animal kingdom safari ride broke down

• Animal Kingdom / News / Walt Disney World

VIDEO: Guests Forced To Walk Through Kilimanjaro Safari After Ride Vehicles Broke Down

by Melissa Roden · February 16, 2022

There are rides that I don’t mind being on when they break down like Haunted Mansion or Space Mountain which can provide an interesting experience.  However, after seeing recent footage that emerged on TikTok, I can honestly say that Kilimanjaro Safaris would not be one of them. 

A guest recorded their ride experience from last Friday (February 11th) and let’s just say it was nothing short of WILD! Midway through the trek in the Haramble Wildlife Reserve, there was a 40 minute delay du to a wheel malfunction on one of the vehicles. With the jeep stalled out right near the lion enclosure, the decision was made that guests would need to walk back to base! 

Check out TikTok user  @purely_katelin first video detailing the experience: 

@purely_katelin We were enjoying it THEN…stuck for 40+ mins… #disneyworld #animalkingdom #nightmareonthesafari ♬ original sound – Katelin

As you can see from these videos Katelin said that there was a lot of waiting around (nearly 40 minutes) with guests not really sure what was happening. They were able to enjoy a Pride Rock-esque view of the lions which thankfully were on the otherside of an invisible moat meaning that they didn’t pose a risk to guests. 

@purely_katelin #disneyworld #animalkingdom #nightmareonthesafari ♬ original sound – Katelin

According to Katelin’s further descriptions of the ordeal, part of the reason for the lengthy hold up was that some of the safari animals that COULD move freely through the reserve needed to be wrangled so as not to pose a risk to guests on the broken down ride vehicles. 

Ultimately, as you can see from these videos, guests were evacuated from Katelin’s ride vehicle as well as several others ahead of them. 

@purely_katelin This is the reason why we were stopped… #disneyworld #animalkingdom #nightmareonthesafari ♬ original sound – Katelin

Ladders were brought in to help guests disembark from the safari vehicles before cast members led them on a walk back to the entrance. 

Katelin, said that they gave each guest involved in the ordeal a Lightning Lane pass for another attraction. However, according to Katelin, there were very small children on the ride with parents struggling to cope to make the trek back on food. This added to the delay in getting everyone back to base. 

Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for further Walt Disney World news and updates. 

Didn’t make it to Disney in 2021!? Well we’ve got some fantastic news- Disney Packages are currently available to book through the end of 2022! That gives you plenty of time to plan that magical getaway and I’m here to help. 

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Source:   PopCrush

Tags: breakdown Disney's Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safari lions Ride Vehicle TikTok

Melissa Roden

As an agent with MickeyTravels and a Blogger with MickeyBlog I enjoy sharing, tips, tricks and advice to help readers and clients get the most out of your time with Disney. When I'm not helping clients plan their perfect holidays or nab those hard-to-get discounts you can find me enjoying a Dole Whip at Disney World with my daughter! Reach out for a FREE, no obligation quote at 1.800.801.4025 or find me on Facebook !

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Disney World Guests Forced to Walk After Animal Kingdom Safari Ride Breaks Down in Lion Area

Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom is known for allowing guests to get up close and personal with animals, but one Kilimanjaro Safaris ride recently got a little too wild.

On Friday (Feb. 11), guests aboard the popular trek in the Harambe Wildlife Reserve area of the theme park experienced a roughly 40-minute delay due to a wheel axle malfunction on one of the active vehicles. Ultimately, the riders were forced to walk to the exit.

TikTok user @purely_katelin posted videos of the experience to her social media account.

According to Katelin, her safari truck was stopped near the lion exhibit for approximately 40 minutes. Katelin claims that at first, the driver of the vehicle — an open-air truck — didn't know what was happening, just that they had to wait there.

Thankfully, they had an epic view of the lions, which of course could not reach the guests as they are kept surrounded by a giant moat. Other safety measures in place make sure that the big cats cannot leave their designated area.

According to another rider's comment on one of Katelin's TikTok videos, some of the other safari animals that are allowed to roam freely in their designated sections located along the ride trail were put away so they wouldn't attempt to interact with the stranded guests.

Eventually, cast members showed up and evacuated the guests from the vehicle, along with guests from several other nearby trucks.

The cast members brought ladders to help the guests disembark from the high safari vehicles before they were instructed to walk back to the ride's entrance.

Despite cast members' requests for guests to put their cameras away during the evacuation, the TikToker documented her entire experience.

When a follower asked if the Disney park compensated the evacuated riders in some capacity, Katelin claimed that they gave each guest impacted by the safari vehicle malfunction a Lightning Lane pass for any single attraction.

The Lightning Lane pass allows a guest to bypass a ride's normal queue for a much shorter priority line that gets the guest into the attraction as quickly as possible.

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The kilimanjaro safaris trick that disney doesn’t share.

Posted by: Melissa Cannioto April 17, 2024

It’s one of the most unique – and  wild  – attractions in theme parks across the world.

There’s nothing that matches it at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, especially because of its enormous size.

Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park is home to incredible wildlife, a massive savanna, and a bumpy ride in one of the iconic Harambe Wildlife Reserve vehicles.

Located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the ride is renowned for being different every time Guests venture into the African reserve. With over 30 species of animals found in over 110 acres of open plains, there is plenty for Guests to spot on their next Disney safari.

But with Disney World crowds increasing and the costly Disney Genie+ causing frustrations, we reveal our best trick for getting the perfect Disney’s Animal Kingdom safari experience.

Credit: Disney

Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida back on Earth Day, April 22, 1998. The Lake Buena Vista Park is, in fact, the largest theme park in the world , covering a whopping 580 acres!

The theme park is unique for housing attractions alongside numerous forms of wildlife, with many of these protected animals found at Harambe Wildlife Preserve, the fictional home of Africa’s main attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris . Guests climb aboard an open-sided safari vehicle for an expedition to see African species in savannas, rivers, and forests.

The famous safari ride features wild animals like okapis, bongos, black rhinoceroses , Nile crocodiles, giraffes, hippos, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, and elephants.

But what is the best trick for riding the popular safari ride? Well, get to the Park early for a start!

Credit: Disney Tips

Our biggest tip for getting the best experience on Kilimanjaro Safaris is to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for rope drop. 

When the Disney World theme park opens, instead of heading to Avatar: Flight of Passage in Pandora , break away from the crowds and walk straight to Africa.

There, you’ll find the area empty, with the safari attraction typically being a “walk-on ride.” We’ve always winded our way around the queue area and got straight on – and sometimes even managed to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris twice before the wait time increased!

The other benefit of riding the safari this early is that animals are at their most active. This is when the Animal Kingdom Cast Members feed the giraffes, wildebeest, zebra, elephants, and more, and the weather is cooler, and so the savanna is teeming with incredible photo opportunities.

Credit: Disney Dining

On our most recent visit to Walt Disney World, we woke up early and managed to get on the safari within 5 minutes of the theme park opening. We were lucky enough to see hippos outside of the water, the younger elephants play fighting with each other, and hear the lion roar on top of its “pride rock”! And that was just during one safari!

While everyone else in the Disney Park has run over to Flight of Passage in Pandora, you can calmly enjoy the beauty of the grasslands and enjoy seeing the long line of Guests after you exit.

So, if you want to guarantee the best chance of seeing animals more active with little to no wait time, try to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park at rope drop – you won’t regret the early alarm!

Recently, Guests on Kilimanjaro Safari were evacuated backstage through the wildlife enclosures when a vehicle broke down along the safari route.

Guests can also check out the thrilling Starlight Safari tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge , which is bookable for after-dark safaris.

More on Kilimanjaro Safaris

Walt Disney World’s  official description of the famous theme park attraction Kilimanjaro Safaris  reads:

A Truly Wild Adventure

Explore the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, home to 34 species living in 110 acres of picturesque open plains, shady forest landscapes and rocky wetlands. Your rugged safari vehicle is driven by an expert guide, who helps point out animals and shares fascinating wildlife facts during this extraordinary 18-minute expedition. Unique Animal Encounters Spot a shy hippopotamus nestled in a still pond. Behold a regal lion sunbathing on a rocky perch. Drive past a gentle giraffe grazing on the tall trees or wave hello to a swinging baboon. Other amazing animals you may encounter include rhinos, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, hyenas and zebras—and so many more! Since animals have minds of their own, every expedition is a unique and unforgettable experience. Be sure to keep your eyes open and have a camera ready—you never know what you’ll see on a Kilimanjaro Safaris outing.

