Wandering the Maharaja Jungle Trek at Animal Kingdom

When I spend a day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom I want to see animals and not just ride the rides and see the shows. One way to slow down a bit and see animals is to walk the Pangani Forest Trail and the Maharajah Jungle Trek self-guided tours. Today I’m going to focus on the Maharajah Jungle Trek and next week we will talk about the Pangani Forest Trail.

The Maharajah Jungle Trek

Located in the Anandapur, Asia area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Maharajah Jungle Trek is a self-guided walking tour through a Southeast Asian jungle. Legend has it that the area was once the hunting grounds for a Maharajah who had the area walled off for easier hunting. After the unfortunate death,  of this Maharajah, the area was turned into a nature preserve by later Maharajahs. In the preserve the villagers and animals lived in harmony.

I love wandering these paths and feeling transported to Asia, walking among the ruins of the palace, crossing foot bridges and enjoying the slower pace of the jungle trek makes this area a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the theme park.

While wandering the area you may have the opportunity to see several types of animals including:

• Asian tiger
• Gibbons
• Elds deer
• Blackbuck
• Rodrigues fruit bat
• Malayan flying fox
• Banteng
• Komodo Dragon
• Malayan Tapir
• Blood Python
• Over 50 species of birds

While wandering the jungle path make sure you soak in the atmosphere, the ruins and the theming. The area is beautiful and tranquil. There are many scenic wildlife viewing areas along the path. Take your time and wait your turn to get an up-close view of the amazing creatures found throughout the area. One way to learn more and dig a little deeper is to work on your Wilderness Explorers Handbook while on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. You can complete your Explorer, Bat and Tiger Badges while on your journey.

I hope you take time on your next visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to wander the Maharajah Jungle Trek and learn about the animals of Southeast Asia.