Maharajah Jungle Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Maharajah Jungle Trek Review at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Maharajah Jungle Trek Opened On: March 18, 1999.

See this page for all of the Disney’s Animal Kingdom attraction reviews.

Location: The entrance to Maharajah Jungle Trek is behind Kali River Rapids in the Asia section.

That’s the entrance to Kali River Rapids pointing to the right. Maharajah is just beyond it.

Extra Magic Hours: No.

Time Commitment: Maharajah is a little longer than a third of a mile. Most visitors spend about 20 minutes walking through it. You can take as much or as little time as you like looking at the animals, enjoying the scenery, and asking questions of the many informed cast members that you’ll encounter on your walk.

Expect to Wait: No waits.

FastPass+: No.

Type: Self-guided walking tour, zoo exhibit.

Similar To: Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail.

Requirements: None.

Scary Factor: Zero – just don’t go into business with a guy who calls himself Joe Exotic at any point during the tour.

What to Expect: Maharajah Jungle Trek does not suffer from several of the problems that plague Gorilla Falls.

The trail is wider, there is more room to view the animals, and Kilimanjaro Safari doesn’t drop off thousands of people in front of the entrance throughout the day.

This makes Maharajah more pleasant in the afternoon.

Otherwise, like Gorilla Falls, Maharajah is a trail that takes visitors through several zoo-like exhibits and enclosures.

You’ll see Bengal tigers, one of the world’s largest Komodo dragon, Malayan tapirs, Blackbuck and Elds deer, and hundreds of exotic birds.

There is also a separate house-like enclosure where you can view Rodrigues fruit bats and Malayan Flying Fox bats. You can easily skip the bats if you’d prefer to remain bat-free. The bats are not visible unless you enter the clearly-labeled exhibit.

You can watch a video walk-through of the exhibit here.

When To Go: The Bengal tigers are most active in the early morning and between 4pm and 5pm. Otherwise, much of the Trek is shaded and cooler than other areas in the Animal Kingdom. This makes it a good choice to visit during the afternoon heat when attraction lines are at their longest. Maharajah typically closes before dusk and as early as 5pm. Double check your Times Guide if you’re planning on visiting late. It also typically opens an hour after the rest of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Rating: 7/10

Commentary: No one themes an area like Disney and no zoo on the planet puts in as much time, effort, and money into creating an experience as authentic as Disney does. You have the opportunity to view a number of rare endangered species in some of the best exhibits in the world. If it sounds like I’m strong-arming you into doing something that you don’t want to do, it’s only because so many people skip these wonderful trails. Don’t be one of them. Like Gorilla Falls and Kilimanjaro Safaris, animal non-appearances are what may bring the experience down.

The tigers in particular are less likely to be out than the other animals, and they’re likely the reason why you’re walking the trail. Now that Disney has more of them, and they can be seen in one of several enclosures, you’re more likely to get a good glimpse.