Nearly 30 years after Animal Kingdom’s opening, Kilimanjaro Safaris remains the park’s live animal centerpiece. While this breathtaking encounter is a favorite of many, there’s one “rule” to riding the attraction that needs to be planned around.
Over my decades visiting Disney World, there are a lot of unofficial ride “rules” I’ve learned to follow, from Lightning Lane advice to which direction to head when entering each park. However, this Animal Kingdom rule might be the most unique, given that it revolves around real animals instead of animatronic pirates.
Located in the park’s Africa section, Kilimanjaro Safaris is the thesis statement attraction of Animal Kingdom. While massive E-Tickets like Avatar: Flight of Passage or Expedition Everest may have taken some of the spotlight in recent years, the 110-acre safari attraction literally puts the “animal” in Animal Kingdom.
Over its intricately-sculpted landscapes, the attraction features dozens of animals, including a hippopotamus, lions, rhinos, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, painted dogs, zebras, and giraffes. However, the best way to see those animals is where this “rule” comes in.
If you’re planning to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris, the BEST time to do so is in the morning.
Why? There are a few reasons. First off, as the majority of the animals are waking up for the day and eating, this is the best time of the day to see them. This is especially true during the warmer months of the year, as many of the animals will take refuge from the heat later in the day. In addition, the safari will often close earlier than the rest of the park, which makes it more imperative to knock the ride out early in the day.
However, the trade-off to hitting Kilimanjaro Safaris first is that you can’t rope drop Pandora or shoot for an early Lightning Lane for Flight of Passage. In addition, the safari doesn’t open for Early Entry, so it may feel like a bit of a waste of the hotel perk for some guests.
Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris remains a breathtaking experience, as long as you follow the right “rule” that is. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Walt Disney World tips!
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When is your preferred time to ride Kilimanjaro Safari? Let us know in the comments below!
I would add that the 2nd-best time to ride is either in the rain or right after. We’ve had multiple amazingly close animal sightings – including a whole group of giraffes – riding then.