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Behind the Scenes of Kilimanjaro Safari at the Animal Kingdom

Behind the Scenes of Kilimanjaro Safari at the Animal Kingdom

Jambo! If you are planning your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, then you have to start with the parks main attraction, Kilimanjaro Safari! Animal Kingdom is often overlooked because people consider it to be basically like a zoo you would have back home. This is Disney. There is more than animals and wildlife, there is a story and you are part of it when you visit.

Let’s take a further look into the star of the show, Kilimanjaro Safari.

Kilimanjaro Safari is the focal point of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This attraction opened with the park in 1998. The story goes that the Harambe Wildlife Reserve was for game hunting but when conservation became a focus that all changed. The reserve transformed into a safe place for the animals and only photo tours were allowed.

What is Kilimanjaro Safari?

If you have ever dreamed of traveling the world to adventure in the great savannah of Africa, look no further! Kilimanjaro Safari takes you and your family, (no height restrictions!), through the various habitats in Animal Kingdom to see animals as they are in their day-to-day lives. Your tour guide Cast Member will fill you in on all of the different animals, fun facts about them, as well as the plant life within the habitats and their purpose to the animals.

What Animals can you Spot on the Kilimanjaro Safari?

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Your tour guide will take you through 110 acres of land to see up to 34 different species of animals. Some of the animals seen are:

  • Okapi
  • Greater Kudu
  • White-faced Tree Duck
  • Nyala
  • Sable Antelope
  • Greater Flamingo
  • White-bearded Wildebeest
  • Pink-backed Pelican
  • Bontebok
  • Eland
  • Springbok
  • Gazelle
  • Yellow-billed Stork
  • Ankole Cattle
  • Mandrill
  • Egyptian Goose
  • Scimitar–horned oryx
  • White Breasted Cormorant
  • Stanley Crane
  • Bongo
  • Impala
  • Mhorr Gazelle
  • Saddle-billed Stork
  • Black Rhino
  • White Rhino
  • Hippopotamus
  • Nile Crocodile
  • Reticulated Giraffe
  • Masai Giraffe
  • Plains Zebra
  • Mountain Zebra
  • Warthog
  • Ostrich
  • Cheetah
  • African Bush Elephant
  • Lion
  • Addax
  • African Wild Dog
  • Spotted Hyena
  • Nigerian Goat

These are just what we’ve seen, you could see someone different! Tell us in the comments who your favorite was!

Kilimanjaro Safari

Kilimanjaro Safari Fun Facts

Safari truck Kilimanjaro Safari
  • Kilimanjaro Safari is almost the same size as all of the Magic Kingdom at 110 acres.
  • Disney had to plant all the vegetation 18 months before they could even bring in the animals.
  • On the savannah, you will notice dozens of beautiful live oak trees. These were actually on the land prior to building the Animal Kingdom. They were so beautiful Disney dug them up and kept them safe while they built the attraction and then replanted to where we see them today.
  • Ever wonder how they get the animals back home at night? All the animals are trained to audio cues to come into their pens. This allows them to do routine medical checks among other things.
  • The tire tracks along the path that you drive along are actually carefully placed to keep show water from mingling with the animals drinking water.
  • Be on the lookout for hidden feeders the Imagineers placed through the ride. You can normally spot them by logs, rocks, or even up in some of the trees.
  • When you drive by the area of flamingos take a close look at the island they are on. It’s a giant hidden Mickey!

When is the Best Time to Ride Kilimanjaro Safari

This is an often debated subject amongst Disney fans and even with those who work on the attraction. Of course, you have to keep in mind that the animals run the show. Much like you may experience with your animals at home you never know what is going to happen or when that nap time is going to hit. Though I must say with my cats, that nap is pretty strong all day long. Consistently I find the best time is to go later in the day closer to sunset. Depending on the time of year this can be between 5 pm – 7 pm. I think this has a lot to do with the animals knowing that at sunset I normally get to end the work day and have some dinner. Of course with Animal Kingdom’s extended hours things have changed a lot. This, however, has been the time that we have seen the otherwise sleeping cats up and running around. I recommend trying to ride the safari more than once, if the lines are not too long.

History of Kilimanjaro Safari

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While Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, the idea for the Kilimanjaro Safari started back in 1964 with Walt Disney. After traveling through South America in the 1940s and seeing all of the exotic animals, he wanted to share the knowledge and thrill with the rest of the world.

Disney initially was trying to plan a mini safari or boat ride right in Adventureland in Disneyland. Mind you, Disneyland is smaller than the Magic Kingdom. Of course, Walt Disney had to compromise his vision because they didn’t have the space for such an attraction, (or the funds). That is how we ended up with the beloved Jungle Cruise, but that’s an article for another day!

