Disney World’s Premium Safari Goes Viral After Giraffe Gets a Little Too Close
Most guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom hope for a close encounter with a giraffe. One group recently got exactly that during Savor the Savanna, although the giraffe seemed much more interested in their vehicle than the people riding inside it.
A TikTok shared by Will Gray captures the unusual moment a giraffe approaches the safari truck and gets curious about the equipment mounted along the top.
Rather than simply looking at it, the giraffe decides to give the lights a taste.
The funny encounter gave guests an extremely close look at one of Animal Kingdom’s most recognizable residents and showed exactly why wildlife experiences can be so unpredictable.
Giraffe Tries to Eat Lights on Disney Safari Vehicle
The TikTok begins with the giraffe standing remarkably close to the vehicle during the Savor the Savanna experience.
With its long neck easily reaching the upper portion of the truck, the giraffe turns its attention toward the lights above the guests. Before long, the animal has the equipment in its mouth.
@willgray93 Giraffe Got a Little Too Curious! Ps: Savor the Savor tour was worth it!🦒😂#KilimanjaroSafaris #AnimalKingdom ##DisneyTikTok #savorthesavanna #DisneyWorld ♬ original sound – Will Gray
It wasn’t exactly the wildlife interaction anyone could have planned before arriving at Animal Kingdom.
Guests riding Kilimanjaro Safaris regularly see giraffes wandering across the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, sometimes close to safari vehicles. Savor the Savanna, however, gives guests a more premium and intimate experience inside the park.
That can lead to some unforgettable moments when the animals decide to cooperate.
Or, in this case, when one decides to investigate Disney’s equipment.
The TikTok creator certainly didn’t seem disappointed. Gray wrote that the Savor the Savanna tour was “worth it” while sharing the giraffe encounter.
Savor the Savanna Goes Beyond a Traditional Safari
Savor the Savanna is one of the premium experiences available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Disney currently describes the tour as a privately guided journey through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Guests travel aboard a rugged safari vehicle and eventually visit a secluded viewing area overlooking the savanna.
A guide provides information about the wildlife along the way, including details about the animals and the care they receive at Animal Kingdom.
The experience doesn’t end with wildlife viewing.
Guests also receive African-inspired food and beverages while enjoying the scenery. Regional beer and wine are among the available offerings for guests who meet the age requirement.
Disney currently lists the experience at $199 to $209 per person before tax. Participants must be at least eight years old, while guests younger than 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Admission to Animal Kingdom is required separately.
You Never Know What the Animals Will Do
The giraffe encounter is a good reminder of what makes Animal Kingdom different from a traditional theme park.
Disney can control what happens on an attraction. It can program an Audio-Animatronic figure, time a special effect or determine exactly when a ride vehicle moves.
A giraffe doesn’t follow that kind of schedule.
Animals can wander closer to a vehicle, remain farther away or become interested in something guests never expected.
Disney even notes that the itinerary and content of Savor the Savanna can change. No two trips through an environment filled with living animals can be completely identical.
For this particular group, that unpredictability worked in their favor.
They didn’t simply get another photo of a giraffe walking across the savanna. They got to watch one come directly to their vehicle and apparently decide the lights deserved a taste test.
There are plenty of Disney World experiences guests can schedule months before arriving.
A giraffe trying to eat your safari truck isn’t one of them.
And that’s probably exactly why this Animal Kingdom moment will be difficult for these guests to forget.
