Animal Kingdom safari encounters at Walt Disney World

The Animal Kingdom safari at Walt Disney World brings the big guys up close and personal. That's what I thought about our safari trek in the Animal Kingdom anyway. The animals almost seemed close enough for us  to reach out and touch at times. It was a cool experience that older children and adults will enjoy.

Wouldn't you know it? Poachers have been spotted roaming the 100 acre savanna. It will be your job to help the driver track them down while on Safari. Expect a few bumps in the road on this Animal Kingdom ride.

You won't ever actually catch up with the poachers but you will see the wreckage. It's a fiun theme to what is perhaps the best attraction in Animal Kingdom. (Ride restrictions are on the Disney website at the link below.)

Visitors board the Kilimanjaro Safaris at the Harambe Villiage in Walt Disney World. The vehicle is open air so be sure to hold onto your hats and any loose objects that might fall overboard. Otherwise, plan to forever say goodbye to whatever falls out of the vehicle.

Three phrases that you need to ride the safari are fast pass, fast pass, fast pass.


If you are familiar with Florida then you know how hot it can be around 2:00 pm. Thank goodness for the fast pass. We swiped our cards at the kiosk next to the Safari around 11:00 am to be able to board at around 2:00 pm.

The waiting area is covered but open to the air. I was glad to have missed the long line but some of the looks made me feel a little guilty about it. That's why I'm making it a point to stress the fast pass option for the safari.


Kilimanjaro Safaris trip takes you through a wooded forest and across the plains in the Animal Kingdom. Keep your camera at the ready. I took the photos that are on this page but still missed the lions and cheetah. Darn it!

A few of the other animals include the baboon, elephant, hippo, ostrich (missed that photo too), Zebra and wildebeast.

Safari animals that you may see in Animal Kingdom are the giraffe, crocodile and others. A full list is on the Walt Disney World

Kilimanjaro Safaris puts you as close to the animals as possible. This was one cool experience! You never know what you will see around each bend in the road. Next time, I'll be sure to always keep my camera ready to go.

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