Kilimanjaro Safaris
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kilimanjaro Safaris | |
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| Ride logo | |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | |
| Land | Africa |
| Designer | Walt Disney Imagineering |
| Theme | Safari |
| Propulsion method | Liquid Propane |
| Opening date | April 22, 1998 |
| Vehicle type | Safari Truck |
| Vehicle names | Simba 1 |
| Ride duration | 18:30 minutes |
| Site area | 4,791,600 ft2 |
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Kilimanjaro Safaris is a safari attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park on the Walt Disney World Resort property in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It is an open-sided safari ride through the savannah of East Africa.
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[edit] Story
The ride originally begins as a 2 week animal safari, aboard "Simba 1" through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve in Harambe East Africa. It is 800 square miles of natural East African terrain, including forest (Ituri Forest), wetlands (Safi River valley), and open bush country (the Serengeti Savanna). During most of the ride you view the common African animals including elephants, giraffe, antelope, gazelle, crocodiles, hippos, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, flamingos, and much more. Your tour guide points out all the animals along with providing entertainment. During the journey, your driver is in radio contact with Reserve Warden Wilson Matua and his guest Miss Catherine Jobson (his favorite wildlife researcher), who are flying around the reserve on their daily routine. It all takes a turn when poachers are spotted in the animal preserve. The poachers have shot Big Red and captured Little Red, the two most famous elephants on the reserve, and your tour is enlisted to help save Little Red. You have support from the air and other park rangers.
[edit] History
In 2004 much of the savanah was torn up due to having to replace the drainage. When the park was developed they used cheaper drainage which eventually failed. The ride stayed open with green tarps covering the construction and to keep animals out.
The ride originally included a cast member at the scene of capturing the poachers and saving Big Red and Little Red. This cast member acted as a reserve warden carrying a gun and pointed out that little Red was OK and presumably was responsible for taking care of the poachers. This role was eliminated several years ago.
[edit] Trivia
- The entire Magic Kingdom Park could fit comfortably in place of the attraction.
- The name Harambe Wildlife Reserve may come from the Swahili word harambee, meaning "pull together".
[edit] Gallery
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[edit] External links
| Disney's Animal Kingdom Attractions | |
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| The Oasis: | The Oasis Exhibits |
| Discovery Island: | The Tree of Life | It's Tough to be a Bug! |
| Camp Minnie-Mickey: | Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends | Fesitval of the Lion King |
| Africa: | Kilimanjaro Safaris | Pangini Forest Exploration Trails |
| Rafiki's Planet Watch: | Wildlife Express Train | Habitat Habit! | Affection Section | Conservation Station |
| Asia: | Flights of Wonder | Kali River Rapids | Maharajah Jungle Trek | Expedition Everest |
| DinoLand U.S.A.: | The Boneyard | DINOSAUR | Dino-Sue | Cretaceous Trail | Dino-Rama!: Primeval Whirl | TriceraTop Spin | Fossil Fun Games |
| Entertainment | Festival of the Lion King | Finding Nemo-The Musical | Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade |
