Savor the Savannah Tour Review: The Animal Kingdom Experience That Made Us Forget About the Price Tag

Picture this: You’re watching a baby giraffe named Tucker sprint across the savannah, kicking up dust while trying to start trouble with the other animals. An animal keeper is telling you exactly about each of the giraffes personality and how they interact with one another. You’re in a private tour truck with only 11 other people, asking any question that pops into your head, and nobody’s rushing you to move along.

This was us last month on the Savor the Savannah tour. And honestly? It might have ruined regular Kilimanjaro Safaris for me forever.

At $189 per person (minus 10% with an annual pass), this two-hour private safari and dining experience isn’t cheap. But the personal, spontaneous nature of the tour completely changed how we experience Animal Kingdom. No rushing, no scripts, just genuine conversations with keepers who know these animals like family (seriously). Throw what my wife described as “the best chicken salad she’s ever had” at our midway stop in, and I’m here to tell you why this special expense could be worth adding to your Disney budget.

What Exactly Is Savor the Savannah?

Think of it as Kilimanjaro Safaris’ sophisticated older sibling who went to culinary school. You get a private open-air tour truck, a dedicated guide, African-inspired tapas from a Tiffins chef made specifically for the tour, wine pairings, and actual conversations with animal keepers who know these animals by name and personality.

The experience runs about 2 hours total, with check-in at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk across from the regular safari entrance. From there, your guide takes you backstage where the magic happens. And yes, I totally geeked out about going through the “Cast Members Only” gates.

The Tour Experience: Not Your Average Safari Script

Here’s where things get interesting. Our guide mentioned he’s not even full-time anymore. He comes back one weekend a month specifically to lead these tours because he loves them that much. That passion? It shows.

The tour truck setup is brilliant. Instead of rows of seats, you’ve got benches around the perimeter, so everyone has a great view and can actually hear each other. With only 12 guests max, it feels more like a private party than a theme park attraction.

The tour started in the backstage area where regular safari drivers take their breaks. This felt like getting a peek behind the curtain before the show even began. Once we loaded into our private truck, we followed some of the same general paths as the regular safari but we were also allowed to ‘go off-road’. We stopped in spots where regular vehicles never pause, pulling right up to these areas for extended viewing.

No script meant our guide answered whatever random questions popped into our heads. “Do the flamingos always stay in the same spot?” (Yes, and apparently some are over 60 years old), “How do they get the lions to be more visible for tours?” (They developed a specially designed cooling rock that didn’t pan out), how do the animals not escape (Disney playing line-of-sight tricks on us). Every question led to fascinating stories, which led to more questions and more stories. We had time to actually watch the animals’ behaviors play out instead of simply driving past. My wife caught me using my phone to take notes because I didn’t want to forget all the cool facts.

Meeting Tucker and the Animal Keeper

The highlight of the first half came when we veered off into the savannah and stopped near a group of giraffes. That’s when they called in a keeper on shift who was currently working with the animals.

The keeper spent nearly 10 minutes with us, sharing stories about each giraffe’s personality. That’s when we first spotted Tucker, the baby giraffe who stole the show. While the keeper explained how Tucker likes to interact with other animals, he decided to demonstrate by sprinting across the savannah, kicking up dust and trying to start trouble with anyone who’d pay attention.

These are the moments you can’t script. We watched Tucker’s antics while the keeper answered every question we threw at her. The social dynamics, the individual quirks, how they handle new babies in the herd. It was like getting the director’s commentary on your favorite movie, except the movie was happening live in front of you.

The Boma Break: Where the Magic Continues

After our incredible giraffe encounter, we headed to a building called the Boma that overlooks the savannah. This isn’t some quick bathroom break. We’re talking 45 minutes of African-inspired tapas, drinks, and conversations with not just our guide but two additional animal specialists.

The food spread was created by a chef from Tiffins specifically for this tour. My wife still won’t stop talking about the chicken salad. I’m more of a meat-and-potatoes guy, but even I was going back for seconds to try pretty much everything. The flavors were bold without being intimidating (even for kids), if that makes sense.

The drink situation: You get your choice of several local beers (my favorite Tiger Eye Gold, as seen in picture), three wines selected to pair with the food, or cucumber water if you’re not drinking. Everything was included, no nickel-and-diming and no need to tip. The ale in particular hit the spot on a hot summer day.

While we’re eating and drinking, the animal specialists are just… there. Chatting. One keeper spent 15 minutes telling us about how they trained each animal, and how difficulty was more related to each particular personality than species. You could tell the genuine love and enthusiasm each of the guides had for their job, which made it even more compelling to hear their point of view for each question.

Finishing Strong: The Return Journey

After our Boma break, we loaded back into the truck for the second half of the safari. At this point it was around 6pm, and guide went into a detailed explanation of how they get all of the animals into their enclosures at night (sometimes they don’t when animals refuse).

Around that time we heard the sound the animal keepers use to call the cheetahs in ring out. The vehicle stopped and we got to watch in real-time as one of the cheetahs lazily rose up to start moving out of the shade into his nighttime area, while another sat pat. The guide explained to us how they get three chances before they leave them out for the night, but the majority of the time they will acquiesce (that’s where the extra food is!).

These were the types of dynamic circumstances that occurred consistently throughout the tour, and while on the Safari ride the guide might not be able to stop to take it in or explain, during the tour we were given the time to stop, sit back (or stand up), and observe.

The Nitty-Gritty: Pros and Cons

What Worked

• Small group size made it feel exclusive without being stuffy
• Natural conversation format meant our specific interests drove the discussion
• Food quality that rivaled any Animal Kingdom restaurant
• Generous drink selection with no limits or upcharges
• Passionate guides who genuinely wanted to share their knowledge
• Perfect pacing between riding and relaxing
• Spontaneous animal keeper interactions that can’t be replicated

What To Consider

• The price is steep at $189 per person (even with AP discount)
• Age restriction of 8+ might exclude younger kids
• Weather agnostic the tour runs rain or shine, so be prepared to get wet if you hit a rainy day. However, the guide mentioned the animal encounters can often be more dynamic in the rain, so not all is lost!
• Requires park admission on top of tour cost
• Limited availability means booking well in advance
• Two-hour commitment during prime park hours (we did 4:30 and left after park close)

Is It Worth Your Disney Dollars?

Here’s my honest take, for us it was worth every penny because:

1. We’re animal lovers who always spend extra time on the safari anyway
2. The small group setting meant we could actually relax and enjoy ourselves
3. The food and drinks alone would’ve cost $30+ per person at Tiffins
4. We learned things that made every future Animal Kingdom visit more interesting

Would I do it again? Absolutely. In fact, our guide mentioned that because the animals are always doing different things and guests ask different questions, no two tours are the same. That’s not marketing speak. Based on what we experienced, I believe it.

Alternatives To Consider

Wild Africa Trek ($219): More adventure-focused with harness crossing over crocs and hippos. Includes food but it’s more basic. Interestingly, our Savor the Savannah guide told us he recommends doing Wild Africa Trek once for the thrill, but suggests Savor the Savannah repeatedly since every tour is completely different based on animal behavior and guest questions.

Caring for Giants ($39): Shorter elephant-focused tour that’s much more affordable but less comprehensive.

Final Verdict

If the price is right for you, you won’t be disappointed. This is my favorite Disney based tour I have done thus far, and look forward to going again on our next family trip!