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Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of the best and most unique rides at Disney World. It is the closest thing to a real African safari you can find in the United States. It is definitely a must-do on any trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While Kilimanjaro Safaris is awesome to ride at any time, there are some times when the animals are more active. So, when are the best times to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris so you can have the best chance to see the animals doing their thing? Read on to find out!
#1: Early in the morning
First on our list of the best times to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris is early in the mornings. There are two primary reasons for this: low crowds and low temps.
Heading to Kilimanjaro Safaris early allows you to beat the crowds and minimize the amount of time you have to wait in line.
It’s no secret that it is hot in Florida, especially in the summer. And the animals like to rest in the shade during the heat of the day, just like you do. So, for a better chance to see the animals being active, ride during the mornings when it is a little bit cooler.
Riding early in the morning is also a great opportunity to see the lions doing something other than sleeping! You may even get lucky enough to catch the male roaring!
My family loves Kilimanjaro Safaris. It is one of our favorite rides at Disney World. We ride it multiple times on every trip. It is always one of the first two or three rides we ride each time we go to Animal Kingdom. Sometimes, we will ride it twice within the first hour after the park opens. And we always see tons of animals in the mornings.
#2: In the evenings
For the longest time, Kilimanjaro Safaris only ran during the day. It always closed earlier than the rest of Animal Kingdom. A few years ago, though, Disney added special lighting throughout the safari to allow for nighttime safaris. Now, you can view the animals during “sunset”, even after the sun goes down.
These evening safaris have a completely during feel to them than the daytime ones.
Evenings are one of the best times to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s cooler once the sun goes down. This makes the animals more active and more visible.
Secondly, animals act differently at night than they do during the day. Nocturnal animals wake up in the evenings and begin their nightly activities. And the animals that are awake during the day are getting in their last few romps before calling it a night!
#3: During or after a rain
Last on our list of the best times to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris is during or immediately after a rain shower. Now, this is a time when most people head away from the rides instead of towards them. But that’s one reason why it’s such a great time to ride. The lines are much shorter during the rain.
Next, the rain generally cools everything down a bit. So, the animals are out more and are more active during rainstorms.
Plus, like kids, many animals enjoy playing in the rain. So, you are more likely to see some fun antics from them if you ride during the rain. How cute would it be to see a baby elephant splashing around in the puddles?!?!
Conclusion
Kilimanjaro Safaris is an awesome ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You really should not miss riding it on every family vacation to Disney World. To really maximize your experience, try these best times to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris.
For more things to do at Animal Kingdom, see our posts on Pandora, where to find the animals, the best places for photos at Animal Kingdom, awesome animals to see on Kilimanjaro Safaris, the best shows for boys, and Disney World’s hidden gems.
Need help planning your trip to Disney World? Our step by step guide, best resources, quick tips, and advice for first timers can help! Check them out now! To book your trip, head over to Disney World’s website.
Happy travels!
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