About Melissa Cannioto

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Disney guest shares 'miserable' experience evacuating Animal Kingdom's lion enclosure: 'This is ridiculous'

One group of Disney guests got an unexpected experience while venturing on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride earlier this week.

The Kilimanjaro Safari is an attraction exclusive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. Guests take an open-air vehicle through a guided tour of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, which houses 34 species that roam free on the 110 acres of land. The animals include crocodiles, wildebeests, lions, elephants, hippopotamuses and black rhinoceroses.

Watch this Brooklyn bedroom go from drab to fabulous in one day:

The excursion, according to the Disney site, takes around 18 minutes. But one TikToker captured the moment a tour group stopped for over 40 minutes.

TikTok user Katelin ( @purely_katelin ) filmed the tour being fascinated by a lion walking around just a couple feet away from the vehicle. But the sense of awe and wonder began to wear off after the group found themselves stuck in the lion enclosure.

“30 minutes later … still stuck in the lion enclosure,” Katelin narrated. “Haven’t moved, no one — this lady driving has no idea why.”

In a follow-up video , Katelin explained, “Here’s the deal y’all: They’re evacuating us with a ladder, and we have to walk the rest of the way.”

The visitors — which include families with young children , as Katelin showed some moms carrying their kids — had to walk across metal chains and cattle grid, which are methods used to keep the animals from wandering into other enclosures.

“Now we’re on a walking safari with toddlers ,” Katelin said. “This is ridiculous.”

The group then figured out what had caused the evacuation — a vehicle’s front wheel had completely buckled and broken, blocking the path used for all of the tours.

As for compensation from Disney, Katelin said in a comment that Disney gave guests “ONE lightning lane pass for Animal Kingdom,” which gives access to a separate entrance to attractions and rides with shorter lines.

“What made that so miserable is that there were toddlers with us, it was in the sun and no one was telling us what was going on,” Katelin concluded . “Can you imagine that? That’s ridiculous.”

According to commenters, getting stuck on the safari ride didn’t seem too uncommon.

“We got stuck for like 15 minutes because the giraffes weren’t moving,” one person said . “It was cute but the sun was hitting us directly.”

“In my experience it’s usually a giraffic jam,” another joked .

“We got stuck for 20 minutes because rhinos were in the road,” another added . “Then a truck came and dropped some food to move them.”

See this tiny New York apartment get an impressive redesign in one day with a $1,000 budget:

The post Disney guest shares ‘ridiculous’ experience getting stuck in Animal Kingdom’s lion enclosure appeared first on In The Know .

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The Family Vacation Guide

Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: The Ultimate Guide

posted by Charmaine Cortes on December 26, 2022 // last updated on June 12, 2023

Are you planning to visit Kilimanjaro Safari Disney World with your family or loved ones and want to learn more about it? Then you have come to the right place!

In this article, we will provide you with an overview of everything you need to know about Kilimanjaro Safaris. This safari ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park will transport you across the globe into an African Wildlife setting.

In this Ultimate Guide, we will cover all the basics from the history of the Safari, how to ride it and some further frequently asked questions about the wildlife park. Read on to find out more!

About Kilimanjaro Safaris

The kilimanjaro safaris ride, kilimanjaro safaris accessibility, interesting facts.

Walt Disney had a lifelong dream of adding live animals to his Jungle Cruise. Back then, this was not possible until the Kilimanjaro Safaris opened its gates in Disney’s Animal Kingdom park in April 1998.

The park in Walt Disney World wanted to differentiate itself from a zoo from the beginning. While it had live animals, it was more focused on conservation and experiencing the animals in their (somewhat) natural habitat.

Since 2016, visitors can enjoy special sunset safaris where they get to enjoy African animals after dark.

You will find Kilimanjaro Safaris located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, which is part of Walt Disney World.

Make your way past the Tree of Life to the back of Africa, all the way past Mombasa Marketplace and Dawa Bar. As you cross the bridge, you will get to Kilimanjaro Safaris.

The queue will lead you through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve before you enter your safari vehicle and head out to experience the African Savanna without leaving the States!

The Kilimanjaro Safaris vehicles are open-air trucks that can accommodate up to 35 guests. Each vehicle can seat three to five guests in one row.

The Savanna provides a bumpy ride along a dirt trail and is different from the other smooth theme park rides at Disney. So buckle up.

You will be provided with a game-spotting guide. Be on the lookout, as not all wildlife will be visible at all times.

A Kilimanjaro Safaris ride is approximately 20 to 30 minutes long and leads through 100 acres of Savanna. During this time, you will be able to spot about 34 different species. Among these, you will find famous members of the African Animal Kingdom:

• Hippopotamus
• Sable Antelopes
• Thompson’s Gazelles
• African Wild Dogs
• Termite Mounds

Each expedition through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve is completely unique. The animals are all free roaming and are, therefore, always in a different place or sometimes in hiding.

If you are looking for a specific unique experience, you can visit Kilimanjaro Safaris at night! During those nighttime safaris, you will be able to experience the wildlife in a completely different setting. Some animals tend to be more active during the night, so we recommend trying out both times.

The ride with Kilimanjaro Safaris is longer than some other rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, so factor that into your time at the park, so you don’t miss other rides.

Since you will be dealing with real animals, we recommend behavior that suits the setting. No loud noises or erratic behavior as this can scare the wildlife. Small children are to be watched at all times. In general, this might be a better experience for children above the age of six.

Fastpass/ Lightning Lane:  Yes

Time:  20 -30 minutes

Height Restrictions:  None

Age Restrictions:  None

Handicapped Accessibility:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris is Wheelchair Accessible

To access the safari ride, you can wheel up a ramp and ride into the truck itself. Your wheelchair will be tied down and secured, so you do not have to worry about bouncing around during the ride through the wilderness.

• Other guests need to take a small step into the safari vehicle.
• no high blood pressure
• no heart, back, or neck problems
• no motion sickness
• no other severe conditions

Disney does advise against expectant mothers or people that aren’t in good health riding with Kilimanjaro Safaris, as the rides can get bumpy, and there is also no option for an emergency exit while in the safari vehicle.

Service Animals:

Kilimanjaro Safaris allows service animals to be taken into the premises and on rides. However, the park advises visitors to do so with caution. The animals might be completely new to this wildlife experience and might act differently.

 In the beginning, Kilimanjaro Safaris included a lot of information about poaching in their ride and even had a specific section in the park set up to educate about the illegal hunting of wildlife.

These days, Kilimanjaro Safaris is more focused on the educational part of the conservation of the African Savanna and its wildlife.

The ride is designed to be as realistic as possible. Therefore, the roads are quite rough (as mentioned previously in this article). You need to be ready for some rough and rugged terrain during your safari adventure at Kilimanjaro Safaris.

How big is the Kilimanjaro Safari Park?

Including the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, the Kilimanjaro Safaris Park is about 1.5 miles.

While this might not sound too lengthy, keep in mind that you will follow winding roads that are extremely bumpy. On top of that, the Kilimanjaro Safaris area is about 110 acres big. Plus, the safari trucks will drive extremely slow. This is also to ensure you will see enough wildlife.

Can you pet animals at Kilimanjaro Safaris?

This is a clear no. You are dealing with wildlife from the African animal kingdom at Kilimanjaro Safaris. These animals are wild. They are no pets. A direct encounter with lions is to be treated with respect and can end in a dangerous situation should you mistake them for a house cat.

Should you or your children wish to pet animals, we recommend visiting the petting zoo at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Are all animals real at Kilimanjaro Safaris?

Yes, the animals are all real. The tour however does include some fake elements, such as:

• Ostrich Eggs
• Moonlight during the safari ride after sunset
• Termite mounds

When Is The Best Time To Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris?

We recommend purchasing your Harambe Wildlife Reserve pass early in the morning and heading straight to the open-air safari experience. The animals tend to be more active during the morning hours as well as after sunset.

During midday, most animals will hide in the shade or be less active because of the heat. It will also be more strenuous on visitors, as this is an open-air vehicle and you might not feel too comfortable in the hot climate.

Does the Weather influence the Safari?

Kilimanjaro Safaris is an open-air safari. So the rides are in some way influenced by the weather. The animals might not be bothered by the rain, but they might be less active in extreme heat. So plan your visit accordingly.

