Kilimanjaro Safari: best time?

[biochemgirl]

March 28. Is a before noon ride better than 3pm?I'm wondering if it will be hot enough in the afternoon that the animals won't be out.

 

[NileNellie]

Honestly it's probably the same. Your best bet is either first thing in the morning or right before closing.

 

[pattyw]

We like right before close as well- but one time the animals were being called in so there were alot missing by the time we were on the safari. I think most animals are fairly active most of the time. We just noticed that the only time we've seen the lions moving was during our trips at cooler times of the year. We saw them when it was hot but they were sleeping.

 

[disnut8]

I've gone on the Safari at all times during the day although never first thing because we don't get up that early. We've also gone on it in all kinds of weather. The only times we've been "disappointed" was when the guide wasn't very enthusiastic and just repeated some lines about the animals.

 

[Robo]

I've gone on the Safari at all times during the day although never first thing because we don't get up that early. We've also gone on it in all kinds of weather. The only times we've been "disappointed" was when the guide wasn't very enthusiastic and just repeated some lines about the animals.

This.

We've ridden dozens of times.
All times of day.
Each ride is a different experience.

Ride anytime.

 

[Parker Clan]

We've ridden in the morning, afternoon & night. All times were very enjoyable & had different experiences! At night this summer, there were large herds of animals out & about, chilling near the vehicle. I read on here some people heard the lion roar at night.
During the day we've had the giraffes come right up to our vehicle which was awesome! And we saw the whole lion family out and about!

 

[Klayfish]

The best time to go is....drum roll...anytime!!

It's very random as to what you will see and when, since they're wild animals. Just like voting...go early, go often.

 

[wifeofjh]

Animals in general tend to be more active in the morning and before sunset. With that said I agree with the above that each ride is a different experience and you should be fine anytime.

 

[dominiondad]

The best time is when you are sitting at your desk staring out the window at a giant parking lot full of empty cars waiting to take you back home so you can take out the trash and review your kid's homework, realizing they are smarter than you. Now. Now is the best time.

 

[Simba's Mom]

March 28. Is a before noon ride better than 3pm?I'm wondering if it will be hot enough in the afternoon that the animals won't be out.

I've ridden KS at all times of day-it's my favorite ride. In the days of paper FP, I spent a few days just riding KS all day, alternating between standby and FP. Best time? It's completely random. The only time that's often not so good is shortly before the animals go in for the end of the day. "Creatures of habit", so some of them have already started walking to the barns and out of sight.

 

[gap2368]

I have gone a number of times mostly in the morning the last few times I went was right at sunset and the animals were more active at this time some where playing with each other, other were rolling around in the mud, but this is not to say that if you go at park opening, 12, 3 or any other time that you will not see this and this dose not mean that if you go at sunset you will see the animals more active, if you are planing on spending the whole day at AK I would go at lest 2 times maybe once during the day and once at sunset, or once first thing and once during the day. as you can go a number of times and see total different things.

 

[BrownHP800]

I would normally agree about going in the morning. Just this past weekend we rode about 1:30 or 2:00pm and it must have just been feeding time. Animals were out very close to the road and were very active. Also it was a very slow time for the safari so our driver stopped quite often and we got some great pictures. It was nice not to feel like we were being rushed through the attraction.

 

[CAS239]

Go at anytime..it really doesn't matter. There's no specific times where animals will be more active.

The only difference I've seen is that in the evening around 5pm, that's when we've seen the lions being the most active. Walking around, couple roars. Any other time we've gone they either weren't out or just sleeping.

 

[FunnyAggie]

The driver definitely impacts the enjoyment of the safari!

I like riding in the late afternoon, but have had "good" and "bad" rides at all times of day.

We went on one of the night safaris in October and we saw the male lion out and walking around with two lionesses and he roared! It was amazing.

 

[nautical05]

We have been on the safari mostly in the morning. We did manage an afternoon trip and it was exciting as the morning trip. Every trip is a difference experience. I have always heard morning was the best time. But any time on a safari is awesome...right?

 

[my2sunshines]

We went last week about 9:30. Walked right on and the animals were all "up and at em". I'd suggest going early for that reason.

 

[Robo]

We went last week about 9:30. Walked right on and the animals were all "up and at em". I'd suggest going early for that reason.

The thing about WDW is that it's not always considered that 9:30 is exactly "early."

Many on this board are at AM EMH rope drop and waiting by 7:30AM, can be admitted by about 7:45 and then are boarding Safari at about 8:00AM.

 

[my2sunshines]

The thing about WDW is that it's not always considered that 9:30 is exactly "early."

Many on this board are at AM EMH rope drop and waiting by 7:30AM, can be admitted by about 7:45 and then are boarding Safari at about 8:00AM.

Haaaa, yes you are quite right I guess I should've said I lucked out by getting to the safari at 9:30 as a walk on.

 

[Robo]

Haaaa, yes you are quite right I guess I should've said I lucked out by getting to the safari at 9:30 as a walk on.

Agreed!

 

[teach22180]

I love this ride and find the animals moving around more first thing in the morning. I'm not a fan of the nighttime safari; there were too many animals not out. Seeing one or two different ones didn't offset that. Going at sunset is fun, but not afterwards.