Panting Away the Heat

Just like your family's four-legged pet dog, lions cool off by panting instead of sweating. And as you can probably imagine, the climate in Florida causes much panting. This girl needed to cool down on a hazy and warm afternoon.

If you come around the corner and see a lion sitting up in full view of the truck, you can bet the next thing you will hear your driver say is "please remain seated"! Lions do attract attention.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Telling a Different Story

Now, this photo may give the impression that the female, the one with the light fur, may be helping a friend by lending a hand. But the truth is, the male was just playing and wouldn’t stop grabbing the females arm. Some pictures don’t tell the whole story.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

A Crown in the Grass

The majestic West African Crowned Crane is found on the main savanna at Kidani Village. These incredible birds can been seen and heard quite often, but it seems they do occasionally seek some alone time by sneaking into the tall grass.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Hide and Seek With an Okapi

The Okapi exhibit at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of my favorites because it has the unique distinction of being part of two different attractions. You can see these cousins of the giraffe from both Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. Don’t miss them, but be patient. They tend to hide in the forest.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

The Color of Shrimp

There are a few pieces of trivia which have been part of the script at Kilimanjaro Safaris since practically the day it opened. One of those is how flamingoes get their pink color. If you don't know, I won't spoil it for your driver.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Foiled Again!

If there is one animal that seems to be particularly adept at avoiding my camera, it is the cheetah at Kilimanjaro Safaris. My camera is always at the ready as we pass through the White Rhino area and head toward the home of the planet's fastest runner. But alas, even on this occasion when it looked like the stars were finally aligning for me, something caught their attention and the best I could get was the back of their heads.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Exploring the Entire Animal World at DAK

I often hear folks complain that Disney's Animal Kingdom only has animals from Africa and Asia, thus requiring the park open "lands" representing other parts of the world. While adding an Austraila of Arctic would be cool, the park certainly has animals from all over the world there already.

These Caiman Lizards, also referred to Dracaena or water tegu, can be found at Rafiki's Planet Watch. But they call South America their natural home.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

An Owl Named Bayo

Personally, I think Flights of Wonder has one of the best pre-shows in all of Walt Disney World. For one thing, it is almost never the same twice in one day. They have a variety of birds the handlers will bring out, including this majestic Great-Horned Owl.

So the best advice I can give to guests is to get to Flights of Wonder about 15 minutes early. If you do, you may be able to meet Bayo, or one of this friends. You can get with a few feet of them and take some amazing photos.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

The Easy Life at DAK

If my photography of Disney's Animal Kingdom has proved one thing, that is life as a black and white colobus monkey at DAK is not hard!  You can find them near the entrance of the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, but they are often a bit more entertaining then this

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Wings to Impress

Okay, I will admit that on the surface this Lappet-faced Vulture, found near the Tree of Life, may not be the most beautiful bird in the Animal Kingdom. But if you ever get the chance to see him spread his wings you will be blown away. This bird's wingspans can often reach over nine feet long!

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

A Perfect Day at DAK

To me, nothing says "disney safari" like this photo. This is what I think of, the lasting memory, from any photo trip to Disney's Animal Kingdom. The Kilimanjaro Safaris, an amazing animal, and even a camera (not mine) can be found in this image. There is nothing more exciting then seeing a reticulated giraffe seemingly waiting by the roadside for your camera to come closer.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

A Little Piece and Quiet

You can find the African Spoonbill in two different locations at Walt Disney World. You can find them in the Oasis, but also at the Jambo House at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is where this one was photographed trying to get some piece and quiet from the squawking flamingoes nearby.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Slow Down and Catch the Good Stuff

We often complain about how some guests just blaze through Disney's Animal Kingdom on their way to e-ticket attractions and miss all the cool and hidden gems. Well, let me offer this advice. If you plan to leave the park midday for an afternoon rest at your hotel, give yourself some extra time on the way out to stop in the Oasis and see the animals there. If you don't you will miss species like this impressive rhinoceros iguana.

On the latest episode of the Radio Harambe podcast, we talked in depth about the incredible Oasis Trails. Have a listen for some fun facts about the rhinoceros iguana.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)