As part of their expert-led adventure, guests clip onto a lifeline as they step to the very edge of a cliff to get amazingly close to the hippos and crocs lurking just below.

As I traveled on the Kilimanjaro Safari a few weeks back, I started noticing new structures and a lot of suit-type Imagineer/cast members walking around, conferencing and pointing at things just beyond the brush along certain parts of the savanna.

Now I know what they were doing. They were putting the finishing touches on the new Wild Africa Trek – a seemingly mind-blowing new experience that takes guests into the ‘wilds’ of Pangani Forest and the Harambe Wildlife Preserve. Sure, I put ‘wilds’ in quotes, but as one of the guides says, this is no backstage safari tour.

Guests gear-up before heading out on a three-hour trek that’ll get them up-cose and personal with some of the park’s animals.

Lou Mongello over at WDWRadio.com takes us on an early look at this incredible new tour. The excitement and enthusiasm on Lou’s face tells the story better than any press release (which you can also read, below) ever could. Check it out:

Here’s Disney’s take:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Navigating a rickety footbridge suspended over a river chasm can be a white-knuckle experience.  For explorers on an all-new Disney adventure, what lurks below their bridge may quicken their step to get to the other side: crocodiles!

A ravine of menacing-looking crocs, pools of hippos, bushwalks along untracked terrain and other thrills await guests on Wild Africa Trek, a unique wildlife experience into the deepest, most-remote reaches of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Reservations can be booked now for the three-hour, expert-led adventure that immerses guests in the realms and wildlife thrills of far-off Africa – without leaving Walt Disney World Resort.  In small groups, guests on Wild Africa Trek enjoy an “up-close-and-personal” experience with African wildlife species that make their home in Pangani Forest as well as other areas of the park’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

As part of the adventure, guests clip onto a lifeline as they step to the very edge of a cliff to get amazingly close to the hippos and crocs waiting just below.  Talk about cliff-hangers!

“Adventure-minded guests will have the experience of a lifetime as they get immersed in an authentic African safari experience that only Disney can deliver,” said Michael Colglazier, vice president of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  “We are thrilled to be offering this unique outdoor adventure aimed at active vacationers, taking interactions with the incredible animals that inhabit the Harambe Reserve to the next level and literally blazing new trails in our park.”

Highlights of what’s in store for guests on this add-on adventure:

• Trekking with experienced guides through areas of Harambe Wildlife Reserve that aren’t explored during regular Disney’s Animal Kingdom experiences.
• Navigating winding pathways through dense fern, bamboo and vine forests on a bushwalk that sets a course for adventure.
• Clipping into a harness attached to a safety line, crossing a seemingly precarious rope bridge over the Safi River and cliff-hanging at the edge of gullies that are home to hippos and crocodiles.
• After pausing at an overlook above the grasslands for breathtaking views, boarding customized open-air vehicles that course through the vastness of a magnificent savanna.  Extended time is allotted for animal viewing with expert guides.
• Unwinding from an unforgettable adventure at a private safari camp for viewing of wildebeest and giraffe, elephants and gazelles, eland and antelope.  At this station elevated above the savanna, guests savor this panorama of wildlife and sample tastes of Africa as their adventure draws to a relaxing and satisfying close.

Wild Africa Trek is offered several times daily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Groups are kept small, consisting of no more than 12 trekkers per safari.

Now for the obvious question: How much?
“Pricing for this unique adventure will vary seasonally.”

Great. But a more concrete answer also exists: There’s an ‘introductory’ price of $129. Steep? Maybe. But this looks like an incredible experience. Photos taken during the three-hour experience are also included in the entry price.

I’ve always thought Disney’s Animal Kingdom was the best-themed park. And as time goes on, it just keeps getting better.