Africa · Animal Kingdom
Kilimanjaro Safaris Wait Time & Best Time to Ride
Photo Eliedion · CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is usually best at rope drop or in the final hour before Animal Kingdom closes. The ride runs about 20 minutes and is rated gentle. Typical waits are around 30 minutes, with the shortest waits often around 6 PM.
Updated October 29, 2026. Live waits refresh throughout the day.
Best Time to Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
Typical standby wait by hour. Quietest around 6 PM, busiest around 10 AM.
Quick facts
- Land
- Africa
- Height
- Any height
- Lightning Lane
- Yes
- Opened
- 1998
- Ride length
- About 20 minutes
- Thrill
- Gentle
See where this height sits across every ride in the Disney ride height requirements chart.
Is Kilimanjaro Safaris Reliable?
Running about 100 percent of the day over the last 90 days, with most outages lasting about 40 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.
Kilimanjaro Safaris FAQ
What is the best time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris?
At Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris typically has its shortest waits around 6 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 30 minutes on a typical day and climbs near 105 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 40 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
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