How would you like to go on an African safari? OK, so Africa is out of the question on your allowance - it's thousands of miles away and getting there is really expensive. But you can get a good idea of what life on the savannah is like at Animal Kingdom, Disney's newest park in Orlando.

The Kilimanjaro Safari is the hottest attraction at the park. You can take a 20-minute safari bus ride through grasslands, over bumpy, muddy trails and across a rickety wood bridge. The Yak took two safari rides, one when the park opened at 7 a.m. and another at the end of the day, around 6:45 p.m. The park closes at 8 p.m. in the summer.

The Yak heard that early morning bus rides were best, before it gets too hot and the lines get too long. Our driver was good at spotting the early risers - including giraffes and a yawning lioness.

The Yak had even better luck on his second trip. He saw more than 120 animals, including an ostrich that wandered next to the bus and several species of antelope. He also saw giraffes,

zebras, okapi, warthogs, elephants, kudu, crocodiles, two white rhinos and a lion.

But you never know if the animals will be snoozing in the tall grass, so just in case you don't see as many as the Yak did, there's a pretend drama to the ride. Ivory poachers are in the area, and you have to help your driver and park rangers track them. Luckily, the bad guys are captured and you're free to keep watching for critters.

This week's Brainy-Yak question:

How long does it take the Earth to go around the Sun?

A. One year

B. One day

C. One month

D. One week

ANSWER A.

! Pub Date: 8/17/98