Hi there Marisol and welcome to planDisney!
As a fellow
Disney's Animal Kingdom aficionado it's great to meet other folks who really understand what it means when the early bird catches the lion! Some of the most unique and breathtaking moments that we've spotted on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve have taken place at the earliest hours of the day while many folks beeline over to
Pandora - The World of Avatar and the savanna remains tranquil. As someone who spends a lot of time on rides and attractions (for research, of course) at Disney Destinations collecting data and determining some of the best times to experience them, here's a bit of inside insight that will hopefully help:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris can really surprise you with the many moments that can happen among the predatory personalities and ruminant residents you pass by throughout the day, so there's really no way to plan for the "best" time to see anything happen. The Cast Members do an excellent job of maintaining the hidden salt licks, fans and cleverly integrated spots for the wildlife to forage food to encourage them to keep actively moving - and hopefully not decide to sit in the middle of the safari vehicle path like the especially stubborn Ankole cattle on one of our recent rides.
- What does vary is how crowded it may be, and whether the overall experience may feel shorter. (I personally tend to avoid the middle of the day during which everyone might want to take cover from being under the hottest Floridian sun - African animals included!) Ideally, folks and families might want their wildlife sightings to be very visible and out in the open as opposed to being obscured and hidden in the shadier foliage -and though it can never be guaranteed - I've often observed more activity earlier and later in the day.
- Whenever I recommend experiencing Kilimanjaro Safaris in the late afternoon, what this means to me is any time within the last 30 minutes of its operation. You'll want to keep a careful eye on any signage posted outside the entrance to the attraction as this may be earlier than the scheduled closing time of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park - I always like to ask the Cast Members just in case if I end up passing through Harambe Village during the day. With just the right amount of luck, this has also sometimes resulted in lower standby wait times and emptier safari vehicles which can allow for even better chances of sightings!
It's great that you're trying out new theme park strategies for a change of pace Marisol, so I hope that this ends up being an excellent way to experience Kilimanjaro Safaris on your next trip! In the meantime, you're always welcome to
come back to us here at planDisney for any other tips or advice ahead of your upcoming Disney adventures.
Here's to every incredible journey, at any time of day!
Prince