Kilimanjaro Safaris

Infobox Disney ride
name=Kilimanjaro Safaris


caption=
park=Disney's Animal Kingdom
land=Africa
designer=Walt Disney Imagineering
manufacturer=
type=
theme=Safari
control_system=
propulsion=Liquid Propane
soft_opened=
opened=April 22, 1998
closed=
host=
music=
vehicle_type=Safari Truck
vehicle_names=Simba 1
guests_per_vehicle=
cars_per_vehicle=
guests_per_car=
duration=18:30
length=
attraction_height=
track_height=
speed=
height_requirement=
site_area=4,791,600
lift_count=
audio-animatronics=
sponsor=
fastpass=yes
single_rider=
accessible=
transfer_accessible=
assistive_listening=
cc=

Kilimanjaro Safaris is a safari attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Resort property in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It is an open-sided safari ride through the savanna of East Africa.

tory

The ride originally begins as a two-week safari aboard "Simba 1" through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve in Harambe, East Africa. It is 800 square miles of natural terrain, including (Ituri forest, wetlands [Safi River valley] and open bush country (the Serengeti Savanna). During most of the ride you view the common African animals including elephants, giraffe, antelope, gazelle, crocodiles, hippos, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, flamingos and okapis. The tour guide points out animals and provides entertainment. During the journey, your driver is in radio contact with reserve warden Wilson Matua, who is flying over the reserve on his daily routine. It all takes a turn when poachers are spotted in the reserve, and it's up to "Simba 1" and the guests, with support from the air and other rangers, to stop them.

History

In 2004, much of the savanna's drainage system had to be replaced. The attraction remained open during the rehab, with green tarps covering the construction sites to keep the animals out.

The ride originally featured a cast member in the role of a gun-toting reserve warden who captured the poachers and saved Big Red and Little Red. This element of the attraction was eventually eliminated. During soft openings, there was a "Dark Ending" where it showed a slaughtred Little Red. But this scene was replaced due to complaints.

Incidents

On February 10, 2008, a fire broke out in the engine compartment of one of the ride vehicles causing little disconvienince to guests.

Construction

*The attraction features custom-built GMC trucks riding washed-out, rutted roads and a tilting bridge. The roadbed is actually constructed of dark brown-colored concrete embedded with permanent tire ruts.

*The flamingo island is a huge Hidden Mickey.

*Between each ecosystem includes both chain road sensors and bars to prevent animals from venturing between sections. The vehicles drive directly on these obstacles.

*The entire Magic Kingdom park could fit comfortably inside of this single attraction. Fact|date=July 2007

Gallery

External links

* [http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/attractionDetail?id=KilimanjaroSafarisAttractionPage Walt Disney World Resort - Kilimanjaro Safaris]