Fast forward 40 years when an eccentric Disney Imagineer put forth the idea for a theme park designed all about animals and helped teach conservation. Initially the board of directors dismissed the idea stating that it would be boring. Imagineer Joe Rhode came back to the board to pitch the idea again, but this time, he brought a live tiger to walk behind their chairs!

They all agreed that animals were not boring and Animal Kingdom opened on Earth day in 1998.

A Park for the Animals

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Disney’s Animal Kingdom is truly a place built for the animals as it was intended. Long before Disney’s other parks did away with straws you may have noticed how Animal Kingdom never had any. Or maybe you noticed that Animal Kingdom does not sell balloons. Or perhaps you wondered why Animal Kingdom is the only park to not have a nighttime spectacular with fireworks.

All of these things have the animals in common. The Imagineers thought through all of the details of the park so that the animals would live with minimal stress. Straws can cause major digestive trauma should an animal find one. Balloons and their metallic backing can not only be dangerous if swallowed, they can cause a great deal of stress on the animals. Fireworks are a no-brainer. We have all met those dogs that need sedation on the 4th of July to handle the fireworks. Now imagine lions, elephants, and rhinos panicking because they think their world is exploding. Just like Edna Mode said “no capes”, Animal Kingdom says, “no fireworks!”.

How big is Kilimanjaro Safari?

Remember how we said that Walt Disney originally wanted a similar attraction in Disneyland? Well, the Magic Kingdom sits on 107 acres of land and Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom sits on a whopping 110 acres!

The area is so large because Disney is focused on the

conservation of animals, not simply our entertainment. Their belief is that Animal Kingdom is their home and we are just visitors. If a rhino sits down in the middle of the roadway on the safari, then settle in because you aren’t going anywhere until he decides to move.

How long is Kilimanjaro Safari?

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You should expect for your safari to take around 20 minutes, though it can be more. Expect to stop a few times for the animals. Sometimes the giraffes like to cross the road or those pesky rhinos just want to be the center of attention.

PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN:

We know what you’re thinking, “20 minutes of sitting still, yeah, no way.” Don’t write off Kilimanjaro Safari just yet. We thought the same thing but were astounded each and every time our littles sat soaking up every minute of the safari!

Queue for Kilimanjaro Safari

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Get ready to learn a few words in Swahili! This all outdoor queue helps jump us into the story that we are going onto a wildlife reserve in Africa. While it is outdoors the good news is it is all covered unless the line is so long it spills into a tree-covered shady area. Along the way, there will be a video playing and posters showing you new words in Swahili, including the names for the animals and how to say hello and goodbye.

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Stroller Parking

Disney does an amazing job creating stroller parking near attractions for families. Kilimanjaro Safari stroller parking isn’t as user friendly at first. Ask a Cast Member to direct you to the stroller parking area when you arrive at the queue. It is wrapped around the backside.

Trust us, that’s a good thing! They have the strollers set for where you get off of the safari.

All About Kilimanjaro Safari Ride Vehicles

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The Kilimanjaro Safari ride vehicles are custom-made for Disney. They are 1990-2002 GMC Topkicks and Ford Super Duty trucks customized to be able to handle the mud, water, sand, chains, and divots that the safari has. Each vehicle can take 32 guests at a time and the attraction operates at around 3,000 guests per hour.

Do you need a Lightning Lane for Kilimanjaro Safari?

Animal Kingdom is one of those parks that you don’t really need Genie+, unless of course it is a holiday or a holiday weekend. Animal Kingdom has the least amount of attractions to use Genie+ on, so it’s not as worthwhile as it is in places like Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios.

The other thing is that a lot of the rides in Animal Kingdom don’t really have long wait times. Expedition Everest usually hovers 30 minutes and Dinosaur is usually 20 minutes. The longest wait time that can use Lightning Lanes is always Na’vi River Journey, which often exceeds an  hour.

Kilimanjaro Safari wait times really depend on the day. A lot of people rope drop Avatar, making Kilimanjaro wait times low, and then in the afternoon it rises significantly around lunch because people are trying to get on before they park hop.

IF you do have Genie+ we recommend making Kilimanjaro Safari your 7:00 AM first Lightning Lane pick so you can get on bright and early!

Kilimanjaro Pro-Tips!

