Florida Guide > Animal Kingdom
Ride Guide – Kiliminjaro Safaris
Set in the African section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the safari is a two week trip through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. You will be riding aboard a four wheel drive safari vehicle, called Simba 1 and the ride is a mixture of animal spotting throughout the wonders of the reserve and also a defence of the animals from the threat of poachers.
The ride begins quite gently with your guide welcoming you on board and starting to explain some of the details of the safari. As you drive through the ride, your guide will help you to spot the animals throughout the reserve. With the animals being real and seemingly able to roam freely, they definitely take right of way over the safari vehicles. Occasionally you may find emus or giraffes which will wander in front of your path and these encounters can be quite magical as they are so close up, you simply have to wait while the animal moves along at their own pace.
You definitely want to keep your camera handy as throughout the trip you will have the opportunity to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, crocodiles, cheetahs, lions . . . the list could go on and on. Another feature to watch for is the wonderful landscaping as you are transported from the Florida wilderness to the African savannah.
Throughout the ride a story begins to develop about poachers having breached the reserve and with assistance from an overhead pilot you form part of the team who helps to round up the bad guys and protects the animals. To be honest this part of the ride is almost superfluous for us, it would simply be enjoyable to ride through the scenery and appreciate the animals.
What is amazing is the exceptional way that the scenery has been created, it is not easily visible from the ride car, however there are landscaping features which are built in to the area to ensure that the animals are kept sectioned appropriately. Throughout the ride there are also hidden feeding stations to ensure that the animals are kept fed and watered throughout the day. If you are not aware of these being there, then they would be virtually impossible to spot.
Although the entrance queue into Kilimanjaro Safaris can, at times, feel excessively long, this is a ride that is definitely worth doing. It is not hectic or rushed and provides a somewhat more peaceful experience. The animals are magnificent to see close up and the scenery is amazing. It is also a longer than normal ride, so you definitely feel that it has been worth the wait to do.
Another interesting fact about this ride is that to help with their conservation efforts, the GMC trucks that were custom designed for the ride run on LPG to reduce emissions!
Ride Facts:
Minimum Height – None
FastPass – Yes
Single Rider – No
Location – Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Africa.
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