Kilimanjaro Safari

Kilimanjaro Safari is the headliner attraction at Animal Kingdom. This is why we all go to the Animal Kingdom, to see the animals up close and personal.

While you journey through the 100 acre savanna you'll see lions, giraffes, white rhinos, elephants and many more wild animals (yes, wild animals).

Kilimanjaro Safari

Photo by Jeff_B

Crowd Factor

For years there was information that said that the animals were more active in the mornings so lots of guests tried to ride the safari first thing in the morning. Through the years, Disney has found ways to make the animals active throughout the day, but guests still try to get to the safari early.

Hey Dad, does that mean the lines are shorter in the afternoon?

Maybe. If you are there during the slower times, you might find shorter lines in the afternoon. During busy seasons, lines will be long all day. Dad still suggest you hot foot it to the Safari first thing in the morning.

The Best Time to see Animals

This is a widely discussed topic. You can see animals all day. Some say that afternoons are better because the animals are getting ready to go back to the barns and are more active. Some say the animals are more active in the mornings.

Here's an idea, try both and tell Dad your results -

Dad's Kilimanjaro Safari Stories page

The Preshow

How does one prepare for a two week safari through the Harambe Wildlife Refuge? Find out as you snake your way through the line on the way to the safari vehicles. There are several stations where you can learn about Africa and life in the savanna.

The line area is open air, but covered and well shaded.

The Attraction

The safari starts as you are loaded into the 32 passenger safari vehicles for your 2 week journey into the Harambe Wildlife Refuge. Oh, you thought the ride was only 20 minutes? No it's 2 weeks! Or at least that's what the guide says.

You pull away from the loading docks and drive your way through the African wilds. The first area you will see is the African savanna where there are always giraffes walking around. (Sometimes the giraffes refuse to move and hold up the safari vehicles.) As you continue a story develops about poachers in the refuge. You get involved in the chase of the poachers.

Along the way you will cross a river that has overrun the road. You'll see hippos, lions, and gazelles and the star of the poacher story, elephants.

The story works out and the bad guys end up in custody and everything is beautiful. (Hey, it's a Disney ride.)

The Postshow

There is no real postshow. There isn't even a gift shop that you get dumped into after the ride. (A little unusual for Disney.)

Video

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting tidbits -

• The ride vehicles are propelled by liquid propane. They are custom built GMC Trucks.
• The animals are drawn to areas by tricks like warm air pumped in or salt licks.

History

Kilimanjaro Safari opened in April of 1998.

Dad's Ride Information Table

The Fine Print

Here's some small print information

• Due to the nature of the experience, Guests with service animals should check with a host or hostess for attraction and boarding information at this attraction.
• Video Captioning, Assistive Listening Receivers, and Handheld Captioning are available on this attraction. Please visit Guest Relations for more information.
• For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.
• Guests must transfer from their motorized scooter or ECV to an available wheelchair to experience the attraction.

Dad's Bottom Line

The big problem with Kilimanjaro Safari is it's too short. If the ride was an hour long, it would be too short. Disney has done a great job designing the ride to let everyone see animals in their natural habitat. Yes, the story is a little hokey, but the ride is great.

Don't miss this one!

Go to Dad's Animal Kingdom page
Dad's Disney World home page