One of my must do’s in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is Kilimanjaro Safari which is located in the Africa section of the park. On this ride, you’ll set off in an open-air vehicle for a guided tour of an African savanna—and have the chance to spot all kinds of live animals roaming free!
While you can visit at any time of the day, we have found that by heading there as early in the day as possible – preferably close to when the park opens – the animals are more active while it’s still cool.
Kilimanjaro Safari explores the Harambe Wildlife Reserve which covers 110 acres and is home to 34 animal species. On your trip you will travel through open plains, a shady forest and into rocky wetlands, while your safari guide provides lots of interesting – and colorful – information about the animals you see along the way. Be aware that the road will be bumpy along the way, as it is a wildlife preserve, so hang onto anything you don’t want to bounce out of the vehicle! This includes cameras/phones, and even small children (it’s recommended to keep small children between the adults in the center of the seat just to be safe).
One of the best parts of this attraction is that the animals do roam (mostly) free – within what is safe of course. So don’t be surprised to see an ostrich for example, right alongside your truck – so close you could almost reach out and touch it – but please don’t – they are still wild animals! The animals have the right of way on this ride, so you may stop, slow down, or speed up as needed, to allow those roaming their environment to cross in front of you.
So what kinds of animals may you encounter? Be prepared to see a hippo chilling out in the pond, and to watch for the lions to be sunbathing on their rocky perch. There are giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, hyenas, zebras and so many more. Not sure what animal it is? You’ll find a handy animal guide on the back of the seat in front of you to help. See how many you can find!
There is no height or age limit on this ride, so it is perfect for all ages. And since Kilimanjaro Safari is so much fun, it will likely become a favorite for everyone in your family!
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Debbie and her husband live in Chattanooga, TN. They both are huge Disney fans and try to visit the most Magical Place on Earth at least once a year, if possible. They are enjoying taking each of their now 10 grandchildren and hope to also take their great granddaughter in the near future. One of their favorite trips has been visiting Disney with adults only, including one trip when their son proposed to his girlfriend. Each trip begins with the planning, which can take up to a year, beginning with how to get the grandkids excited about their upcoming trip. They have surprised some of them the day before they left, while the latest one had “presents” every 10 days starting at 90 days all leading up to an exciting trip with her parents along also. Their philosophy on Disney Trips? “Each trip is completely different, like visiting Walt Disney World for the first time.” They both enjoy all that Disney has to offer, but enjoy Animal Kingdom and EPCOT the most. It is their goal that everyone who visits Walt Disney World has a magical trip with lots of memories to last a life time.