Since this is an open-air safari, we recommend dressing for whatever weather you might encounter. If there is a possibility of rain, dress warm and take a raincoat. Should the weather be pleasant with sunshine, we recommend a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Check your forecast and come with the necessities to make the ride enjoyable.

More about our TFVG Author

Charmaine Cortes

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Theme parks, disney cruise line – what you need to know, cruise line ships, recent walt disney world, recent disneyland, all reviews, recent reviews, allears style, newsletter home, recent disney and florida attractions news blog.

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The BEST Times to Go on Kilimanjaro Safaris in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is extremely unique to the other Disney World parks with its focus on plants and wildlife!

The entire park itself is a beautiful walk of nature with gorgeous foliage, the epic Tree of Life, AND the various animals that call the property home. And, before your next trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we’re sharing the best times of the day that you can find animals out to play!

You might feel a pull towards popular attractions like Expedition Everest or Avatar Flight of Passage when you head to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at the beginning of the day. But, we actually recommend taking a detour over to the Kilimanjaro Safaris first thing in the morning instead !

The animals are just waking up and coming outside to greet guests and soak up the start of the day. While you might see animals around the Harambe Wildlife Reserve lounge about and nap later in the day, they are usually more active in the morning! But, that’s not the only time of the day you’ll see them active!

Another great time to visit the Kilimanjaro Safaris is when it rains! Many of the animals will either enjoy the rain and walk around, or they’ll huddle together in places they won’t get as wet. We spotted animals that usually aren’t as active during the safari ride, like the cheetahs, making their way around the enclosure…

While morning is definitely one of the best times to do Safaris, another great time is when it rains! We NEVER see the cheetahs this active! pic.twitter.com/hDBxj59Y4d — AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) April 11, 2021

…while the hippos were LOVING that drizzle, since they typically reside in the water most days anyways!

The weather has temporarily shut down MOST of the rides at Disney's Animal Kingdom, but Kilimanjaro Safaris is still running! pic.twitter.com/NQe6s17yFz — AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) April 11, 2021

There was even a tower of giraffes huddled together underneath the trees to stay warm during the storm.

A tower of giraffes huddled together on Kilimanjaro Safaris! pic.twitter.com/cC4D9APC6s — AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) April 11, 2021

There’s a reason why Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of our favorite attractions! And, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on everything new happening around the parks soon. Stay tuned with All Ears for more Disney tips and tricks!

Dozens of rides close in Disney World due to weather-related power failure

What’s your favorite animal to see on the Kilimanjaro Safaris? Let us know in the comments below!

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Rachel Franko

Rachel Franko has been going to Disney Parks since she was a baby, and her love of Disney has only grown into a SLIGHT obsession since! She's been writing for AllEars since 2019 and loves sharing the magic with all the readers. When she's not writing, you can catch her heading to Disney and Universal Studios with a heart full of dreams and a backpack full of themed ears!

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Kilimanjaro Safaris

A Truly Wild Adventure

Explore the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, home to over 30 species living in 110 acres of picturesque open plains, shady forest landscapes and rocky wetlands. Your rugged safari vehicle is driven by an expert guide, who helps point out animals and shares fascinating wildlife facts during this extraordinary 18-minute expedition.

Unique Animal Sightings Spot a lounging hippopotamus nestled in a peaceful pond. Behold a regal lion sunbathing on a rocky perch. Drive past a towering giraffe grazing on the tall trees or a white rhino relaxing in the cool mud. Other amazing animals you may encounter include cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, painted dogs, zebras—and so many more!

Since animals have minds of their own, every expedition is a unique and unforgettable experience. Be sure to keep your eyes open and have a camera ready—you never know what you’ll see on a Kilimanjaro Safaris outing.

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Wild africa trek, disney animals at walt disney world resort, even more magic – as you wish, guests also viewed, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for kilimanjaro safaris.

Complete Guide to Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom

Board a safari truck and get your cameras ready! Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom gives you the experience of a real-life African safari, but at Walt Disney World.

As you travel through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve you will learn about conservation, the importance of taking care of animals, and, of course, get the chance to see amazing creatures, like elephants, hippos, and giraffes.

Now, let’s explore our guide to Kilimanjaro Safaris .

In this article

Kilimanjaro Safaris Quick Facts

• Location : Animal Kingdom, Africa
• Height Requirement : None
• Suitable for: Everyonest
• Attraction Length: 18 minutes
• Do we recommend? Definitely a high priority attraction you must experience.
• When to Visit : Typically at opening/within the first hour, or later in the day toward park closing.
• Lightning Lane Available: Yes
• Scheduled Refurbishments
• Tip(s) : Visit first thing in the morning at park open. The line gets really long, really fast, and the animals seem to be out more in the morning. The next best time to visit is at sunset for park closing. Crowds level off earlier at Animal Kingdom, wait times may be reduced, and animals can be out feeding.

Description : You board safari vehicles that are driven by guides who really do drive (no tracks) and are very knowledgeable about the animals. As you make your way through the savanna, the guides provide lots of information based on what you see along the ride. Sometimes have to stop to wait for animals to clear the path.

No two rides are the same as the animals are free roaming and on their own schedule. We would recommend experiencing the safari twice in your park day, if possible.

Everything You Need To Know About Kilimanjaro Safaris

You can find Kilimanjaro Safaris in the heart of Africa. Here’s the location on the map.

Download the PDF

How to Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris

Kilimanjaro Safaris has a Standby Lane and a Lightning Lane. There is no Single Rider Line.

Like most attractions, standby lines typically are the lowest first thing in the morning and at the end of the evening. The middle of the day will see the longest lines.

Even though it’s not listed as an available attraction for Early Theme Park Entry, sometimes Kilimanjaro Safaris is open during the 30-minute early entry.

Kilimanjaro Safaris Standby Lane wait time jumps quickly after park open and can see sustained wait times well over 60 minutes for most of the park day.

Do I need to use Genie+ at Kilimanjaro Safaris?

Kilimanjaro Safaris is available with Genie+ and we highly recommend using it at this attraction for anyone who has purchased Genie+ or if it’s a must-do.

This is a highly popular ride at Animal Kingdom, given that it is a long ride time and suitable for all ages.

Many park guests make it a top priority of their park day. So unless you do this ride first, right at park open, plan to reserve a Genie+ time for Kilimanjaro Safaris.

If you want to try and experience the Safaris twice in one day, we would recommend using the Standby Lane at park open and then using Genie+ to ride it again later in the day.

Make sure you check out our touring strategies for Animal Kingdom for more Genie+ advice.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

You cannot use  Rider Switch  for Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Rider Switch is Disney’s system allowing guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

There also isn’t Single Rider available here.

What to expect when you ride

The Kilimanjaro Safaris queue is outdoors, with part of it shaded. It paints the scene of an African tour company with its straw, thatched roof.

While there isn’t  an interactive queue , the line is themed to the attraction.

You can learn the African Swahili names to your favorite animals on displays as you move through the line. You can even hear the safari trucks driving by as you walk through.

Ride vehicles

Kilimanjaro Safaris ride vehicles can fit a total of 35 individuals. Each row can seat three to five guests, depending.

There is no seatbelt or safety restraint, but there is a door on the right side of each row that closes for security and safety purposes when you’re on the ride.

Motion Sickness

Kilimanjaro Safaris is far from a thrill ride, but it can get rough at times with the trucks bouncing up and down along the paths and bridges.

Sometimes you might even have to brace yourself, so you don’t slide in your seat.

We have a  guide on motion sickness  that’s filled with information and tips, so feel free to check that out.

Accessibility information

Guests in ECVs or power wheelchairs must transfer to a manual wheelchair. There are wheelchair accessible vehicles with built-in ramps.

Those using an ECV who don’t wish to transfer to a vehicle bench, must transfer to a Disney-provided manual wheelchair.

You will be seated in Row 1 right behind the tour guide. A bench is located directly next to the wheelchair space and additional companions will be directed to sit in the rows behind the wheelchair space.

Those using ECVs or wheelchairs can remain in their mobility devices until they reach the accessible boarding and unloading area, which is not long after the stroller drop-off area.

This area is where ECVS and other mobility devices can be parked. They will be waiting in the same space when guests return from their safari.

Keep in mind that each safari vehicle only holds one occupied wheelchair at a time, so anyone needing this type of access could have an additional wait compared to those who transfer to a vehicle bench.

