15 can’t-miss attractions at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, may be able to spot a new addition on the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna. A 2-month-old male Masai giraffe named Jabari (center) has officially joined the giraffe herd. Jabari, which means “brave one” in Swahili, is a bold, curious and courageous calf and his name celebrates his spirit. Standing seven feet tall, Jabari has spent the past two months bonding with his mom, Mara, in a backstage habitat. True to his name, Jabari has quickly reached all his key developmental milestones, so on March 12, 2019, he was reintroduced to the savanna and his tower – otherwise known as a group of giraffe. Jabari has several special distinctions; he is the first giraffe calf to be born on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and he has a special heart-shaped spot on his neck. (David Roark, photographer)

Kilimanjaro Safari

Celebrate the wonders of nature on Kilimanjaro Safari. This is the most authentic safari experience you’re going to have outside of Africa. Walt Disney Imagineering has created multiple African ecosystems from rivers to the iconic Savannah to allow guests to get up close to some of Africa’s most famous and most endangered animals.

Guests will start out going through the queue, which tells the story of the Harambe Wildlife reserve and its goal of conservation. Throughout the queue space, they will see a few animals and a short video on the reserve itself.

Once you board your truck, be sure to hang on because it can get bumpy out on the reserve, especially over bridges and waterways. Throughout your trip, you’ll see bloats of hippos, towers of giraffes, a pride of lions, a flamboyance of flamingos and more! For the best possible photos of these amazing animals, you’re going to want to use a burst or sport setting on your camera.

For two completely different experiences, try to do Kilimanjaro Safari in the morning and at night. In the morning, the animals are more active because of the cooler weather. At night, there are different nocturnal animals out on the reserve, and the lions are more active!

Kilimanjaro Safari is a great attraction for guests of all ages. It is highly recommended that you get a FastPass+ reservation for the ride since lines do get long throughout the day. If you cannot get a FastPass+, the best times to ride are first thing in the morning or during Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park’s nighttime show, Rivers of Light.