  • RISE AND SHINE!
    Rope Drop Animal Kingdom and hussle right onto Kilimanjaro Safari! You will likely walk right on and big bonus – Animals are more active in the morning! You will watch them enjoy breakfast, and possibly even hear the lion roar!
  • DO NOT RIDE IN THE AFTERNOON
    We see it every time we go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom – A huge line for the safari that is over an hour wait between 12:00 – 2:00 pm. Don’t do it. Not only did we share how you can get on this ride with minimal wait, but also, the animals won’t do much. Lunch time is like nap time to these guys. You don’t want to be disappointed waiting for over an hour to watch a few animals sleep when you can go early and watch the savannah come alive!
  • IT’S HOT
    We’re not sure if you knew, but it’s hot in Florida. It’s even hotter in Disney’s Animal Kingdom due to the foliage planted to maintain the heat and humidity levels. Here’s the thing – Just like you don’t like the heat, the animals don’t either. If it’s disgustingly hot where you’re miserable, the animals are likely feeling the same. We suggest saving the safari for another day.
  • PLAY IN THE RAIN!
    Don’t let a little rain scare you away. Some animals are a lot like little kids! They love to play in the rain and splash in the puddles. It’s adorable to see and definitely a special view of the safari! NOTE: We’re talking just some rain, not crazy monsoons or thunderstorms.
  • RIDE AT DUSK
    If you time everything just right you can experience a truly safari ride by riding at dusk. Many of the animals are nocturnal, so you see them far more active. We’re all about new and unique experiences! New challenge: See the safari at rope drop and compare it to safari at dusk. Let’s make it happen!
  • LAST RIDE TIMES
    Because the safari is filled with real animals who need real care, the Kilimanjaro Safari does not run all the way until park close. Be sure to check with a Cast Member when the last ride of the night will be if you are planning to try a ride at dusk. Typically, the last ride is around 5:00.

Kilimanjaro Safari Fun Facts

  • Kilimanjaro Safari is almost the same size as all of the Magic Kingdom at 110 acres to Magic Kingdom’s 107 acres.
  • Disney had to plant all the vegetation 18 months before they could even bring in the animals.
  • On the savannah, you will notice dozens of beautiful live oak trees. These were actually on the land prior to building the Animal Kingdom. They were so beautiful that Disney dug them up to keep them safe while they built the attraction and then replanted them to where we see them today.
  • Ever wonder how they get the animals back home at night? All the animals are trained to audio cues to come into their pens. This allows them to do routine medical checks among other things.
  • The tire tracks along the path that you drive along are actually carefully placed to keep show water from mingling with the animals drinking water.
  • Be on the lookout for hidden feeders the Imagineers placed through the ride. You can normally spot them by logs, rocks, or even up in some of the trees.
  • When you drive by the area of flamingos take a close look at the island they are on. It’s a giant hidden Mickey!
  • Many people believed that all of the animals on the safari were actually Disney animatronics! That would be a lot of engineering work!
  • The animals may seem completely free roaming, but Disney has ensured guest’s safety with environmental barricades. There are moats, chains, and other features throughout the attraction to keep animals at bay and everyone and everything safe.
  • Why don’t the lions eat the other animals? Disney animals are fed on a regular schedule and that keeps their hunting instincts at bay. Lions in the wild typically only get a full meal every 3-4 days.
  • Guests can actually watch the animals receive vet care over at Rafiki’s Planet Watch! Just take the train near the exit of Kilimanjaro Safari.
  • More than 2,000 lbs. of elephant poop must be cleared off of the safari EACH DAY! There is no waste in Disney, that poop is then turned to fertilizer for the Disney Agricultural Program.
  • All bathrooms in the Africa area of Animal Kingdom have a large bolt lock on a steel door in the off chance of an animal being loose in the area. These are the only restrooms to lock in all of Disney property
  • The storyline has changed drastically on this attraction! Currently, you are in Africa about to embark on a special safari tour on a wildlife game preserve. When the attraction first opened, it was the same beginning, but quickly turned into a message about conservation and poaching when the safari vehicle stumbled upon a mutilated mother elephant missing her tusks. For good traumatic measure, her baby was there beside her trying to wake his mama. Yeah. That version only lasted a few months and it was changed. Conservation is still a strong message throughout all of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but they learned it did not need to be so literal.
  • To further the message of conservation and keeping animals in their habitats, no animals were brought in from the wild! All Disney animals were brought in from rescues and zoos around the United States. Disney’s Conservation Program has also successfully completed breeding programs for at-risk species.
  • You can take special private tours to get up close and personal with some of the savannah’s largest beasts like the Rhino and the Elephants. Check out these and more guided tours here in our article about affordable VIP Disney Experiences.

What have your favorite experience on Kilimanjaro Safari been? Share them with us in the comments below! For more ideas on how to spend your day at the Animal Kingdom read Animal Kingdom Must Dos.