More than 80% of the Savanna view rooms overlook the Sunset savanna and views are generally good from anywhere on that side of the building. The other savanna view rooms overlook the Pembe savanna on the Northwest side of the resort. It is a much smaller savanna than Sunset, views are OK but it does not have giraffes and zebras like Sunset.
As a result, you should consider making your lead request, through MS, for a room overlooking the Sunset savanna (requests are considered in order given). The real issue at Kidani can be distance from room to lobby, pool and bus station. The building, end to end, is about 2/3rd of a mile long, one of the longest single hotel-type buildings in the world (and by world I mean on earth not just WDW), meaning the walking distance from room to lobby in the center of the building, can be as long as 1/3 mile). As a result, a second request to consider is one that can avoid a room very far from the lobby. Since majority of visitors have been to Kidani before and know the distance problem, many request close to lobby, but that should likely be avoided -- if granted you are fine but problem is that huge numbers always request close to lobby with the result that many do not get it (and end up far from the the lobby). Requests I have made, that have usually been granted, are either (a) for a room close to Rafiki elevator (on the north wing within a reasonable distance from the lobby, which elevator, down to the ground, parking lot floor, provides the shortest walk from the building to a pool gate); or (b) a room near the Timon elevator on the south wing (also not overly far from the lobby and provides short walk from second floor to a door that goes directly to the bus station). Both those areas also provide very good savanna views.
As to a refurb, the pool and a number of outside areas were done last year, the roof work started early Feb and is to be done in sections until Oct. Following the usual 7-year refurb schedule, the internal refurb is likely not to begin until 2024.
