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Guest Captures a Total ‘Lion King’ Moment During Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris

Disney's Kilimanjaro Safaris
Credit: Disney

Walt Disney World Resort is home to four amazing theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT.

Each Disney Park is known for something different, and no two will give Guests the same experience. Magic Kingdom is the classic and most popular Park, Hollywood Studios is home to some of Walt Disney World’s most thrilling adventures, and EPCOT is known for celebrating cultures worldwide.

Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Credit: Disney

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As for Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World doesn’t get any wilder. Between areas to explore such as Discovery Island, real animals along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, this theme park is one of Disney’s most diverse.

The environmentally conscious themes of conservation and informative attractions go hand in hand. But the attraction that really focuses Guests’ attention onto conservation is Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Credit: Disney

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Kilimanjaro Safaris takes Guests on a safari ride around Animal Kingdom’s 110-acre space, which has been divided into environments mimicking African Savannas, wetlands, and forests. The Walt Disney Imagineers have done a fantastic job designing these biomes out of Florida’s diverse environment.

On this open-aired adventure, Guests can see real-life animals of the African Savanna, such as giraffes, zebras, elephants, and of course, lions.

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Out of all 34 species that call this attraction their home, the lion may be the most exciting…if you’re lucky. Because the entertainment at this attraction is made up of live animals (not animatronics like in Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise attraction) all encounters will be different. Some will be more lively than others, and much of it depends on the time of day to visit.

One Guest recently visited during the evening and caught something straight out of Disney’s The Lion King (1994).

@ournextgreatadventure_

Those evening safaris really are the best! #animalkingdom #distok #disneyparks #disneyride #disneyrides #kilimanjarosafari

♬ original sound – Jimmy | Travel•Dad Life•Disney

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In this video, the lion repeatedly vocalizes and growls as the safari vehicle rolls past, giving Guests a Kilimanjaro Show of a lifetime! Seeing as lions are nocturnal predators, they are most active during dusk or dawn, explaining why this lion was giving Guests a performance on the evening this video was taken.

About Isabella Reimer

Isabella Reimer grew up visiting Walt Disney World and relocated to Central Florida to be even closer to The Most Magical Place on Earth. She earned her Bachelor’s from Florida State University, where she studied Creative Writing and Women’s Studies. Her biggest hobby is bonding with the ikran at Avatar Flight of Passage, and her retirement plan includes becoming the 1,000 Happy Haunt of the Haunted Mansion.