Handheld captioning , assistive listening, and video captioning is available for guests.

Service animals are also permitted, but with caution.

On the Ride

Spoilers ahead! If you want to go in knowing absolutely nothing about Kilimanjaro Safaris, feel free to skip this section.

After walking through the queue you and your party finally make it to the boarding lanes awaiting your safari tour.

You can’t miss the sound of your safari truck approaching. A warm greeting from your tour guide “Jambo,” which is Swahili for “Hello.”

After boarding your safari truck, your group will take off entering the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

Be alert and have your cameras ready, because these are live, free roaming animals, so you never know what you will see or how close the animals will get.

No tour is ever the same!

You start off in the forest seeing the Okapi, the closet living relative to the giraffe. You’ll next approach a watering hole where you can catch sights of animals like the saddle billed stork, bongo, kudu, and black rhinoceros.

Heading out of the forest your truck will enter a river where you can spot hippopotamus’. The only way to exit the river is by crossing over an old, shaky bridge.

Under the bridge, down low you’ll spot a crowd of Nile crocodiles. But not to fear, you’re with an expert driver and guide! Your truck makes it over the bridge safe and sound.

Exiting the river your safari tour will enter the savanna marked by a big Baobab tree.

As your truck makes its way down the savanna you will spot many animals like zebras, African wild dogs, giraffes, wildebeest, and cattle. Some animals may cross in front of or come right up to the truck. Be sure to look out past the truck under trees and in the shaded areas to spot animals.

Leaving the savanna your guide will spot a couple of fallen down trees. That means the mighty elephants are near! On the way to find the elephants you pass a family of Mandrill monkeys.

Your truck approaches another old shaky, bridge, worse than the last one. Your tour guide crosses successfully with care.

In search of more elephants you enter the red clay pit. Sure enough you may be able to catch sight of the elephants! Females are usually found with their young, while the male elephants stick more to themselves. If there are new babies on the tour, your guide will be sure to point them out.

Driving through the watering area of the red clay pit, you will see a flock of flamingo. Did you know flamingos start off gray in color? Be sure to listen to the tour guide to hear what makes flamingos pink!

Approaching the mud pit you will spy white rhinoceros. Up in the shade you’ll spot a couple of cheetah, the fastest land mammals on earth.

Next up, the highlight of every tour, and sometimes the hardest animal to see, are the lions up on the rock. Since lions are nocturnal animals and sleep most of the day, your best chance to see them awake are on safaris later in the day near park closing.

Are you ready for more? Your tour is still not over! Next up be sure to look out for warthogs, ostrich eggs, and Bontebok antelopes.

Before your safari comes to an end, you’ll see some super adorable Nigerian Dwarf Goats, who are originally from Nigeria and considered to be of high value because of the high protein milk they provide.

You leave the reserve and head back to the village of Harambe. After the vehicle comes to a complete stop the doors on your right side will open, allowing you and your party to exit.

Keep in mind that each time you ride is different, because you never know what animals you’ll see or how they’ll act. This makes the attraction super unique.

Is Kilimanjaro Safaris kid-friendly?

Overall, Kilimanjaro Safaris is kid-friendly. After all, it doesn’t even have a height requirement. It should be fun for most kids to see the different animals. And, don’t worry, there aren’t any dark or scary moments.

That said, the ride can get rough at times thanks to the paths, bridges, and the safari vehicle itself. This could be either fun or upsetting to little ones. But, for the most part, the ride is kid-friendly.

Be sure to check out our full guide on several other  things that might scare little ones at Disney World .

Strollers are not allowed on the Kilimanjaro Safaris vehicles. You’ll need to park your stroller in the designated stroller parking area at the attraction entrance.

If you forget to park your stroller or want to take it into the line, you can, but know you’ll have to park it mid-way. There is an area with Cast Members waiting, who will take your stroller and park it for you.

Kilimanjaro Safaris first opened in 1998, the same year as Animal Kingdom. Actually, both the attraction and the park opened on April 22, aka Earth Day.

Animal Kingdom is the largest of all Disney World theme parks. It spreads out over 500 acres, which also gives the animals plenty of room to roam and live.

The Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction itself spans 110 acres with the Harambe Wildlife Reserve serving as home to 34 species!

Your guide drives around as they gives facts about the animals you encounter along the way during the 18-minute journey.

When the ride initially opened, there was a poachers storyline and even a rickety bridge that threw some excitement into the mix. But, both of these elements were removed and now there’s more of a focus on the actual animals and the importance of conservation.

Former Imagineer Joe Rohde is responsible and to thank for not only breathing life into Kilimanjaro Safaris, but Animal Kingdom as a whole. Without him, this park wouldn’t be is what is today.

There’s no doubt Kilimanjaro Safaris is a fantastic experience and the closest thing many will ever get to experiencing an African safari.

Other Fun Details

• If you want an even more in depth and VIP tour of the savanna, you can sign up for the 3-hour guided Wild Africa Trek tour , where you will embark on some adventurous activities and see animals even more up close. This tour is priced separately and must be booked in advanced.

• For an additional price, Up Close with Rhinos is a 60-minute tour giving you the chance to go backstage at Animal Kingdom to meet and learn more about white rhinos, with help from a guide.

• Take some time to visit the Gorilla Falls Exploration walking trail, located near the exit of Kilimanjaro Safaris. It runs along parts of the driving tour and gives another look at many of the animals you saw on the drive, along with different ones like gorillas and meerkats!

• Pay attention as you drive by the flamingos for a fun Hidden Mickey.

Other Attractions in Africa

• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
• Festival of the Lion King
• Wildlife Express Train (takes you to Rafiki’s Planet Watch)

Ultimate Guide to Kilimanjaro Safaris (Animal Kingdom)

If you love animals, you are going to love the Disney Animal Kingdom Safari ride.   Kilimanjaro Safaris magically takes you on what feels like a real African Safari in this amazing experience. 

Kilimanjaro Safaris allows guests to explore the Harambe Wildlife Reserve in an open air vehicle.  Disney’s wildlife reserve is 110 acres with over 30 species of real animals.  You’ll drive through wide-open plains, forests, and wetlands. 

Each ride vehicle has an expert guide, who shares tons of interesting facts about the creatures you are seeing.   The bumpy ride is about 20 minutes long, making it the longest ride in the Disney parks.  

Kilimanjaro Safaris is a very engaging ride as you never know what animals you’ll get to see up close and what they will be doing as you pass by.  

Disney provides salt licks along the path to attract animals to points where you can see them.  You’ll also pass by watering hole areas as well as great views of a lot of animals on the African savanna.  

Kilimanjaro Safaris is the closest thing to a real African safari.  We’ve ridden this ride many MANY times and it’s always different.  

Different cast member tour guides share different bits of information, the animals are always on the move, so sometimes you get a great view of an animal up close, sometimes there’s new baby animals to see, and sometimes you get to see your favorite animal eat lunch, etc.  

Regardless, you can count on getting a unique experience every time you ride!

When Should you Ride Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris?

Kilimanjaro Safaris is the main attraction of the Africa section at Animal Kingdom, so the lines can get long at times.  

The best time to ride, in my opinion is late morning or late afternoon.  

It’s a bit tricky because the safari doesn’t always open right away, so you can’t count on rope dropping this one first thing in the morning.  

You also want to avoid riding it in the heat of the day because many times the animals are hidden because they are wanting to cool off.

The best thing to do is to get in line right before it opens (Which varies day to day) OR ride it around late afternoon when the lines have gotten shorter.  

Many people leave this Disney park early to park hop to another one, which eases up some of those long lines!

Ideally, if you have Lightning Lanes, I would schedule a ride around 10:30 am as the lines are likely long, but the animals are active – you can skip that long line with your lightning lane passes.

If you don’t have that Lightning Lane access – save this ride for late afternoon.

What animals are on the safari ride at Animal Kingdom?

Here’s a list of the animals you will see on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

You’ll see:  

• African Wild Dogs
• Ankole Cattle
• Black Rhino
• Common Eland
• Hippopotamus
• Nigerian Dwarf Goat
• Nile Crocodiles
• Pink-Backed Pelican
• Saddle-Billed Stork
• Scimitar Oryx
• Spotted Hyena
• White Rhinos 

 This list does change from time to time, but in general, you can expect to see a LOT of different animals on this amazing ride.

How bumpy is safari ride at Animal Kingdom?

