What is the best time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris?

At Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris typically has its shortest waits around 4 PM and its longest around 10 AM. Riding right at rope drop is your best bet.

How long is the wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris?

The standby wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris runs about 24 minutes on a typical day and climbs near 120 minutes at its busiest.

Does Kilimanjaro Safaris break down a lot?

Kilimanjaro Safaris is currently graded Rock solid for reliability. Running about 100 percent of the day over the last 90 days, with most outages lasting about 30 minutes.

Is there a height requirement for Kilimanjaro Safaris?

No. Kilimanjaro Safaris has no height requirement, so the whole family can ride.

Does Kilimanjaro Safaris have Lightning Lane?

Yes. Kilimanjaro Safaris offers Lightning Lane, so you can pay to skip the standby line if you would rather not wait.

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Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom — Photo: Eliedion · CC BY-SA 4.0

Animal Kingdom · Africa

Kilimanjaro Safaris Wait Time & Best Time to Ride

At Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris is a ride worth planning around. This guide shows the current wait, typical wait, best time to ride, ride length, drop and intensity, Lightning Lane, and whether it is worth rope dropping.

Updated July 30, 2026. Live waits refresh throughout the day.

Right now 20 min

Typical wait 24 min

Peak seen 120 min

Quietest hour 4 PM

Quick facts

Land: Africa
Height: Any height
Lightning Lane: Yes
Opened: 1998
Ride length: About 20 minutes
Thrill: Gentle

Best Time to Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris

Typical standby wait by hour. The quietest hour is marked in gold (4 PM); the wait usually peaks around 10 AM.

23 8AM

41 9AM

49 10AM

47 11AM

34 12PM

20 1PM

13 2PM

10 3PM

8 4PM

8 5PM

8 6PM

Pro tip: ride Kilimanjaro Safaris in the first hour after rope drop or in the last hour before Animal Kingdom closes. If you would rather not wait at all, Lightning Lane lets you skip the standby line.

Is Kilimanjaro Safaris Reliable?

Rock solid Running about 100 percent of the day over the last 90 days, with most outages lasting about 30 minutes.

Should You Rope Drop Kilimanjaro Safaris?

The shortest waits for Kilimanjaro Safaris are right at rope drop and in the final hour before Animal Kingdom closes, so arriving for park open is usually worth it. If the line is already long, ride later in the evening or use Lightning Lane.

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Kilimanjaro Safaris FAQ

What is the best time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris?: At Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris typically has its shortest waits around 4 PM and its longest around 10 AM. Riding right at rope drop is your best bet.
How long is the wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris?: The standby wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris runs about 24 minutes on a typical day and climbs near 120 minutes at its busiest.
Does Kilimanjaro Safaris break down a lot?: Kilimanjaro Safaris is currently graded Rock solid for reliability. Running about 100 percent of the day over the last 90 days, with most outages lasting about 30 minutes.
Is there a height requirement for Kilimanjaro Safaris?: No. Kilimanjaro Safaris has no height requirement, so the whole family can ride.
Does Kilimanjaro Safaris have Lightning Lane?: Yes. Kilimanjaro Safaris offers Lightning Lane, so you can pay to skip the standby line if you would rather not wait.

More at Animal Kingdom

Live wait board All rides ranked Best times to ride Crowd calendar Rope drop plan Ride reliability Lightning Lane prices Ride height guide Plan your day Which ride are you?

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