Nala and pride "Here we go again!" Final thoughts and COMPLETE! Updated 7/30 About This Page:

[luvnwdwgal]

What a fun update!! So glad you all had such a great time together!! Can't wait for your next installment! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[SHEANA1226]

Sounds like you guys had fun!!!!

[ariel14]

Great update!

[simbarel]

Hey, getting caught up a bit here. Sorry about the seagulls, that sounded like it stunk. Tara and Angie both mentioned what a good time they had with you guys. Too bad G. doesn't like the Biergarten, it's one of our faves! But I understand how it can be weird. Thanks for sharing your trip! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zread.gif[/img]

[Jennifer2003]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Sounds like you all had fun!! Glad you were able to catch up!

Jennifer

[Minnie Lor]

Oh my word, I'm loving your TR! That's too funny about Grumpy making friends so fast but can't handle the Biergarten. Your meet with Angie and Tara sounds wonderful! I'm so envious. Keep it coming, girl!

[PrincessSharon]

Great update! Your meet sounded like fun! Maybe now you can get Grumpy to try Biergarten!

[disneymom9092]

Great update. More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[BabieeMelly]

Great updaes, Nala! It looks like you guys had a great time on day 2. I loved hearing all about your meet with Tara andAngie!

[Nala]

The next morning was an early one for us. But only because we had special things planned. While Kiara is an early riser and we are used to that, getting up and being ready to go somewhere at an early hour is a different matter. And this morning, we had to be in the concierge lounge between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. It really wouldn’t have been so bad had we not been from a central time zone and our bodies still been in a CTZ mode. But we made it. And I am glad we did.

So, the reason for our early start was to take the Sunrise Safari. Kiara and I were ready before Grumpy and the two of us decided to head up to the lounge to check in. The concierge desk had our name badges ready and after retrieving them, I headed to the breakfast offerings to grab something for Kiara to eat. I filled a plate with stuff I thought she might eat and we found a spot on the couch that had become our favorite place in the lounge. Grumpy soon joined us and the two of us enjoyed several cups of coffee before our safari began.

Right at 7:00, we headed down to the lounge on the lobby floor to meet our guide. She was a lovely, young woman who was a care taker of the animals at the lodge. We took a few moments to look out over the savannah in the area we were waiting, make a final bathroom stop (as instructed by our guide) and gathered as a group to make our way to the bus waiting outside for us. Since we were going into the AK, even before opening hours, at the bus we were searched by a security guard the same way as if we were entering a park While I in no way minded having my bag searched and found comfort it the fact that Disney was covering all the bases, it’s still solemn was a reminder that our world, since 9/11, has changed.

So on the bus we all went. And the safari was on. Our guide, whose name I can’t for the life of me remember, talked to us on the way to the AK about her background and education. It was clear that she love animals, loved what she had studied in college and loved what she was doing now. And I was envious of her for that. I mean, how many of us as kids grow up saying “I want to ….. (insert personal preference) when I grow up, and then go to college and study (insert personal preference again) and then go to Disney on the college program and after that find a job, at Disney may I add, doing what you had always dreamed of as a child and went to college to do. How often does that happen? I admired the fact that our guide had followed her childhood dream and the rewards for doing so were apparent in her every word. It was clear she not only loved her field of work, but also loved her job.

We went through the “back gates” of AK that our guide described as Jurassic Park type gates. Grumpy and I later discussed this description and both of us discovered that we were thinking we would have passed through a big, carved, wooden gate. But instead, we passed through a metal gate surrounded by barbed wire. As we passed through them, our guide explained to be accredited, there had to be three barriers and we had gone through the first. Our bus then drove past many buildings and explained what animals were housed in them. She told us about how the animals were cared for and how they were trained to come into boxes so they could be examined and tested for their general health. The second barrier was apparent around the animal houses.

Our bus soon stopped and we were directed down a path to board the safari vehicles. We found ourselves walking in the back way to the safari and were able to catch glimpses of a very quiet Africa. We walked down the queue of Kilimanjaro Sararis and waited in line to be assigned a row. We were one of the last in line, and pointed to the first row and our guide stated we would be riding up front with her. As we waited for our vehicle to arrive, a man who had been placed in the back row to wait, with a camera the size of Texas, and a lens the size of Alaska attached to it, began to question if he could get good shots from there. I refrained from saying what I was thinking. With a camera like that he could have got great shots on the safari standing in Georgia. This guy was serious about his photography, and I had a bad case of camera envy as I admired the monster around his neck. Our guide assured him that the back row was the best place to take photos. Great, what did that say about the front row? The vehicle arrived and we all hopped on board and waited for the really good part of our adventure to begin.

