BTQ
BlogSign inStart free →

How Long Is the Wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris?

At Animal Kingdom, the line averages 33 minutes for Kilimanjaro Safaris. The line is shortest around 5pm, averaging 13 minutes, and longest around 11am at 53 minutes. That is drawn from the past 12 months of recorded waits, so you can pick a window without buying Lightning Lane.

Average wait by time of day
7am: 5 min average wait7am5min8am: 20 min average wait8am209am: 38 min average wait9am3810am: 50 min average wait10am5011am: 53 min average wait11am53min12pm: 45 min average wait12pm451pm: 36 min average wait1pm362pm: 28 min average wait2pm283pm: 23 min average wait3pm234pm: 18 min average wait4pm185pm: 13 min average wait5pm136pm: 8 min average wait6pm87pm: 6 min average wait7pm68pm: 5 min average wait8pm59pm: 5 min average wait9pm510pm: 5 min average wait10pm511pm: 5 min average wait11pm5
■ Best■ Busiest
Average wait by day of week
Sun: 36 min average waitSun36Mon: 38 min average waitMon38Tue: 30 min average waitTue30Wed: 27 min average waitWed27minThu: 28 min average waitThu28Fri: 35 min average waitFri35Sat: 40 min average waitSat40min
■ Best■ Busiest
Average wait by month
Jan: 32 min average waitJan32Feb: 37 min average waitFeb37Mar: 36 min average waitMar36Apr: 39 min average waitApr39minMay: 29 min average waitMay29Jun: 26 min average waitJun26Jul: 25 min average waitJul25Aug: 25 min average waitAug25Sep: 28 min average waitSep28Oct: 23 min average waitOct23minNov: 31 min average waitNov31Dec: 36 min average waitDec36
■ Best■ Busiest
Key insight: The clearest pattern: Kilimanjaro Safaris is shortest around 5pm (averaging 13 minutes) and longest around 11am (53 minutes). Day of week matters too: Wed averages 27 minutes while Sat averages 40 minutes, a 13-minute difference. Across months, Oct tends to be the quietest, with an average closer to 23 minutes.

Want to know the best time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris on YOUR visit date?

BTQ builds a live-updating itinerary around your date, park, and group, so you always know which ride to hit next. No Lightning Lane needed.

Plan my Animal Kingdom day →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris?

Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom is usually shortest around 5pm (about 13 minutes) and longest around 11am (about 53 minutes). Riding in the first hour after opening or late in the evening gives the shortest waits.

What is the average wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris?

Kilimanjaro Safaris averages about 33 minutes at Animal Kingdom, across every recorded wait while the ride was operating.

What day of the week has the shortest line for Kilimanjaro Safaris?

Wednesday typically has the shortest line for Kilimanjaro Safaris (around 27 minutes), while Saturday is the busiest (around 40 minutes).

Do I need Lightning Lane to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris?

No. By riding Kilimanjaro Safaris during its quietest hours and on a lower-crowd day, most guests can keep the wait short without paying for Lightning Lane.

More rides at Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain wait times →Avatar Flight of Passage wait times →Na'vi River Journey wait times →Kali River Rapids wait times →

Plan your Animal Kingdom visit

Animal Kingdom crowd calendar — best months & days to visit →Is Lightning Lane worth it at Animal Kingdom? →Live wait times for every ride at Animal Kingdom →

Related reading

How to Avoid Long Lines at Disney World →Rope Drop at Disney Parks: We Analyzed the Data So You Don't Have To →