The ride vehicles for Kilimanjaro Safaris are open-sided safari vehicles.  Your tour guide drives his/her big custom made safari truck over fairly rough terrain.  

The safari driver does their best to avoid potholes, but the path is pretty rough and bumpy.  

Disney advises that guests need to be in good health, no high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems.  

They also say that expectant mothers should not ride as there can be unexpected jolts on the ride.

In addition, Disney warns that this could cause motion sickness.   For what it’s worth, my son and I are prone to motion sickness and neither one of us have ever had a problem on this ride.  

Has the Animal Kingdom Safari Ride Changed over the years?

Kilimanjaro Safaris has definitely changed over the years.  If you remember riding it many years ago, you might remember a Poacher storyline.  

Over time, Disney dropped that storyline in favor of not scaring child with imaginary poachers and instead, giving you more information about the amazing animals on this ride.

General Information

Theme Park: Disney’s  Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Area of the Park:   Africa

Age Range Appeal:  all ages – Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults

Queue Description:   The standby queue for the Disney Animal Kingdom Safari Ride is fairly simple. It can get very hot as it is outdoors. Lines can get long mid-morning and mid-day.  

Queue Length:   This ride often opens up later in the morning, not always at rope drop.  Lines tend to grow mid-morning to mid afternoon.  Then lines tend to drop as early as 3:30pm.

Ride Height Requirements:   No heigh requirement but kids under age 7 must be with a person age 14 years or older.

Pregnant mothers and those with health conditions are advised not to ride due to the bumpy nature of the ride.  

Scary Factor:   Low – it’s a slow ride, but there are unexpected bumps and jolts as you ride along on the rough terrain.

Official URL:   https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/animal-kingdom/kilimanjaro-safaris/

Kilimanjaro Safaris Video

More Animal Kingdom Information

Want to learn more about Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Be sure to check out our other articles.

You can find all the best rides at Animal Kingdom here. We outline all the details on the must-do rides and of course, the one ride you should avoid.

Eating gluten free? You can find all the best Gluten Free Dining Options at Animal Kingdom here.

You’ll want to learn all about Avatar Flight of Passage here. This is such an incredible ride in the World of Pandora section of Animal Kingdom.

Be sure to check out our handy list of Disney’s Ride Height Requirements . Find out before you go, which rides your kids are able to ride.

Learn all about the Best Souvenirs at Disney World here. So many cool ideas for a memento of your amazing Disney vacation.

If you are in the thick of starting to plan your trip, be sure to read Best Day of the Week to visit Disney World .

And of course, don’t forget to grab our free printable Disney World Packing List . Everything you need to remember to pack for the perfect Disney vacation!

Be sure to pin the image below to save this Disney Animal Kingdom Safari Ride info for later!

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Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris – The Ultimate Guide Updated

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Want to know more about the Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris?

One of the most immersive of all the Animal Kingdom rides, the Disney Kilimanjaro Safari takes you on a journey through the African planes.

In Orlando Florida.

This highly unique experience is one of the highlights of any trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It truly is an adventure that you cannot find anywhere else in North America.

Discover what you need to know about Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris so that you and your family can get the most out of this immersive attraction.

Disney Kilimanjaro Safari Guide

The Disney Imagineers have successfully created the Harambe Wildlife Reserve in Animal Kingdom park.

Walt Disney himself always wanted to have live animals incorporated into his theme parks.

Whilst in Disneyland this dream was kind of realized in Jungle Cruise (Walt originally wanted real animals for this attraction), Disney’s Animal Kingdom finally achieved that dream.

The area where your Kilimanjaro Safari Bus will take you is vast.

110 acres of vast.

And it is home to 34 different species of animal including lions, hippos, giraffes, and elephants.

What is the Disney Kilimanjaro Safari Ride Like?

The first experience of any Disney ride is the line area!

The advantage of the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride is that the queue is well-shaded.

There are some things to look at along the way, including some videos about conservation. But mostly the best thing about this line is that it is in the shade!

It can get very very hot in Orlando and it can be a challenge to wait in line at the height of the heat. There are a few spots where you can even sit down on a small wall which gives your feet a bit of a rest!

This is one reason not to ride Kilimanjaro Safari in the heat of the day – the queue will be a lot easier to deal with if it is a bit cooler.

A short way into the line you will have to put your stroller in the parking place.

A Cast Member will be there to guide you to the exact spot.

Then by the time you get back, your stroller will have moved of course!

Photo Credit

The Disney Animal Kingdom Safari ride vehicles are custom-built GMC and Ford trucks.

Lots of guests think that Kilimanjaro Safaris is on a track, but it isn’t. Those safari vehicles are true off-roaders controlled by the Cast Members!

Each ride vehicle holds up to 32 guests in 9 rows each seating up to 4. There is no height requirement for this Animal Kingdom ride.

It is very much for families, but as I discuss below, it is very bumpy.

Take notice of the warnings.

If you have a health condition or are pregnant give Disney’s Kilimanjaro Safaris a miss!

Is there a best place to sit on the Disney Kilimanjaro Safari ride?

There really aren’t any bad seats, but the best is the front and the back row.

However, be aware that the further towards the back you get, the bumpier the ride!

If you have small children they should not be at the edge.

In front of you, there are signs which help you recognize which animals you may see on your safari.

The most popular sitings are those of elephants, giraffes, gazelles, rhinos, crocodiles, hippos, and lions.

The safari guides always make sure that they keep you entertained as well as educated. And they will try their best to point out the sometimes very well camouflaged animals.

If you can be organized enough it is a great idea to take some High Powered Binoculars with you.

I went on the safari ride for years before I actually did this. It made a huge difference to what you can see.

There is usually plenty of time to take photos of the animals. Your Cast Member guide will do their best to point out the best photo ops.

Animal Kingdom Safari Ride Fun Facts

Don’t worry. Of course, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has things well designed so that you are not going to get up close and personal with a lion. Big trenches separate humans from the dangerous animals.

Jurassic Park this is not.

Disney has some great tricks to keep the animals visible and happy.

Ever wonder why the lions are always sitting out on the rocks? Yes, they are mimicking what they do in the wild, but what most people don’t know about the rocks is that they are air-conditioned!

The lions originally came from a much cooler park in Oregon, so they needed a little help cooling down in the hot Florida sun. If it ever gets too cold, the rocks can be heated too!

Disney also knows how to get the animals as close as possible to you. How do they do this? The usual incentive for food and water.

They place food, watering holes, and salt licks close to the vehicle paths.

The emphasis is on safety both for humans and animals.

You might think you can reach out and touch that giraffe but there is a large system of trenches, bridges and fences on all the savannas to keep humans from the animals and to keep the animals from predators.

Many years ago there was a story about poachers with a graphic illustration of the fate of Little Red, a baby elephant. This storyline has not been seen for almost a decade as many considered it too upsetting for a Disney attraction.

Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris Best Time To Ride

What is the best time to ride the Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris? This Animal Kingdom ride is popular. And popular means lines.

The best tactic for the best time to ride Disney Kilimanjaro’s Safari? Arrive early. I know that’s always the advice, but it works.

If you can arrive at the Animal Kingdom at rope drop and then go straight to Kilimanjaro Safaris you will most likely be beating the crowds. Even better is if you have Early Entry at 8 am. You can really get ahead of the crowds.

The attraction is right at the back of the park. If you plan to be there early look at a map of Animal Kingdom so you get your bearings as to where you are going.

There are plenty of signs in the park, but it is always good to have an overall view.

There is another great reason to ride Disney’s Kilimanjaro Safari as early as possible. The animals are much more active in the morning.

You are more likely to see a greater selection of active animals than in the afternoon when it is hotter.

 Kilimanjaro Safaris Wait Time

The Disney Kilimanjaro Safari wait times will vary from anywhere between 10 minutes to 120 minutes, This depends on the time of day as well as whether it is peak season or not.

As we have said, the lowest wait time will be as soon as the park opens.

If you leave it until 11 am you are likely to hit the peak wait times of at least 70 to 90 minutes.

Really try and avoid that time of day as it is likely to be the worst.

If you don’t get to the attraction early in the day, the next best time to ride Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris is usually around 3 pm onwards.

A lot of people head for the attraction earlier in the day and have cleared that area by mid-afternoon.

The wait times for this Animal Kingdom attraction are somewhat better now that Disney’s Animal Kingdom has extended opening hours. It used to only ever be open 9 am until 5 pm.

