I've read a few posts on room views here and in other places, but I wanted to see if I could reach a larger audience on my specific question in this thread. I rented DVC points to a get a Jambo House Savannah view studio for next spring. Does anyone have any specific recommendations for room request for "best" view (I know they're probably all great!) or location? I know it will be on the 5th floor since it's DVC JH, and I saw one plug for Sunset Savannah- Kudu Trail and another for Zebra Trail, which I think is Arusha savannah. I'll also have a 3-yr. old and my parents also have rented a DVC JH Savannah view studio, so I'll probably request that they try to get our rooms relatively close together. Thanks!
Which savanna would you all recommend to see the most animals? Which savannas have animals out in the morning? Thanks so much for all of your help. We are staying dvc, savanna room at the Jambo house. I had requested Sunset as that is what the MS lady suggested but had someone else mention the Zebra Trail. I am confused as to which would be better. My son really wants to see animals from his balcony. Trying to make that magic happen
Thanks!
Take a look at the Jambo map, you’ll notice 3 savannas abutting the trails/hallways of the resort.
Looking from the lobby out the back is Arusha savanna. There are villas facing Arusha savanna on Kudu trail which is the hallway to the left and Zebra trail which is hallway to the right. The villas on Zebra trail are popular because they are on the same side as the access to the pool and the quick service restaurant called the Mara. Arusha has giraffes, zebras and numerous other animals. Also on Zebra trail, but on the opposite side of the hallway are villas facing Uzima savanna. Uzima savanna also has giraffes (and had the 2 new baby giraffes in Dec.) and may have zebras along with several other animals. My best personal balcony animal viewing was from a villa facing Uzima near a small pond.
Also on the left hand side of the lobby on Kudu trail on the opposite side of the hallway from the Arusha facing villas are the villas facing Sunset savanna. Sunset is the largest savanna and has giraffes and usually has the herd of Hartman Mt. zebras - AK/AKL is part of the AZA breeding program for the species, so you may happen upon youngsters among the herd, depending on when you are there. Sunset also has Ostriches and several other animals. There is a very convenient sky bridge on the 5th floor connecting Zebra & Kudu trails, btw.
With savanna view villas you will not be on the 2 shorter hallways at the front of the resort - Giraffe and Ostrich trails.
Each savanna’s animals leave the savanna in the morning for an hour to an hour & a half, for checks/feeding/husbandry needs and then return. From one of my Zebra trail Arusha view villas I was able to watch the animals returning from the barn visit late mornings, it made me think of Noah’s ark
Browse is placed throughout the savannas during the day to attract animals to particular spots, so watch for the trucks putting the browse out as the animals will often be by shortly to eat. The animals also move about the savannas, so what looks to be an empty savanna can suddenly seem full of animals once they wander by. Take some time early in your stay to familiarize yourself w/ the animal’s routines to maximize your animal watching. Ask the CMs at the overlooks (Arusha rock and Uzima overlook beyond the pool) for info. as well. Take time to look out the windows as you stroll to your villa as you’ll often see animals.
IME, if I take the time to check often early in my stay to determine when the animals are in my region of the savanna, thereafter I’m able to adjust my schedule to see
‘my’ animals from my balcony. You can also spot them gliding silently by at night.
