Best time to do Safari

[Davey Jones II]

HI, folks. I have Kilimanjaro Safaris at 10 a.m. as our first Lightning Lane selection on both our AK days. Should I try to get an earlier time, to see more animals? My idea is to do some of the trails and/or ride Dinosaur before our LL. Will we see just as many animals from 10-11 as we would earlier?
Thanks!

P.S. : Our second LL is Navi River.

 

[Dave006]

Unfortunately there is no Best time for KS. You will just see the animals that are active as your Safari vehicle passes through the Savana. The Animal do put feed and treats out for the various animals in the morning and quite often between 4 and 5 PM.

The major impact to the Animals being active is when it is very hot they tend to find shade to rest.

Dave

 

[Dug720]

Unfortunately there is no Best time for KS. You will just see the animals that are active as your Safari vehicle passes through the Savana. The Animal do put feed and treats out for the various animals in the morning and quite often between 4 and 5 PM.

The major impact to the Animals being active is when it is very hot they tend to find shade to rest.

Dave

This!

I love doing the safari multiple times during the day because you can see different animals (especially African Painted Dogs and Hyenas swap out at some point). Each one is different.

I remember once I did it around 5-6 and the springbok were hearing their signal to return to the barn and they all started pronking across the savanna. It was so cool!!!

 

[KPeterso]

This!

I love doing the safari multiple times during the day because you can see different animals (especially African Painted Dogs and Hyenas swap out at some point). Each one is different.

I remember once I did it around 5-6 and the springbok were hearing their signal to return to the barn and they all started pronking across the savanna. It was so cool!!!

I completely agree! We always ride multiple times. I have had amazing safaris at all times of the day! Some of the best are often between 3-5 PM. We saw the lions up and chuffing at each other a couple of the later times we have ridden.

 

[philharmagic fan]

A couple of times when we've gone just after they opened, the elephants weren't out yet.

 

[CarolynFH]

And a lot depends on the weather. We went around mid-morning one unusually cold January day - I think it was in the 40s or 50s. And we found out where the entrance to the giraffe house is, because all the giraffes were hanging out there, waiting to be let back in!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

We were on the safari around 1pm or so once and it started to rain. The elephants were having a lot of fun playing in the rain it was fun to watch!

 

[Davey Jones II]

Thanks for the responses. We have three AK days, and have Safari LL in the morning each time. I guess on one of those days, we'll use a LL for a second safari around 5-6.

 

[3gr8boys]

Thanks for the responses. We have three AK days, and have Safari LL in the morning each time. I guess on one of those days, we'll use a LL for a second safari around 5-6.

Keep in mind that you cannot use LL for same attraction more than once in a day.

 

[ars0525]

I usually ride the Safari early AM, but I did try it at night/end of day once also. I was really blown away by how many animals I saw! Granted I went with completely zero expectations to see anything but it was a different perspective so really a neat experience.

I think people forget they are animals just doing animal things. Eat, sleep, stand around.

 

[Genie+]

Thanks for the responses. We have three AK days, and have Safari LL in the morning each time. I guess on one of those days, we'll use a LL for a second safari around 5-6.

That’s a great plan! Morning is a good bet but if going a few times over a trip I’d definitely try other hours too. A few times we went in the last hour before Safari closed we were able to ride again with little wait. Sometimes the line shrinks in that last possible 15mins.

Generally there are pros/cons to different parts of the day mixed with luck of draw. Each ride is unique. While a hot midday might have many animals in the shade lying down or with their butt turned you, you might also get something like 30 huge black vultures lined up on the posts with their wings spread. Later in the day after it cools down there’s a better chance at seeing the lions roaming around.

 

[CarolynFH]

I’m coming back to agree with @Genie+ above. If you’re going to ride several times, ride at different times of day. Another memorable ride we had was late in the afternoon, maybe around 4 or 5. We had to pause for a few minutes when we passed the cheetahs, and one of them was standing up and gazing very intently at the prey animal (I honestly can’t remember what animal it was) across the road!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Just a note to those wanting to ride later in the day, keep an eye on the times the attraction is open. We once arrived around 4:20 to find the attraction was closed for the day. E.g AK is open until 7PM but the last safari is at 6PM today.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The last time we held out for a late Safari, there were so few people riding that they made us wait for enough guests to fill the vehicle before pulling out. Then we saw the backsides of almost all the animals as they knew that it was closing time and were headed to the barn.

Then the lion roared and made it all worth it.