Now the hours are often extended into the evening so this also gives a chance to experience the safari ride at night.

Kilimanjaro Safaris at Night

Now the hours are often extended into the evening so this also gives a chance to experience the Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris at night.

This is a very different experience from touring during the day.

If possible you should try and ride once in the early morning and then go back late in the evening.

The least busy times will be just before the park closes.

Adapting the experience for nighttime was not an easy task. Disney had to spend more than a year preparing the animals and the environment for the nighttime Kilimanjaro Safaris.

They introduced some new animals, such as the nocturnal hyenas, to be better suited to the nighttime experience.

They also added a huge wall of graphic displays to enhance the Kilimanjaro Safaris at night. This is so that guests can actually have enough light to see the animals.

The graphics cleverly mimic a gradually setting sun over an extended period of time.

This is so that the animals can adjust to the environment and the guests can actually still see the animals which are up and about in the evening.

The Kilimanjaro Safaris at Night is definitely a different experience than during the day. Ideally, you should do both. If you have to choose just one though, I would say go in the morning. You are likely to see more active animals.

Disney Kilimanjaro Safaris For Pregnant Ladies

I visited Disney World many times while pregnant. It’s a very pregnant lady-friendly place!

However, there are some Disney World rides that recommend that if you are pregnant you should not ride.

Disney’s Kilimanjaro Safari Ride very clearly states that pregnant ladies should not ride.

This is going to be very much an individual decision. There are some rides at Disney World where it is very obvious that a pregnant woman should not ride.

You probably aren’t going to want to sign up to ride Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, or Rock N Roller Coaster when you are pregnant.

That’s obvious.

But Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of those Disney World rides where you are thinking shall I or shan’t I?

My personal experience is that when I was pregnant with my youngest son I did go on the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride. After about 10 seconds I realized that for me, it was the wrong decision. Kilimanjaro Safari is bumpy!

I remember just wanting it to end almost as soon as it started.

I am fortunate and have experienced the Animal Kingdom Safari Ride many times. However, at that time I really wished I hadn’t. It’s fine normally to speed through the African planes in your safari vehicle over all the bumps, but when pregnant I just wanted to be somewhere else!

Will you be experiencing Disney’s Kilimanjaro Safaris on your next visit to the Animal Kingdom?

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Disney Animal Kingdom Rides - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Saturday 17th of August 2019

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The Best Time to go on Kilimanjaro Safaris

by Chad Kennedy | Aug 6, 2018 | Animal Kingdom , Parks

Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of Animal Kingdom’s most popular rides and a unique Disney World experience, taking you on a journey to see some of Africa’s amazing wildlife. With so many different areas and animals on the safari, it can be hard to see them all in one ride. Choosing the right time of day will give you the best chance to see as many animals as possible.

This really is one of the most unique and entertaining rides Disney World has to offer. That’s why it’s high on my list of 110 Disney World Must Do’s .

What is the best time to go on Kilimanjaro Safaris?

The best time to go on Kilimanjaro Safaris is first thing in the morning or right at sundown. Certain animals are more active during specific times of the day or even at night, so choosing a time close to sunrise or sunset is best for animal activity with enough sunlight for you to comfortably see.

I’ve been on Kilimanjaro Safaris more times than I can count. The beauty of the ride is that it’s always a different experience. There are just so many species of animals running around inside the preserve that it’s impossible to predict exactly where they’ll be at any given time. The large size of the preserve also factors in to the unpredictability.

P.S. – We also have a big list of Animal Kingdom tips and secrets . It’s extremely helpful for planning and getting the most out of your trip.

It’s worth noting that Central Florida gets very, very hot, especially during summer afternoons. Many animals will take this hottest time of day as an opportunity to relax and escape the sun. On the flip side, some animals are simply more likely to make their way to the water during the hottest hours.

It’s almost impossible to pinpoint the perfect time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris, but from my personal experience, your safest bet will usually be early or late in the day. My best advice would be to enjoy the ride at several different times. You’ll be surprised at how different one safari ride can be from another.

All that said, don’t stress yourself too much over timing. There may be “optimal” times to enjoy the ride, but there isn’t a “bad” time. These animals are accustomed to people and many drivers will tell you that the animals will often “show off” for the tour. You’ll get to see plenty of action no matter what time of day you choose to ride.

Kilimanjaro Safaris Tips

• Ride first thing in the morning:  A morning ride is good for two reasons. First, the animals tend to be a little bit more active early in the morning. Second, you’ll avoid peak wait times. Kilimanjaro Safaris is very popular and wait times are often very high from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
• Ride right at sunset:  A sunset ride is great for seeing animals. Many of the animals start moving around a little more as the sun starts to go down. This time of day strikes a nice balance between active animals and enough daylight for good visibility.
• Ride late at night:  Even though the darkness can limit your overall visibility, nighttime is one of my favorite times to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris. It’s worth noting that nighttime rides are only available with special tours, which makes it even more exciting. Many areas of the preserve are partially lit, so it’s not like you’re going to be totally blind. This is often the best time to see more activity from the lions and other somewhat nocturnal species.
• Don’t avoid the rain:  With Kilimanjaro Safaris, rain is usually your friend. Most of the animals love the rain and become far more active when it’s raining. So don’t avoid Animal Kingdom just because it’s raining. The Safaris’ trucks have large roofs, so don’t worry too much about getting wet. If you want to stay totally dry and comfortable, simply come equipped with some good rain gear. (Click to see some of our rain gear recommendations)
• Sit on the left side of the truck:  Many of the best areas on the safari will be seen off the left side of the truck. You can’t always control where you end up, so don’t worry about it too much if you can’t get to the left side. But if you can, try to put yourself in a position to slide all the way to the left side of the truck. Keep in mind that you’ll be entering your truck row from the right side of the vehicle.
• Don’t forget your camera: If there is a Disney World ride that’s especially awesome for photography, it’s Kilimanjaro Safaris. Make sure to bring a good camera, like the ones we recommend in our Disney World Gear Guide . There are so many cool opportunities to get interesting, unique shots during the ride. A camera with a good zoom lens and image stabilization will be a big help to you while you try to capture the perfect moments.

Kilimanjaro Safaris Highlights

• Lions:  It’s not surprising that the lions are the most popular part of Kilimanjaro Safaris. The problem is that, like most cats, they sleep a lot. Rides during the early morning, dusk, and especially nighttime will give you the best chance to see the lions up and about.
• Elephants:  In my experience, seeing the elephants is usually the most hit or miss part of the ride. Sometimes they are all right out in the open. Other times they are nowhere to be found. They are one of the most interesting animals in the preserve and it’s fun to watch them play in the water.
• Giraffes:  The giraffes are one of the least timid animals on the preserve. They’re also one of the most reliable species on the ride. You’ll almost always see a big group of giraffes interacting with each other, often very close to the truck.
• Cheetahs:  The cheetah enclosure has a fairly heavy amount of foliage, making it somewhat difficult to see the cheetahs if they aren’t walking around. If the cheetahs are up and about, they’re usually pacing around in the front of the exhibit and you shouldn’t have a problem spotting them.
• Black and white rhinos:  The rhinos are one of the most interesting animals in the more “open” part of the safari. The areas they inhabit allow you to get a better view than many of the other popular animals. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a chance at seeing a rhino extremely close to the truck.
• Hippos:  You’ll see the hippos early on in the ride. They’re most often sitting still in the water, but it’s really cool to see them when they are walking around outside of the water.
• Ostriches:  The ostrich is one of the more comical animals running around in the open part of the safari. I’ve been on the ride a number of times where an ostrich came very close to the truck for and gave everyone a show.

This was very helpful for our trip planning! I’ve read lots of basic things about this attraction, but this gave me more insight to help plan. My kids are the most excited about seeing the animals. Thank you.

Thanks Jill! Kilimanjaro Safaris is definitely one of the “can’t miss” rides at Animal Kingdom (and at Disney World in general). There’s really not a bad time to ride, but it’s always nice to avoid some of the peak crowds and have the best shot at seeing more animals. No two trips through the Harambe Preserve are the same, so you’ll almost always have something unique that stands out from ride to ride.

What is the latest time to ride the safari in June? My family will be eating dinner at Boma at 6:45 and will go to Animal Kingdom for Rivers of Light. We hope to ride the Safari before Rivers of light at 9:15 (using fast pass).

Hey Morgan!

