Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safaris vs. Kenya's Real Thing: How Do They Compare?

Animal Kingdom's opening day centerpiece attraction remains one of the park's must-do rides. Kilimanjaro Safaris combines incredible landscapes and an ever changing crew of creatures both big and small. It's a brisk 18 minute adventure, but how does Imagineering's epic attraction hold up next to a real live African safari? Did Joe Rhode's team pull it off? Let's see how they compare.

Beautiful family- inside and out!

My son and his family left Nairobi, Kenya for a 140 mile trip to the edge of the Serengeti National Park in Kenya. They chose to save for and then splurge to take their sons on a two day overnight excursion. (And of course, being my kid, my son has been on Disney's version of a safari several times!) How did it all measure up?

Convenience:

• This depends on your home base. Orlando can be reached at a maximum of a 5 hour flight from the Continental US. To get to  Kenya takes more time from most locations with a high percentage of people with disposable income. (Remember, travel is a privilege  the common people of the Majority World do not get to enjoy.)

Expenses:

• Roundtrip airfare from cities in the U.S.A. to Kenya average about $1000 per person. Flights to Orlando are much less for those in the States, more for those from other countries. 
• Price for the experience itself- One day tickets to Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom currently range from $109 to $189 per person. An average price for a one day safari not including transportation to the main departure station is $155. Two day safaris begin at around $300 per person.
• Lodging and food in both locations is extra.

Tour Guides:

• There's no comparison here. In Florida, you'll currently get whomever Disney employs at the park, be it Susan from Lake Buena Vista or Joe from New York City. The knowledge base may be similar, but as a tourist you can't get a better experience and flavor for what you're experiencing than with an African local. Animal Kingdom once had a cultural exchange program (similar to the one used for the World Showcase locations at Epcot) but that went by the wayside long before COVID took hold of the world.

Gorgeous and 100% Kenya.

Closer shot.

Vehicle:

• The photographs above show a typical van-like transportation style. They opted for a tour company that took a different approach. (Photo below).    

Bit of a bumpy road.

This type of transport was more expensive, but it had definite benefits, namely a smaller crew of tourists on board and a more personalized tour.  

Disney's open air train.

To be fair, Walt Disney World designers had to come up with a way to get thousands of people on the park's most ridden attraction. So this trade off makes a lot of sense. They did an incredible job, but you are sharing your safari with about 35 or so more guests. 

The real location in the Serengeti National Park.

The Setting:

With 110 acres to play with, Disney Imagineers created an open area full of twists and turns and changing landscapes in order to provide the most authentic experience for their animal stars as well as their guests. Imagine taking all of the Magic Kingdom and making it fair game for an open air, no cages allowed zoo. In reality, wisely placed barriers in various forms of disguise keep guests at a safe (and unreachable) distance from predators. There's no such safety value to speak of on the real safari, only adding to the thrill- or should I say "threat"?

Animals:

This is why you go on safari! 

Big cats abound in the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

Big cats abound here, too.

While it is true you may not see all the animals you want on Disney's safari, the same can be said for a real life adventure. The photograph above reveals a photographer must use a zoom in lens to get this close to his subjects. But then again, you might be surprised. Look at the photos below from the real thing.

No zoom lens this time!

Not in use here either.

A lone zebra a few yards away from the vehicle.

What about the King of Beasts- the lions? Well, in the Disney version, they are perched a la Simba on a great rock high above everyone. This not only ensures a view for the guests but for the animal as well.

Disney's pampered felines.

Photo from DisneyInsiders.com

Overseas, yes, my family was able to see the real thing. No restraints, no cages, no protection. This provided a thrill that even Expedition Everest cannot match. 

Lions close by- and no zoom lens either.

In the real world of East Africa, visitors who can travel there get the full on experience of interacting with the people who live and work there. 

Zoom in to read the message on his beaded belt.

If you go to Africa, you'll have a chance to visit the Maasi people in their home village. (My family loved this part of the safari!) They'll eat local food and shop for unique crafts and authentic souvenirs. These make for memories that last for a lifetime.

My grandsons making some new friends!

Back in the Disney World...

My personal photo from Walt Disney World in 2018.

A visitor to Walt Disney World will most likely see more animals on their 18 minute safari than they would in the real world. But that's ok- this is a theme park, and it is designed to give guests the essence of the real experience without the headaches and hassles. 

The Disney experience.

Photo from Carrie On Travel.

In the Disney World, the memories will happen too. But they'll be mixed in with numerous other things like character greetings, different E Ticket attractions, and man-made Intellectual Properties on display. Did Disney do a real life safari justice? Absolutely, no question. Yet no one can replicate the beauty and majesty of God's incredibly diverse, and very real, creation. 

(Family photos copyright Mark Taft.)