We had to wait a few minutes to take off as there was a maintenance truck out on the path in front of us. Soon we were given the OK to proceed and were on our way. Many of the animals were out and about and I loved that we were able to stop and take pictures of them. Our guide spent a great deal of time telling us about their behavior and other interesting fact about each one. She told us how they were trained and cared for and the things the AK did for enrichment for each group. I found the information fascinating, but Grumpy, who watches the Discovery Channel way too much, didn’t hear anything he hadn’t already heard before.

Our guide was taking anyone’s questions as we made our way through the safari. We were stopped and watching a group of rhinos and it was there that something happened that brought a question to Grumpy’s mind. And this is just another example of how Grumpy never thinks twice of speaking what is on his mind. And another case of I can dress him up, but I can’t take him out. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

One of the rhinos decided to….ummm…. relieve herself. Our guide was talking about the baby rhino that had been recently born and didn’t see what was going on. But most everyone else did. And it was then that Grumpy’s inquiring mind forced him to raise his hand and ask his question. “How many gallons does a rhino pee?” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] Everyone behind us was rolling with laughter and our guide was a bit baffled as to why he would ask such a thing. She then caught site of the rhino in question and started laughing. She didn’t have an answer, but told us that one of the favorite tricks to play on a new intern in any animal program was to set them up to stand behind a rhino who was about to relieve itself. And I thought we were bad in the printing industry. All we do is suck a newbe into putting their hand over a glob of “warm red” ink to see how hot it gets and then push their hand in it. I would much rather have a hand full of ink than a rhino shower.

The first group of rhino. I can't remember if they were the white or black rhinos.

hippo that really didn't care to show more of him/herself

A couple of Tommys

The rhino that started it all!

So, on we went. And I only hoped that another animal would not do anything that would prompt another question from Grumpy. Somewhere along the way we encountered the lions. Finally! I actually got to see something of them other than their feet in the air as they napped in the warm sun. As we approached their habitat, the male, who I called Simba even though that wasn’t his name, was up and about in his full glory. Our vehicle stopped and there he was, pacing back and forth in front of us with a very determined and fierce look in his eyes. Grumpy and I noticed what had his attention before anyone else, including our guide did. Everyone was focusing on the lions and didn’t notice a few zebra and gazelle to our right. But big, beautiful Simba did and it didn’t take our guide long to figure it out too. He was pacing because he was trying to figure out how to get breakfast. It was clear he wanted a big zebra steak in a bad way. His mate however, sat posed on the rock like the queen she was, full of majestic beauty.

Simba (as I called him)

and his Nala. Is she not beautiful? Talk about a girl that knows how to strike a pose!

As we watched them, our guide told us that this was one of two pairs of lions at the AK. I had no idea they had two. I believe the male’s name was Nyrobi, or something like that but I don’t remember his mate's name. She also told us the other male was named Spike and his mate’s name sounded like she was hacking up a fur ball when she said it. It was time to move on and soon our safari had come to a close and we were heading off to the final part of our adventure……breakfast!


Up next…I swear I had no idea breakfast was served at community tables!!!! But I do know a Passporter who had done the safari and didn’t tell us about that part even though we had spent the evening with her the night before!
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[Jillybean]

What a wonderful description of the Sunrise Safari! I felt as if I was sitting right beside you!

And Grumpy gets to eat at the community tables? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I cannot wait!

Jill

[lkmom]

Nala-
I just love your TR's and your little girl's smile. Now, anyone who can question the volume of rhino urine in front of people, must be able to eat with the same group!

Can't wait to hear what happens next!

[SHEANA1226]

Oh no!! I forgot about the community tables at Tusker House!!! I am waiting for the next installment!

[katspjs]

Your report is fantastic! More please!

[lauren-roxy]

Another wonderful update Nala!!!! The Safari sounds like so much fun!! I am just dying to hear all about breakfast!!