Located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Kilimanjaro Safaris is a safari in an African Savanna with dozens of animals to see and meet.
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On this guided tour through the African savannah, you'll see a variety of free-living animals spread across the vast expanse.
The attraction opened in 1998 and has been running ever since.
There are more than 800km² filled with animal and plant nature throughout the land.
In this way, it works like a photographic safari, in which you have contact, albeit from afar, with the animals that live there.
The place, called the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, is home to more than 34 species.
There are 110 acres of land and breathtaking landscapes.
Recently, the adventure could also be done at night, after sunset, when you can see the behavior of the animals without being in the morning light. Isn't it amazing?
The Kilimanjaro Safaris tour
The vehicle you are going to ride will have an experienced guide, who will talk a little about the wildlife, as well as show you his knowledge of the animals that inhabit there.
The car is open on the sides, which makes it possible to have a very wide view of the animals.
More or less 30 people will be able to go at a time in each vehicle that is a kind of bus.
The journey lasts, on average, from 18 to 22 minutes, the difference is that vehicles may need to stop for an animal to cross the path and the driver has complete control over the car.
Even so, the whole adventure is made in a slow way, so that it is possible to take many pictures and enchant with the landscape.
That is, there is no need to be afraid, the animals are free, but there is no risk.
It is truly impressive how Disney has managed to reflect the animal life of the African continent inside a theme park.
That's why the park is so well-liked by visitors.
Some animals are very common to be seen on Kilimanjaro Safaris, such as: lions, giraffes, zebras, flamingos, wild boars, hippos, ostriches, rhinos, cheetahs, elephants, crocodiles and many others.
This attraction is highly recommended for children who like animals.
One of the most sought after animals during the tour is, without a doubt, the lion.
A big recommendation, if possible, make the tour have the highest chances of seeing most of the animals awake.
In addition, it is interesting that you arrive early and do the safari as soon as the park opens, as it is a popular attraction and always has moderate to long lines.
Of course, if that is your priority, as the park has more popular attractions than this one, such as the Flight of Passage Avatar and the Yeti roller coaster.
So don't leave this experience to the last minute.
Plan well to get the most out of it.
Recommendations for Kilimanjaro Safaris
Kilimanjaro Safaris is for all ages with no minimum height requirement.
There is all necessary security, as well as accessibility for visitors.
The opening hours of the safari are from 8am to 7pm, when the night tour takes place.
To go to the attraction, just arrive at the park and go to the Africa area, which is on the left of the site, in the background.
Check out the Animal Kingdom map to locate.
Depending on the season, queues can exceed the wait of more than an hour.
That is, so that you can go to other attractions in the park – which are many! -, select a day that is not a public holiday and/or weekend as these are usually the busiest days.
In fact, Kilimanjaro Safaris is still one of the main attractions in the park, which is why so many people want to experience the adventure.
However, you can use the Genie+, the Disney line-cutter, in this attraction.
With it you guarantee shorter times in the queue.
Animals Found On Kilimanjaro Safari
The amount and variety of Animals seen in this Safari is really impressive.
Naturally, it is not possible to easily see all the animals at all times, after all they are living beings, so they eat and sleep at different times of the day.
That said, as soon as you get into the attraction vehicle, you can see all the animals that are part of the ride on a “strip” that runs from the top of your vehicle. In the photo below you can see it well:
But since everything here on the blog is made to help you, dear travelers, here's a brief list of some of the animals you can find there!
- Lion
- Okapi
- Ostrich
- Warthog
- White rhino
- Gnu
- wild dogs
- Zebra
- Antelope
- Baboon
- Black rhino
- Cheetah
- Crocodile
- Elephant
- Flamingo
- Gazelle
- Giraffe
- Hipoppotamus
- Hyenas
The driver of your car is your guide and he will always talk about the animals that are in sight during your journey.
Of course, it is necessary to know how to speak English to understand the information given by the driver.
Is it worth doing the Kilimanjaro Safari?
Quite directly, yes!
It's one of the attractions we love to do at Animal Kingdom.
We know that many people have issues with animals in captivity as if it were a zoo, however, all Disney animals receive extreme care and many of them are rescue animals that cannot be released into the wild.
There's even a really cool series on Disney+ that shows how the vets and caregivers of these animals interact with them, her name is "Animal Kingdom Disney Magic“.
It is an incredible attraction especially for those who love animals and for children.
Every time we do Kilimanjaro Safaris we see super happy and excited children throughout the journey seeing some animals they had never seen in person.
Of course, it's not every day that you have the opportunity to see animals so close up, the Giraffes for example sometimes stop in the middle of the way and you'll have to wait for them to leave to be able to pass and the car passes very close to them!
Technical information
- Location: Animal Kingdom? Africa
- Minimum Height: There is not
- Attraction duration: 18 minutes
- Recommended for: All ages
- Do you accept Genie+?: Yes
We have already made a one-day itinerary at Animal Kingdom and we are sure it will help you when putting together your travel plan.
So, how about checking it out? Click on here to see our tips and have a more than fantastic experience.
Finally, be sure to enjoy the attraction and have fun in the park!
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About the Author Carlos Braga:
Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.
My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.
During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!
