could share my perspective on a new and very exciting offering at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: The Wild Africa Trek.

You’re probably wondering why, since Shawn himself has a long history with Disney’s Animal Kingdom (abbreviated as DAK from here out) that pre-dates the park’s opening. Well, from 2008 to mid-2010, I had the pleasure of being part of the DAK leadership team. As such, late last spring I was given an opportunity to get a close look at something being considered for the park - a new type of tour that would be unlike any other at Walt Disney World. Part Adventures by Disney, part animal encounter and all Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Of course, that tour concept evolved into what is today the Wild Africa Trek.

Laurel with a group on a test run of Wild Africa Trek last week. Included in this group was Dr. Anne Savage (green windbreaker), Disney's Senior Conservation Biologist, well known for her work with cotton-top tamarins.

What I experienced that spring morning is pretty darn close to what you would see today, sans bridges and boma, since those were constructed later just for the trek. Although we talked about what kind of cast member would eventually lead the tours, our guide that morning was Michael Colglazier, Vice President of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The test group observes gorillas on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.

What a special time it was! The off-the-beaten-path portion started just the same as it does today, going through an up-to-now unnoticed fence in the middle of Pangani Forest. We climbed the hillside, made our way through the brush and found ourselves looking over Safi River where the hippos make their home. We had no safety vest, carabiners or other gear to keep us protected, so we stayed clear of the edges and couldn’t get the spectacular views that you can now; but it was still remarkable and something I was super excited to see come to life.

Along the way, animal care specialists play the role of "Field Researchers," answering questions and providing tour guests an up-close look at some of the wildlife on the Harambe Reserve.

Much of our journey was filled with the kind of discussions I like to imagine have been happening throughout the 55+ year history of Disney Parks, beginning with Walt. We couldn’t physically see what the end state would be, but through the passionate descriptions of our guide, we could picture everything clearly. Being able to be part of that scene, imagining what could be - that’s the memory of a lifetime for me!

This "rickety" rope bridge allows guests on the Wild Africa Trek to traverse the Safi River, directly above hippos and crocodiles.

The view from the boma, a new viewing platform built on the savanna of the Harambe Reserve exclusively for Wild Africa Trek tours, offers a fantastic look at elephants, flamingos, giraffe and other species... not to mention a delicious offering from Tusker House restaurant.

Although I’ve since moved to the other ‘Kingdom’ for work, I was invited back to DAK last week to try the trek in a near-finished state. There was still work taking place on a few elements, including the beautiful carvings at the boma, but the overall experience was "show-ready," as we say at Disney.

As Imagineering artists were creating the carvings at the boma, one of the Harambe Reserve's giraffes stepped up to observe the proceedings. The giraffe, named Aibuni, stood there, practically posing for the artist and inspiring the final design. When the carving was complete, Aibuni's name was added to the totem in tribute.

My favorite feature of the tour the first time around was very simple and may surprise you - the beautiful fern forest that we walked through after seeing the hippos.

It’s cliched to say, but I have a much tougher time choosing a favorite moment from the second time experiencing the trek. The bridges, the animal viewing with our own guides, the feeling of going where no guests have gone before... every moment was special. But, if I must pick one thing, it has to be our time at the boma. Being a self-proclaimed foodie (my other big passion!), hanging out on the savanna leisurely snacking on gourmet goodies of the park Chef’s design was a great way to wrap up our adventure.

I had a wonderful time on the trek and can’t recommend it enough. Some members of the online community also had a chance to try it out last week, so give their pages a read or check out their podcasts for their point of view. Me personally, I will always remember it as the Disney experience I got to see from before the beginning.

Wild Africa Trek is a rugged, outdoor adventure and is not for everyone (see the warning sign above). For more on the Wild Africa Trek, you can also check out this post on the Disney Parks Blog or get information on the tour itself from the official site. To book your own Wild Africa Trek, call (407) WDW-TOUR, and be sure to follow @DisneyLaurel's other adventures on Twitter.

Gorillas in Their Midst

Returning into the Pangani Forest, we come upon an open-sided shack which is a base of operations for researchers studying gorillas in the area. One whole side of the shack has been glassed in to allow up close observation. During the day, a primatologist named Mirza works out of this outpost, studying gorilla nutrition interactions.

The outpost is also set up for overnight monitoring and recording of gorilla behavior. The two researchers engaged in this work are Stephanie Lukas, an American student working in Harambe, and Ruth Kimutai, a Tanzanian. During the night, they work in shifts, taking turns sleeping. Peek through the mosquito netting on their bunks, and it's easy to tell who sleeps on top and bottom. Ruth lives far more simply, with far less personal gear than Stephanie seems to require.

