Kilimanjaro Safaris — Attraction in Bay Lake

Killimanjaro Safaris, located in Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, offers an immersive ride experience that combines elements of a show and an adventure. It is an absolute must-try when visiting Animal Kingdom, as it transports you to an authentic African Safari, complete with meticulously crafted details and a genuine appreciation for animals. To enhance the experience, you board a spacious jeep ride vehicle accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.

Experience: Upon arriving at the ride, you enter the queue line, which is quite enjoyable with its jungle surroundings and occasional live animals. You may even encounter Disney characters strolling by while waiting. Once you reach the loading station, you witness an impressive show as the large jeep trucks roll in, building anticipation for the adventure ahead. Boarding takes place by rows, but you can try requesting a specific row, with the back row being a pro tip due to its ample legroom, absence of conversation behind you, and excellent photo opportunities. Once onboard, the experience begins. As you depart from the gate, you encounter various animals while your guide shares fascinating facts. It truly feels like embarking on a safari, observing animals in their natural habitats. Lions, elephants, rhinos, hyenas, hippos, giraffes, and numerous other species come into view. Since most of these animals are not confined to enclosures, you can observe them up close and personal. There may be moments when you have to wait in the jeep for animals to cross the road, and you might even witness giraffes approaching within ten feet of the vehicle. This is a must-do attraction for animal enthusiasts and anyone visiting Animal Kingdom.

Overall: For us, Killimanjaro Safaris is an absolute must-do every time we visit Animal Kingdom, and we strongly recommend adding it to your must-do list as well. This experience is akin to The Jungle Cruise but far more impressive. It's worth noting that the ride can be slightly rough at times, and there are height requirements and a precaution against riding while pregnant. If you are eligible, don't miss out on the best attraction at Animal...

You just can't go to Animal Kingdom without taking this safari ride. This is no Jungle Cruise. The animals here are real.

We had a 1pm time slot through Multi Pass. There wasn't much of a wait. They load 4 people in one row very comfortably. It's about 20 minutes long, and you see a lot of animals in their own habitat. It starts with the Okapi, and ends with the Greater Flamingos. It's really a wonderful experience. My favorite sightings were the giraffes, elephants, and zebras. We even got to see the baby elephant. Well, Corra is more of a toddler now but it was cute to see the entire family. The giraffes love watching the tour trucks go by. Even the cheetah wanted in on the action. Unfortunately, the picture of the cheetah was too far away. The same goes for the white rhinos. That family kind of stayed away from us, and we could only view them from afar. It was a very chilly day after a cold front moved in. It didn't seem to bother the crocodiles.

So, I have just a few tips. Sit on the left side of the vehicle if you want to see the cheetah and the painted dogs. Otherwise, you'll get better views of animals on the Savanna if you sit more to the right. I'd like to do it again with the reverse seating to see other animals. It's just an observation that I thought might be useful to some who haven't been on this safari ride before.

It's definitely lightning lane worthy, in my opinion. I can't really tell what time of day is best. However, I did see a lot of animals after 1pm on a chilly weekday. The white rhinos were snuggling near a tree lined path in the distance. It's a...

Right off the bat — this is worth getting a fast pass for and save yourself a little bit of wait in the line. You’ll likely still wait about 15 minutes in line on peak days, even with a fast pass, but it’s worth it.

Because we’re dealing with animals here, it’ll be unpredictable what animals will be out and visible to you on the tour. My recommendation (as shared by our driver), the best time of day seems to be as evening starts to set in and the sun is about an hour above the horizon and the air begins to cool. Animals come out to feed, are a little more active, and will probably also be out sunning themselves to stay warm. So consider waiting on that tour until after 3:30pm.

The ride is really bumpy — you ride in a large touring truck open on all sides on padded bench seats that seat four across. You’ll likely end up rubbing shoulders with your family (or complete strangers sitting next to you). Photos may be difficult to take — they’ll occasionally slow down for photo opps, but rarely will stop for it.

I do recommend making this a part of your day, though. It does make Animal Kingdom less “ride” oriented and more like visiting an overly expensive zoo (and let’s be honest, it is). But it’s worth at least one stop to the...