Kilimanjaro Safaris

*This article is on the real-world attraction. For the fictional company of the same name, see Kilimanjaro Safaris (company).*

**Kilimanjaro Safaris** is an attraction in the Africa area of *Disney's Animal Kingdom*. It is considered to be the spiritual successor of the Jungle Cruise as it is based on Walt Disney's original plans for the Jungle Cruise, being a ride through a faux wildlife environment with live animals. The attraction also has shared continuity with the Jungle Cruise franchise, and is frequently referenced in Jungle Cruise/Adventureland attractions.

## History

### Backstory

Kilimanjaro Safaris takes place in the late 20th/early 21st century in the East African port of Harambe. Guests are part of a safari service lead by the *Kilimanjaro Safaris* company through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, established from the remains of a colonial cattle company's base after the people of Harambe rebelled and freed themselves from the British Empire. Guests take a ride aboard the SIMBA-1 jeep through the reserve for animal sight-seeing.

### Development history

Kilimanjaro Safaris is an African wildlife safari which opened the April 22, 1998 as part of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme-park. The attraction was based on Walt Disney's original plans for the Jungle Cruise, being a ride which featured real exotic animals. Due to this, the Disney company created 110 acres of a functioning wildlife reserve which is home to 34 species of animal.

The original version of the attraction had a narrative with show-scenes, character audio and audio-animatronic elements. This version of the ride was made to be a moral story to fight the poaching industry. The narrative had guests encounter the corpse of the mother elephant, "Big Red" and team up with the reserve's aviator/warden Wilson Matua to find the poachers and save her baby Little Red. This incarnation of the ride was backlashed due to being mature without warning and not having a clear separation between audio-animatronic and live-animal for young guests.

## Summary

Guests enter the base-camp and board the SIMBA-1 jeep. After this, their jeep enters the Ukungu Forest. After this, the SIMBA-1 passes by a watering hole and the Safari River. The jeeps proceed onto the rickety Senkell Bridge towards the Ndege Hills. From the hills, the jeeps enter the African savannah which is densely populated by animals, including lions atop, "Pride Rock". After this, the jeeps return to base and disembark.

## Jungle Cruise connections

### Adventure Trading Company

The Daily Gnus newspaper journalist B. Pepperella made reference to Harambe having been visited by the Adventure Trading Company alongside the Lost River Delta and Mystic Point.

### Jungle Cruise

Kilimanjaro Safaris repurposes Walt Disney's original premise for the Jungle Cruise, being a ride featuring real exotic animals. In 2023, a souvenir banner from Harambe was hung over the Banana Troop door in the Amazon River Base.

### Skipper Canteen

In the Skipper Canteen's library is a book titled, "The Harambe Chronicles" by an author named Wilson.

### Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

In this bar is a photograph of Trader Sam on an elephant-back safari with the *Kilimanjaro Safaris* logo on the elephant's saddle. A note from Sam explains how this was a safari through the village of Harambe.

## Trivia

* Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of two Jungle Cruise inspired attractions in Disney's Animal Kingdom, the other being *Na'vi River Journey*.
* Kilimanjaro Safaris' theme-song is *Hapa Duniani* by Msafiri Zawose and *African Dawn*.

## References

1. ↑ https://blogmickey.com/2023/11/100-photos-jingle-cruise-holiday-overlay-returns-to-jungle-cruise-for-2023-holiday-season-at-magic-kingdom/
2. ↑ https://allears.net/2023/08/23/25-things-you-didnt-know-about-jungle-cruise-in-disney-world/