Just as we've seen throughout the Pangani Forest School, research notes and other documentation can be found here, sharing information with Guests. The large chalkboard in the corner is left over from Dr. Kulunda's recent lecture on gorilla anatomy.

Next to Stephanie Lukas's note to Ruth (above) is a map of the region, marking a natural boundary between two troops of gorillas. As we leave the outpost and cross a suspension bridge into the valley, we suddenly find ourselves right in the middle.

On one side of us is a family troop. A troop of bachelor males resides on the other (gorillas are patriarchal, where one dominant male will often have multiple females in his troop, leaving other males out of the mating game). The boundary of the stream prevents the territories of these troops from overlapping, but that doesn't mean there aren't occasional expressions of dominance, just to show the others who's boss.

The Pangani Forest Conservation School and Wildlife Sanctuary is an incredible place where important research work is being done and the citizens of Harambe can make a vital connection with the animals that share their world.

A bit of Hidden Disney: Remember the Swahili reference to the original attraction name back at the entrance to Pangani Forest? Well, here's the one place where the name remains in English. This crate (above) in the area of the gorilla observation outpost still carries the label for Gorilla Falls Conservation School. Since the crate is made of wood, though, it's a detail that isn't likely to last forever.

An Overlook Look Over

As Guests approach the edge of the Pangani Forest, they come to an overlook structure, built in a traditional, upcountry style. The overlook provides a dramatic view of Baobab trees and some of the animals of the dry savanna grasslands beyond the forest. Gerenuk can often be seen grazing here. Giraffes occasionally come into the area as well.

Apart from the view, the overlook was also constructed as a place to host school groups and other visitors. The interior of the space is decorated with a variety of things to educate not just about wildlife, but about some of the area's cultural heritage. The spears, shields and gourds (used for drinking or storage) are artifacts of the Maasai, a semi-nomadic people who inhabit the Serengeti plains.

While the rest of the structures at the Pangani Forest Conservation School are utilitarian in nature, the overlook has been purposefully designed to evoke the tribal traditions and romance of East Africa.

Alongside the overlook, a colony of meerkats has created a home by burrowing into and under an old, eroded termite mound. The meerkats can often be seen frolicking or rooting around for grubs. There's always one member of the colony, though, who is keeping watch for predators (that's the sentry sitting atop the mound at the top left of the photo below).

A notebook on a nearby table contains some of the observations of researcher T. Gikungu, who has been studying the meerkats. Also on the table, Gikungu has left examples of a tiny meerkat skull and the much larger skull of a warthog. Since the wide world of Disney even reaches out to the schoolchildren of Africa, using references to familiar characters and stories is just another way to engage the kids in caring about these creatures.

Learning Is Hip. Oh.

Throughout the year, the Pangani Forest Conservation School and Wildlife Sanctuary plays host to groups of school children, hoping to introduce them to the wonder of their animal neighbors. Sometimes, those children write or send pictures to the school staff to express their appreciation. The drawings on display above are from Ms. Debra Murang'a's class at Matumaini Primary School. The sentiment expressed in her letter reinforces the main focus of the Pangani Sanctuary: "Many of my students come from urban areas and have little contact with our native wildlife. I think this outing helped them realize what a wonderful heritage the animals of Harambe represent."

The researchers do their part to help educate the children when they visit. After all, if the next generation of Harambeans has a passion for conservation, the important research work being done today will be able to continue. To that end, props and tools can occasionally be found along the trail that help illustrate some of the work they're doing.

One of the biggest projects currently underway involves a study of hippos, one of the most dangerous and misunderstood animals in all of Africa. Substantial grants acquired by Dr. Kulunda over the years have allowed the Pangani team to construct a dam along a stretch of the Safi River, so hippos may be observed below the water as well as from above. The dam is starting to show its age, however. It has sprung a couple of leaks on the far side, creating a tiny stream of water through the observation area (an intentional effect which has been turned off of late, due to drought-induced water restrictions in Central Florida).

In a corner of the observation area by the dam is a cabinet of video equipment belonging to researcher Morris Kyengo. Morris and his partner Will Carr-Hartley are studying the hippo population and the animals' ability to communicate underwater. Clips from their documentation video is playing on the monitor in the cabinet. (In a bit of Hidden Disney, some of the footage seen here is actually taken from Disney's 1955 True-Life Adventure film The African Lion.)

The researchers' notes on bulletin boards in the area point out some observations they've made in regards to hippo territoriality and the ways in which hippos help local ecosystems:

For one thing, the hippos are nocturnal grazers, keeping area grasslands healthy and growing. All that grass they eat ends up enriching the river in the form of hippo dung, helping to increase the populations of tilapia and cichlids, fish that feed on the organic material (yuck, I know).