To my knowledge, Disney hasn’t released the official June hours for Kilimanjaro Safaris yet, but I would guess that it would operate until 8:30PM. My advice would be to check into Boma 15 minutes early (or earlier, if they’ll allow it). That way, you’ll give yourself a little bit of extra time. If you can make it to Animal Kingdom by 8:00, I think you’d probably be safe to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris and still make it to your Rivers of Light FastPass. Try to find a FastPass for Kilimanjaro Safaris in the time slot before Rivers of Light!

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Never-Built Rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Beastly Kingdom, Excavator Coaster & More

Walt Disney World’s fourth theme park, Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day, April 22nd, 1998. After nearly a decade of development, the park we got to experience in person was quite different from the one they started designing in 1989.

From drastically changing animal encounters to the loss of an entire land, let’s dig into the Animal Kingdom we didn’t get on opening day, and what could’ve been. Check out the video version of this story below for additional visuals.

Part 1 – The 400-Pound Tiger in the Room

Disney’s Animal Kingdom started as an idea in 1989, just as Walt Disney World was opening their third park, Disney-MGM Studios. At first there was some resistance to the concept of building a whole theme park around real animals. As the story goes, lead imagineer for the project Joe Rohde had a 400-pound Bengal tiger brought right into a meeting with top executives.

He said “We know that there are concerns about whether animals are, in and of themselves, dramatic…” Everyone gasped as the tiger was led in, and the energy was palpable. And the park was greenlit.

Rohde and his team started by sketching out crude possible layouts for the new park, which would open less than a decade later. The first real pieces of concept art included everything the park could be, and not necessarily what the park would be.

Possible park layout sketched by Imagineers early in development

The early concepts had huge aspirations, with a massive safari ride in every land, different biomes with different animal habitats, and so on. Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted a dino-land, and he wanted it to be called DinoLand. Imagineers wanted a land based on mythical animals too. This park was going to be massive.

And while the park’s early advertising wanted to make it perfectly clear that Animal Kingdom was not-a-zoo… There was a learning curve when it came to just how much money it was actually going to cost to bring these intricate animal habitats to life.

Disney announced plans for the construction of what was then going to be called Disney’s “Wild Animal Kingdom” in 1995. It was estimated to cost $600 million, but reportedly shot up to more than $850 million after work began.

To help offset the unforeseen costs of running a world-class zoo and theme park in one, they were going to have to start cutting budgets somewhere in the plans.

Part 2 – The Original Oasis

Early concept for Noah’s Ark as the park’s entrance

Going back to the beginning, the earliest concepts for Disney’s Animal Kingdom pulled some iconography from the bible. One idea for the park’s entrance was themed as a gigantic Noah’s Ark. This icon was proposed by Joe Rohde, because like Noah, we should work to conserve animals for future generations.

The first area guests would experience after entering the park, later named The Oasis, was originally envisioned as the Genesis Gardens. Here guests wouldn’t enter the park through a Main Street, U.S.A. with a clear view of the park’s icon, but instead they would have to explore the lush gardens, heading deeper into nature, before the central icon is revealed.

In the early days of brainstorming, plans for a three-tiered carousel were dreamed up. This would’ve acted as the park’s central icon, but it was vetoed by Michael Eisner for being “too frivolous.” Joe Rohde said it seemed like Eisner “already had a sense of the mission for the place” early on.

Possible centerpiece icon for the park, a large 3-tier carousel

Alternate style for animal-inspired 3-tier carousel

The bible-inspired elements were dropped in these early blue sky pitches, and Imagineers decided on the Tree of Life as the park’s centerpiece. It would feature hundreds of different animals carved into its trunk and roots. The tree would not only be massive so it could be seen from different areas of the park, but it was going to feature something inside.

Before deciding on it being a show, they considered putting a dining location inside of the Tree of Life. It would have been named “Root’s Restaurant.” Another idea would’ve allowed guests to climb up and around the Tree of Life, similar to the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

Finally, they decided to place a theater at the base of the tree. Early ideas for the show inside of the Tree of Life Theater included a “Wonders of Nature” presentation and a Lion King 3D movie before they settled on the show based on the upcoming Pixar film “A Bug’s Life.”

Part 3 – DinoLand Before Dino-Rama

Concept art for unrealized sequence from Countdown to Extinction

DinoLand, U.S.A. was designed to be Animal Kingdom’s home for real animals that no longer exist. It was set up as a dig site, with a nearby museum, and a small roadside attraction gift shop. The area’s main attraction, then named Countdown to Extinction, was set within the museum facade.

Utilizing the same ride system and layout as Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure, Countdown to Extinction would act as this land’s version of a safari, while also providing the most thrilling ride for the park’s opening.

It may have started with the same layout as the Indy ride, but some areas were cut short to save money, including the dino version of the bridge scene.

Early concept art for a possible dinosaur-themed nature trail

Much like the safari and animal walking tours being designed for Africa and Asia, this land was to receive a walking tour of its own. Cretaceous Trail may have opened with the park, but it would feature more plants than dinos in its final form. Early concept art seemed to show more elaborate displays than what the trail eventually became.

At the end of the trail was a large area that was originally set aside for an often talked about attraction that was cut from the plans: The Excavator. In many pieces of concept art for the land’s Boneyard play area, a wooden roller coaster can be seen in the background.

Art for The Boneyard play area with unbuilt roller coaster seen in background

The concept for this ride would’ve utilized mine cart style train cars in a ride through the old work site where, in the backstory for the land, the very first bones were found here in Diggs County. ‘Keep out’ warning signs would flank the entry as we board what can be assumed was an attraction set up by the grad students that run the nearby dig site.

During the ride your mining train would pass through dinosaur bones, and around the centerpiece for this out-of-control wooden coaster: an old excavator that the college kids altered to look like a dinosaur, giving the attraction its name.

“The Excavator” or just simply, the Dig Site Coaster as noted in some of the early concept art, was ultimately cancelled. Most claim it was due to budget cuts, but some also believe the Imagineers just weren’t too excited by the concept. Luckily, they revisited the idea of a runaway train coaster for Expedition Everest years later.

The Excavator concept art, source

To help add capacity to DinoLand, U.S.A. at opening, a makeshift attraction was added in the spot originally set aside for The Excavator coaster: Dinosaur Jubilee and the Fossil Preparation Lab. Set inside a tent between the Chester & Hester’s gift shop and the Boneyard, here you could see dinosaur fossil casts and other artifacts on display.

Rather than revisit The Excavator after the park opened, in 2002 Disney added two child-friendly attractions in its spot instead. This expanded Chester & Hester’s roadside attraction, transforming it into Dino-Rama, complete with carnival games and a realistically themed parking lot.

Part 4 – Tiger Rapids Run Before Kali River Could Walk

Concept art for an Asian safari boat ride with real animals

The only parts of the Asia section of Animal Kingdom ready on opening day were the Flights of Wonder bird show and one of the boat dock launches for the now defunct Discovery River Boats.

To help differentiate Asia’s animal safari from the vehicle based one planned for the Africa land next door, Asia’s would take place on boats passing through a winding stream. The concept of having animals on the boat ride was abandoned early in development though, as it would’ve been difficult to see them from the lower vantage point, unlike an elevated safari jeep. Plus, designers wanted to add an element of thrill to this side of the park, and it would be hard to take in the splendor of nature while zooming by on a rapids ride.

The animals we would’ve seen on the Tiger Rapids Run boat ride, like Komodo Dragons, and of course, tigers, would get a new home along a walking tour instead.

The now fast-moving boat ride was to feature an ambitious special effects sequence simulating a forest being devastated by loggers. Much like it is today, the ride was to feature burning logs, but the original concept seemed a bit more grand, with spectacular pyrotechnic effects that would shoot fireball explosions into the air above the fire. Two huge logs swinging freely above the boats were also in these early plans.

Updated ride concept, now as a fast-moving rapids ride

The year before the park opened, Imagineers ran into issues with one of the ride’s elements. After the intense fire sequence, the raft was going to plummet down a seemingly hidden steep drop for the finale. Joe Rohde described it as “it feels like the bottom has dropped out of the river.”

Imagineers attributed part of the delay for this attraction to the test and adjust phase for this part of the ride, which took about four months to perfect using a mock-up created in Burbank, California.

The final version of the ride eventually opened nearly a year after the park debuted, now with the new name of Kali River Rapids, so guests weren’t disappointed to discover there weren’t actually tigers on the ride.

