All You Need to Know About Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Last updated May 9, 2019

Have you ever wanted to go on a safari? Leave it to Disney to make this bucket list wish a tangible reality with their Kilimanjaro Safaris at the Animal Kingdom! I recently checked out this crowd favorite while on a girls’ trip with my daughter and granddaughters. Here’s what to expect when you go:

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Guests climb aboard the 32-seater, open-air safari vehicle and drive off into another, much more peaceful world, away from the chaos of the theme park. The ride will take you through grassy plains, a forest, and rocky wetlands. This 110-acre area of the park is home to 34 species including hippos, giraffes, baboons, rhinos, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, hyenas, zebras, and lions! And get this: Kilimanjaro Safaris is the biggest Disney park attraction in the world (even bigger than the entire Magic Kingdom park)!

Expert guides drive passengers through the park, pointing out animals, and sharing facts about the animals and their habitats all the while. Cast members go through vigorous training before becoming a guide and make an effort to really entertain riders. You’ll often see extra cast members observing and studying on the expeditions.

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While it’s only 18-minutes long (To give you an idea, Disney’s Carousel of Progress ride is 20 minutes long in duration.), the ride time has been occasionally extended because of animals crossing or blocking the path of the safari vehicles. The animals do roam free, so while safety is never a concern, the ride is never the same twice. If you’re an animal lover, in particular, it’s worth it to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris every time you visit the Animal Kingdom. Plenty of people agree, which is why the wait times average from 30 minutes to two hours, so definitely get a FastPass! If you can’t get one, try to go in the morning. That’s when the animals are more active anyway. Peak ride times are from lunch to 3:00 p.m. Remember that guests of Disney resorts have access to Morning Extra Magic Hours (exclusive access to the park an hour before other guests on certain days).

Night expeditions are available as well. (You’re more likely to see warthogs, hippos, hyenas and African wild dogs at this time.) A baseball stadium-sized wall of graphics, displayed at the far end of the plains, simulates the African sunset and moonrise, giving light to the guests observing animals.

Disney always does a fantastic job of blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. The baobab trees on the grounds are all fake, for example, because it’s actually too cold in Orlando for them to survive. The lions appear to be roaming as freely as the other animals, while in fact, there’s a deep pit that keeps them separate. Animals are lured closed to the path of the safari vehicle for optimal viewing by way of climate controlled rocks, salt licks, hay, and water.

This ride is perfect for everyone since there aren’t any restrictions. If you go, be prepared for direct sun exposure and intense heat. This is Florida, after all! Wear sunscreen, wear a hat, and consider bringing a fan and water. Even if you’re comfortable, your little ones may not be. Also, bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom feature, so you can get the most out of the ride.

If an African safari vacation is out of reach, Disney has you covered! Kilimanjaro Safaris definitely makes my list of must-do Disney experiences. What’s on your list