Kilimanjaro Safaris is home to 34 species of animals. This open-air safari is spread over 110 acres and mimics a live African reserve.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is situated at the backside of Disney Animal Kingdom park’s African section.
| Height | Any height |
| Age | Any age |
| Ride type | Slow |
| Accessibility | Must transfer from a wheelchair |
Table of Contents
History of Kilimanjaro Safaris
When Walt Disney was designing the Jungle Cruise, he wanted live animals. That did not happen. However, his wish came true when Kilimanjaro Safaris decided to shelter live animals. It opened on April 22, 1998.
The lead designer of this project was Joe Rhode, and he maintained that the park was maintained as a park and not a zoo.
According to him this allows the park to be different and at the same time communicate the significance of conservation.
Poachers played a significant role in the earlier times of the establishment of this reserve. This made for an intense experience for the guests. This experience also involved a bridge that appeared close to collapsing. However, both these elements were amended.
In 2016, Disney World introduced sunset safaris. The special feature allows guests to enjoy the Kilimanjaro Safaris after sunset.
How long is Kilimanjaro Safaris queue
The queue for Safaris is lengthy. The queue is in the open air and has screens overhead. The screens display the Harambe Wildlife Preserve.
The queue can be humid in summers. The screen overhead does not protect the guests from humidity. The queue gets exciting once the guests move closer to the boarding area.
Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safaris Ride Vehicles
This open-air Safari ride has Safari trucks that accommodate a maximum of 35 guests.A guide drives each Safari truck.
A single row in the truck accommodates three to five guests, depending on their size. The seats have a backrest and are lightly padded for comfort.
Guests need to step up to sit in the vehicle. There are no safety restraints for the ride. Cast members can ask children to sit in the front rows.
Photographers can sit on the outside seats to capture the beauty around them. Both sides of the Safari truck display a beautiful view of the animals. However, according to some experts, the left side arguably offers the best view.
Ride experience
The ride takes the guests through different landscapes and terrain. It is home to several wild animals.
One never knows what animal appears before them. The Kilimanjaro Safaris embodies hippopotamuses, antelopes, giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, gazelles, lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, and more.
The safari guide points out each animal and lists them to the guests.
The Kilimanjaro Safaris are as realistic as real Safaris. Therefore, the roads there are as rough as a real Safari. The ride is a 20-minute long bumpy ride.
Kilimanjaro Safaris takes place even after sunset owing to perfect lighting around the place.
The ride during the night is a completely different experience from a ride in the daytime. The guests may see different wildlife than what they saw during the daytime.
More information on the ride
People in wheelchairs need to transfer from their wheelchair to the ride vehicle. The ride has a few safety requirements.
Guests need to be in good health. People with high blood pressure, motion sickness, neck or back problems should avoid the ride.
The rugged and bumpy terrain makes this ride more adventurous. Therefore guests will experience sudden jerks on the ride. If this makes them uncomfortable or aggravates any sickness, they should not board the ride.
There are no height restrictions for this ride. A person of any height can enjoy the ride. Kilimanjaro Safaris operates in rainy weather. However, they stop the ride if the weather aggravates too much.
