With a cost of $40 per person, we booked right away and got a 15% Annual Passholder Discount.
The tour is offered daily at 11:00 am, last approximately 60 minutes, and is limited to 16 guests.
We arrived at the designated time, completed the paperwork--waivers. Since the boy was not yet 18, we had to sign a waiver for him, giving him permission to be on the tour. As for age limits, the tour is designated for ages 4 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.
The tour is coined a "hopeful" tour as it is designed around a hopeful interaction with a rhino.
There were 14 guests in our group. We were guided out the gate, across the parking lot, and loaded into a passenger bus that holds 16, hence the tour limit.
We drove around the perimeter of Animal Kingdom, specifically Kilimanjaro Safari. We could see the night barns for several different animals that are found on the safari.
Our guide was very helpful and told us about how the animals respond to different sounds/signals to return each night. We also learned that the animals have choice to stay on safari all night and would be called again in the morning for breakfast. We learned the animals who choose to do this return tired in the morning. The reverse is also true, the animals have a choice to go out each day. One rainy, cold day several rhinos decided that their warm barns were where they wanted to be!
Once we arrived at the rhino area, which is also near the large cat area, an electronic gate was opened for the bus to drive through and we were about to disembark and walk with guides to the rhino barns.
Much time and effort was spent explaining rules for our safety. There were certain colored lines we could not cross and were expected to follow all directions.
We got a close up look at the rhino barns. They are heated, have various toys, have padded areas, and are cleaned daily. The rhinos are rotated throughout various rooms in the barns, as some are larger than others.
On our tour, we learned about Duncan, a young male rhino who recently joined Animal Kingdom in the hopes of breeding. He had only been with his brother previously, so female rhinos were somewhat foreign to him. He had a large outside area and had been out to the safari a few times. When we saw him, he was in the barn area so that Helen, an older female rhino, could socialize him and show him the ropes.
It was Helen who we got to see close up. Her trainer was using a whistle, hand signals, and food to ask her to come closer to the gate so that we could have turn petting her. And, she let us!
After a few moments up close, we washed her hands, and were able to ask a few more questions. The trainers and guides were very knowledgeable and patient with our questions.
Soon, it was time to board the bus and make our way back and re-enter Animal Kingdom near the kiosk. Our lanyards were returned for re-use, although we got to keep the nametags.
This tour was definitely a highlight of our trip. In addition to having a unique experience and learning more about rhinos and conservation efforts, it was refreshing to leave the park crowds momentarily all while being well taken care of with the tour.
Click here for the official site for the tour.
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