Unfortunately, some of the effects from the initial vision were missing. The raging forest fire with massive fireballs was reduced to some scattered flames. And all fire was completely removed in later years, leaving only a smoldering smoke effect. (Although, a red lighting effect was eventually added to simulate some of the missing fire.)

In the end, more than half of the intended ride path for Asia’s boat ride was cut. To this day you can still see the unused land that was originally cleared for the missing half of the ride in aerial photos and satellite images.

Part 5 – THE Beastly Kingdom

Animal Kingdom was envisioned as a place to see all types of animals: living, extinct, and even mythical. To fulfil the park’s quota of the mythical, designers came up with a land they were originally calling “Mythia,” where you could see a kraken, dragons, and unicorns. This area was later renamed to Beastly Kingdom.

Separated into different areas of light and darkness, this massive fantasy-themed land would feature several attractions, as well as a couple restaurants, including Loch Ness Landing and Mother Goose’s Cottage.

Concept art for Quest for the Unicorn hedge maze

Set within the center of the land, “Quest for the Unicorn,” would be a hedge maze with a large topiary castle in the background. This hedge maze was to feature statues of mythical creatures throughout, and reward guests that make it to the end with a visit to the unicorn’s hidden grotto.

Plans for the right side of the land would include a Fantasia Gardens swan boat ride. This concept was borrowed from one that started as a replacement for Disneyland’s Fantasyland motorboats in the 1960s, and later as a possible retheme of Magic Kingdom’s swan boats in the 80s. The Beastly Kingdom version would’ve included the Pegasus, fauns, and centaurs from “The Pastoral Symphony” sequence of the classic animated film.

Concept art for Fantasia Gardens swan boat ride

Over on the dark side of Beastly Kingdom, a large suspended roller coaster attraction was being developed. Guests would enter this “Dragon Tower” roller coaster attraction through the ruins of an old castle. The story would have us riding on bat-shaped suspended coaster cars as the bats attempt to steal the treasure from the dragon.

According to concept art, much of this attraction would be set outside, among the castle ruins. The finale for the coaster would be an indoor show scene featuring a massive animatronic fire-breathing dragon protecting his hoard of treasure as we pass.

Concept art for Dragon Tower suspended roller coaster

Despite the fact that imagery from Beastly Kingdom can still be found throughout the park to this day, as well as it being used in marketing leading up to the grand opening — even appearing as part of a McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion — the land was postponed indefinitely. The relatively inexpensive Camp Minnie-Mickey was added instead, as a way to add additional capacity to the park in time for opening.

Two years after the park opened, Joe Rohde said “We had a vision and now it’s become a placeholder. We have all kinds of ideas and not all of them fit with the theme of Beastly Kingdom. I’m not even convinced there will be a Beastly Kingdom.”

Concept art for Camp Minnie-Mickey, which replaced Beastly Kingdom for the park’s opening

Years later, this area of the park would eventually get a land based on imagined creatures in the form of Pandora—The World of Avatar, but it wouldn’t be the same type of flying dragons they were originally thinking of.

Part 6 – Discovery River Boats and the Incredible Shrinking Budget

A ferocious, fire-breathing… cave, source

To make good on their promise of dragons and unicorns at Animal Kingdom, plans were drawn up to add some mythical creatures along the coast of the park’s Discovery River Boats.

This opening day attraction would take riders on a one-way journey either to or from an area near the front of the park to the back of the park while guides point out sights along the cruise and show off small animals in cages on board.

Plans for a fire-breathing dragon peering out from a cave outside of the future home of Beastly Kingdom were drawn up but ultimately reduced to just a fire effect with no dragon.

Impressive, full-scale animatronic dinosaur on other side of the river attraction, source

Just like the Imagineer’s Beastly Kingdom vs Eisner’s DinoLand, the dragon element of the River Boats would be cut dramatically, while a fully articulated full-scale iguanodon animatronic was built and installed instead. Although, as Universal was about to learn down the street from their own experience, animatronic dinosaurs in water are a nightmare to maintain, and so Disney removed it not long after the park opened.

Aside from the dragon’s cave, another Beastly Kingdom-inspired show scene for the Discovery River Boats would’ve featured a unicorn rearing up from a dense layer of fog. As the boat approached to get a closer look it would be attacked by a kraken causing the boat to rock. In the end though, all guests would get to see in this area was a lone unicorn statue.

Unicorn statue seen on the Discovery River Boats, source

After failing to entertain guests, nor prove to even be a very useful mode of transportation, the Discovery River Boats were shut down, although not before being strangely rethemed briefly to Radio Disney. Instead of animal encounters and on board guides, guests would be forced to listen to prerecorded Radio Disney music and DJ banter while traveling across the park. The ride lasted a little over a year before being closed for good in 1999.

The park may have had grandiose plans in the beginning that were whittled down as the realities of building it were revealed, but it never compromised on the story it was trying to tell.

While Disney executives may have thought of the park as a gamble early in development, Eisner said it best soon after the park opened: “Whatever doubts we may once have had about the Animal Kingdom’s viability were answered on April 22, 1998, the day the park opened. The crowds were so large that we were forced to close our gates to further guests by 9:00 AM.”

Over time the park grew a little, and it shrunk a little. It got new shows, lost old shows. It finally grew up to become what some may consider a full day park after nearly twenty years of operation. And in my opinion, it still stands as the most well-themed park in Central Florida… even though it never got its dragons and unicorns.

That’s all for now! Be sure to check out the video version of this article here . And you can see our previous articles about unbuilt attractions here .

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Author: Alicia Stella

• UnBuilt Attractions

Alicia Stella

Alicia Stella has been covering new attractions since 2015, with her work cited by The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, and more. She specializes in reporting on new attraction development, and always looks forward to upcoming changes coming to the Orlando theme parks. She is also a contributor to the The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando.

David Vitrano

The New Zootopia land that’s coming to Shanghai Disneyland, needs to be brought to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. And The Wildlife Express Train can be re-themed as The Zootopia Express, the one that Judy Hopps uses to get to the city.

This concept for a up themed ride created by Parkineer, needs to be brought to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ABfAZQp5o

Seeing what the ride vehicles looks like. I think the function should be like what’s on this patent on what I thought the Spider-Man ride for Avengers campus was going to look like. https://www.slashfilm.com/disneyland-spider-man-ride-revealed-in-new-patents/

Also the park for this ride is Disney’s Animal Kingdom And the ride should not be called UP: Escape From The Zoo. But be called UP: The Adventurous Escape.😉

For a new section of the INDIAN Portion of ASIA. A custom made Junglebook Themed GCI Shuttle Coaster. Using Infinity Flyer Trains. (VIDEO) https://youtu.be/xIHrobgQ_Ew (INFINITY FLYER TRAINS) https://greatcoasters.com/infinity-flyer

With a few versions, Which are a Top Hat, Vertical Loop, a Cobra Loop, a Flat Spin, an Inline Twist & a Custom Inversion, that has a Dive Loop, a 720° or 630º Zero-G Roll, Two Cutbacks one in each direction and and An Immelmann Loop. That I like to called it as the Inner-locked Norwegian Loop.

Primeval Whirl needs to return as a custom layout (Gerstlauer Spinning Coaster). https://www.gerstlauer-rides.de/products/roller-coasters/spinning-coaster/ (OFF RIDE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiEE5DrWORU (ON RIDE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1U1yofieII

Finally a custom layout (GCI Wooden Coaster) with Three Lift Hills. http://greatcoasters.com/coaster-trains

There needs to be a brand new land at Disney Animal Kingdom, that will be an expansion to Finding Nemo). That connects the Finding Nemo musical building which will also have a new relocated Seas with Nemo and Friends ride.

A Disney World Version of the Nemo & Friends SeaRider at Tokyo DisneySea. (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb1Tv0KGTtM

Finally, The coaster shall be a new radical new version of The Crush Coaster at Disney at Walt Disney Studios park at Disneyland Paris. But it’s a (Mack Rides Extreme Spinning Coaster). https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-us/attractions/walt-disney-studios-park/crushs-coaster/

That will also include a few more inversion and custom inversions included in this layout of this (Dual Launching Single Rail RMC Coaster). Created by James Taylor. SOME OF THEM REVAMPED. (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQeBV2Hrhns

A Bug’s Land needs to be recreated at Animal Kingdom.

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