Guests Trapped in Truck During Animal Chase on Disney’s Kilimanjaro Safaris
This week, a Walt Disney World Resort safari vehicle came to a sudden stop due to an animal chase. Guests riding Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park watched as an ostrich sprinted toward their truck, followed closely by two massive rhinoceroses moving at full speed.
Kilimanjaro Safaris: Where Anything Can Happen
Kilimanjaro Safaris is probably the most unpredictable attraction at Walt Disney World Resort. The 20-minute expedition takes Disney Park guests across 110 acres designed to mimic open plains, dense forests, and rocky marshlands, all inhabited by more than 30 species of animals.
Because the wildlife is free to roam its designated habitats, no two safaris are ever the same, and occasional ride delays are part of the adventure. Whether caused by a wandering giraffe or a curious rhino, these pauses offer a reminder that theme park guests are sharing the space with real, wild animals.
A Wild Encounter Caught on Camera
TikTok user @travellifewithlucy shared a video of the incident on Monday. During the guest’s journey through the reserve, an ostrich suddenly bolted toward the truck, prompting the driver to bring the vehicle to an immediate stop. Moments later, two rhinos charged after the bird, racing toward the safari vehicle:
@travellifewithlucy Not the lady at the end saying to stay calm when we were in fact NOT calm and thought the rhino was gonna charge into the truck 🤣 #animalkingdom #kilimanjarosafari #wdw #waltdisneyworld @Disney Parks @Disney Parks UK @DisneyWorld
Guests could be heard shouting, including cries of “Oh my god!” as the animals approached the truck. The driver assured passengers to remain calm while allowing the animals to pass safely. No injuries were reported, and the animals continued moving through their habitat without incident.
Luckily, the animals were likely interacting naturally and posed no real danger. Kilimanjaro Safaris’ habitats are carefully structured to prevent predator–prey conflicts, and the rhinos—being herbivores—pose little threat to the ostrich (beyond being a little annoying). One commenter summed it up as the animals simply “playing chase.”
“This is crazy!!!!!” said @momswithmagicplans. “But those ostriches can be so mean so I don’t blame the rhinos hahahaha.”
“I’m guessing the ostrich was being extremely annoying,” @reallifechemist agreed.
More Safari Stories
In response to the video, other Walt Disney World Resort guests quickly began sharing their own unforgettable Kilimanjaro Safaris stories.
“I was on this ride once when a group of small deer like animals ran right by the lions,” said @mlb4925. “They perked right up and just intently watched them. I have been on this ride literally hundreds of times and never seen other animals that close to the lions. Our guide kept saying it was fine, the lions can’t get to them. But we were all very uncomfortable. I don’t want to be that close to nature.”
“Our tram broke down by the rhinos and they charged the tram we were in,” @lulurothe6 replied.
At the time of this article’s publication, Kilimanjaro Safaris was operating normally. Walt Disney World Resort has not issued a public statement about this incident.
What is your favorite memory from Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
