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Pangani Forest Exploration
Trail
(photos below)
When you visit Animal Kingdom, you probably want to see
animals! Of course DAK has plenty of great attractions that
don't actually include any real animals--including Dinosaur,
Expedition
Everest, and several live shows (see the Animal
Kingdom index for a list)--but there are several which
showcase Disney's furry, feathered, and, uh, creepy-crawly
residents!
The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail is a self-guided
walking trail in which several of Animal Kingdom's habitats
are displayed. The Trail offers guests the unique opportunity
to see a number of African animals, often at closer
perspectives than you get during the Safari.
Walking through the entrance, you'll feel as though you're
delving deep into the African wilderness. Animals present
include okapi, hippos, meercats, and even mole rats (for your
safety, the mole rats are kept safely behind a glass
partition, safely). There's an aviary loaded with quite a few
species of exotic birds, and while the birds are fun to see,
the habitat itself is a sight to behold. You'll walk through a
door into what appears to be an open-air space with birds
flying all over. In reality, the birds are not actually free
to fly away, but you'll have to really look closely to see
their boundary. The hippopotami are viewed through a glass
under water, aquarium-style, affording terrific views of these
large animals. The meercats have a unique habitat as well;
you'll view them from the comfort of a thatch-covered hut.
As a grand finale, Pangani Forest hosts a huge
multi-sectioned gorilla habitat. The first area you'll enter
is covered, with glass partitions between you and the gorillas
that provide an up-close-and-personal view of these creatures.
Continuing along the trail, you'll cross a suspended bridge
with gorilla habitats left and right. This is the largest,
more intricate area on the Exploration Trail, and a place with
plenty of good viewing spots to check out the gorillas. You're
welcome to spend as much time here (or anywhere along the
Trail) as you'd like, to enjoy the beauty of the animals
living in as natural a habitat as they could ever expect off
the continent of Africa.
Be sure to set aside enough time in your schedule to fully
enjoy the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail! This is one you're
really going to like!!! By the way, be sure to check out the Maharajah
Jungle Trek in Asia, another walking safari
tour--featuring tigers!
The entrance to Pangani Forest.
You'll pass by as you exit Kilimanjaro Safaris.
The first habitat you'll come to
features okapi
Laminated bird spotting guides are
available on loan as you enter the aviary.
These are printed on both sides and include quite a few
species!
One of the many gorillas in the final habitat on the Trail.
You'll
find reptiles and the recently-discovered mole rats in the
compound laboratory along the Pangani Forest Exploration
Trail.
This is
one of my favorite photos out of all my collection of one of
Disney's gorillas--and I have a lot of photos of these
magnificent creatures!
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