Adam Mathenge, another researcher, has been fascinated with the study of cichlids for years. He's currently here in Harambe, where the dammed sections of the river allow him to study the fish up close underwater, but he's also spent time observing various species of rock cichlid in Africa's Lake Victoria.

Research Centre

Eventually, Guests come to the Research Centre, the base of operations for the Pangani Forest Conservation School. The Centre is a simple, wooden structure built up against an earthen embankment. Apart from the many unique animals to be discovered here, the Centre is also packed with story details inside and out.

On the porch are several tools and other pieces of equipment, along with this crate addressed to a Morris Kyengo. We'll learn later that Kyengo is conducting research on hippos. One can only wonder what might be waiting for him in this box.

Inside the building is the head office, along with a collection of reference materials used by the researchers at work here.

At the center of the office is Dr. Kulunda's desk, which also gets used by the rest of the team. A notice on the bulletin board tells us that Kulunda is presenting a lecture tonight at 6:30. He also keeps handy a supply of stamps, his binoculars and a can of Doom bug spray (the same brand seen advertised in Harambe and used in "It's Tough to be a Bug").

The cabinets and drawers throughout the Research Centre contain supplies for those working in the reserve, everything from lanterns and water jugs to sample vials and small cages for collecting specimens. Other items for study can also be found here, including a variety of skulls and well-preserved insects. Visitors to the Centre are encouraged to open the drawers. You never know what you might discover.

At one end of the Research Centre, the building is open, revealing the side of the hill. The earth has been carefully opened up to reveal a series of burrows inhabited by a colony of naked mole-rats. A researcher named Ms. Muthoni is studying the mole-rats and their fascinating behavioral patterns.

Another researcher, Rebeccah Davies, is studying a local clan of spotted hyenas. Some of her work is on display at the Centre. She is photographing and identifying individual hyenas in the clan and trying to establish their position in the matriarchal heirarchy.

These projects are just the tip of the iceberg of the research and conservation efforts currently underway in the Pangani Forest region of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. We've already come across Apti and Omari's okapi observations. Next, we'll leave the Research Centre and head down toward the Safi River to catch up with what Mathenge, Kyengo and Carr-Hartley are doing with cichlids and hippos.

The Blind Site

In another part of the Pangani Forest, visitors come across an observation blind, a camouflaged site built to allow researchers to observe forest animals without disturbing them. If you're super quiet, you might just spot one of the rarest creatures of all, an okapi.

The okapi, a relative of the giraffe, is native to the Ituri Forest region of Zaire in Central Africa. So what are they doing in Harambe? Inspection of the details on this board in the observation blind gives us some clues.

This newspaper clipping reveals that three okapis were transplanted to Harambe from Zaire as part of an effort to establish a viable East African population. In their native land, okapis are threatened by habitat destruction and civil unrest. The Harambe Wildlife Reserve can potentially offer a safer environment for them.

The board also includes a letter to Pangani's Dr. Kulunda from the head of the (fictional) Ituri Okapi Project, Igwe Olugu. Olugu's letter gives Dr. Kulunda (and us) some additional information about okapi diet and behavior.

Two researchers working with Olugu on the Okapi Project are spending time in Harambe, observing how the okapis are adapting to their new environment. Apti, a native of Kenya, and Omari, a Harambean, have been documenting everything they've seen. Their notes and photos can be seen in the field note clipboards found in the blind.

For those wishing to learn more about the okapi, plan to attend Dr. Kulunda's lecture on the subject this Sunday. He'll be sharing slides of okapis taken in the Ituri Forest and discussing everything from their rump patterns to the evolutionary divergence between okapis and giraffes. The lecture will be held in the Research Centre. As the flier states, "Prayers for the generator are highly encouraged!"

Pieced together, all of this tells a fantastically detailed story and adds to the overall fabric of the storytelling environment on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail attraction.

The real story as to why there are okapis at Disney's Animal Kingdom is actually somewhat similar. The inclusion of the animals came at the suggestion of Rick Barongi, former Director of Disney's Animal Programs. Barongi had previously been Curator of Mammals for the San Diego Zoo, where he had done extensive work on okapi conservation. When he joined Disney as part of the park's first Advisory Board, he had a passion for establishing a population of okapis here and arranged for animals to be sent to Florida from San Diego.

Today, Rick Barongi is Director of the Houston Zoological Gardens, where he has established yet another population of okapis. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Disney's Animal Kingdom works in cooperation with the teams in Houston, San Diego and around the world to ensure the future survival of okapis and other endangered species.