Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park Listed Animals of Kilimanjaro Safaris

Austin the Sengi

Austin the Sengi

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
In light with other species lists which have already covered this section of the animal theme park (nahtazu!). The following is the result of what I’ve sourced from old maps, ZooChat media, and years of personal observations. But as always, do feel free to add more to the list, as I am certain that there might be some former species that I initially missed.

I should also mention that on each safari vehicle, there are signs above you that are labeled as an “Animal Spotting Guide”. Do be mindful that these spotting guides are not accurate! and are used by Disney to tell the average visitor of justifying what animals are expected to be seen while riding.

As for what you can see while riding this attraction, listed below is an up-to-date species list of what animals are currently present*:

Off-Ride
Kilimanjaro’s Ride Queue - 2 total - {as of this year}
  • Black Crowned Crane / Balearica pavonina
  • Radiated Tortoise / Astrochelys radiata

On-Ride
Little Ituri Forest - 6 total - {as of this year}
  • Eastern Bongo / T. e. isaaci
  • Greater Kudu / Tragelaphus strepsiceros
  • Saddle-Billed Stork / E. senegalensis
  • Okapi / Okapia johnstoni
  • Yellow-Backed Duiker* / Cephalophus silvicultor
  • Eastern Black Rhinoceros / D. b. michaeli
(*the ride’s most elusive animal)


Safi River - 3 total - {as of this year}
  • Common Hippopotamus / Hippopotamus amphibius
  • Pink-Backed Pelican / Pelecanus rufescens
  • Nile Crocodile / Crocodylus niloticus
Note that the hippos have two viewable exhibits on either side of the vehicle; right-hand for males, left-hand for females and offspring.


West Savanna - 8 total - {as of this year}
  • Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra - Equus / ‘Hippotigris’ zebra hartmanni
  • Masai Giraffe / Giraffa tippelskirchi
  • Common Eland / Taurotragus oryx - (pattersonianus specifically)
  • Blue Wildebeest / Connochaetes taurinus - (albojubatus specifically)
  • Springbok / Antidorcas marsupialis
  • Domestic Cattle - (Ankole-Watusi) - / Bos taurus x indicus
  • Sable Antelope / Hippotragus niger
  • Painted Dog / Lycaon pictus

Monkey Point & More - 3 total - {as of this year}
  • Mandrill / Mandrillus sphinx
  • African Bush Elephant / Loxodonta africana
  • Greater Flamingo / Phoenicopterus roseus
Notably, similar to the hippos, there are multiple elephant exhibits for visitors to view from. With the biggest difference being that on the left-hand yard, there are two herds that rotate the space with one another. So, on one safari, you might see a bachelor herd. While on another, you may glimpse the sight of a matriarchal herd with current and future offspring.


East Savanna - 6 total - {as of this year}
  • Southern White Rhinoceros / C. s. simum
  • Ellipsen Waterbuck / K. e. ellipsiprymnus
  • Common Ostrich / Struthio camelus
  • Cheetah / Acinonyx jubatus
  • African Lion / Panthera leo - (melanochaita specifically)
  • Common Warthog / Phacochoerus africanus

Mgadi Glen / “Warden’s Post” - 1 total - {as of this year}
  • Domestic Goat - (Nigerian Dwarf) - / Capra hircus

(*as of August 2024)
From there, this current species list, like our imaginary safari, has reached its end. But do stick around, as I am also planning to highlight the attraction’s past; alongside its covered present.
 
As promised, this next list was planned as a fun way to differentiate my list from the others. For I wanted this thread to also cover a bit of the park’s history; mainly by listing many of the former animals that were previously displayed along the safari’s route, as you can see here:

Off-Ride
• African Sacred Ibis


On-Ride
• Mantled Guereza
• South-Central Black Rhinoceros - (D. b. minor)
• Scimitar-Horned Oryx
• Yellow-Billed Stork
• Addax
• Spotted Hyena - (rotated with the painted dogs)
• Bontebok
• Reticulated Giraffe
• Plains Zebra - (Grant’s specifically)
• Lowland Nyala
• Klipspringer
• Secretary Bird
• Marabou Stork
• Kori Bustard
• Impala
• Mhorr Gazelle - (N. d. mhorr)
• Gerenuk
• Yellow-Billed Duck / Anas undulata
• Red-Billed Teal / Anas erythrorhyncha
• Southern Ground Hornbill
• Thompson’s Gazelle
• Northern Pintail
• White-Faced Whistling Duck
 
Also, for all of the subspecies nerds. I forgot to mention that the Sable Antelopes displayed in the West Savanna belong to the Black or Southern subspecies (Hippotragus niger niger).
 
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While there isn’t much else to acknowledge beyond the temporary loss of the park’s lions. What I will mention is that otherwise, the current species roster is mostly the same as before. Again, as for what you can see while riding this attraction, listed below is an up-to-date species list of what animals are currently present*:

Off-Ride
Kilimanjaro’s Ride Queue - 2 total - {as of this year}
  • Black Crowned Crane / Balearica pavonina
  • Radiated Tortoise / Astrochelys radiata

On-Ride
Little Ituri Forest - 6 total - {as of this year}
  • Eastern Bongo / T. e. isaaci
  • Greater Kudu / Tragelaphus strepsiceros
  • Saddle-Billed Stork / E. senegalensis
  • Okapi / Okapia johnstoni
  • Yellow-Backed Duiker* / Cephalophus silvicultor
  • Eastern Black Rhinoceros / D. b. michaeli
(*the ride’s most elusive animal)


Safi River - 3 total - {as of this year}
  • Common Hippopotamus / Hippopotamus amphibius
  • Pink-Backed Pelican / Pelecanus rufescens
  • Nile Crocodile / Crocodylus niloticus
Note that the hippos have two viewable exhibits on either side of the vehicle; right-hand for males, left-hand for females and offspring.


West Savanna - 8 total - {as of this year}
  • Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra - Equus / ‘Hippotigris’ zebra hartmanni
  • Masai Giraffe / Giraffa tippelskirchi
  • Common Eland / Taurotragus oryx - (pattersonianus specifically)
  • Blue Wildebeest / Connochaetes taurinus - (albojubatus specifically)
  • Springbok / Antidorcas marsupialis
  • Domestic Cattle - (Ankole-Watusi) - / Bos taurus x indicus
  • Sable Antelope / Hippotragus niger - (niger specifically)
  • Painted Dog / Lycaon pictus

Monkey Point & More - 3 total - {as of this year}
  • Mandrill / Mandrillus sphinx
  • African Bush Elephant / Loxodonta africana
  • Greater Flamingo / Phoenicopterus roseus
Notably, similar to the hippos, there are multiple elephant exhibits for visitors to view from. With the biggest difference being that on the left-hand yard, there are two herds that rotate the space with one another. So, on one safari, you might see a bachelor herd. While on another, you may glimpse the sight of a matriarchal herd with current and future offspring.


East Savanna - 5 total - {for now}
  • Southern White Rhinoceros / C. s. simum
  • Ellipsen Waterbuck / K. e. ellipsiprymnus
  • Common Ostrich / Struthio camelus
  • Cheetah / Acinonyx jubatus
  • Common Warthog / Phacochoerus africanus

Mgadi Glen / “Warden’s Post” - 1 total - {as of this year}
  • Domestic Goat - (Nigerian Dwarf) - / Capra hircus
(*as of November 2024)
 
After coming across a mixed-species document regarding the park’s ungulates; included within said document were a selection of animals that were former cohabitants with many of the safari’s current species. Because of this, I figured it was about time to expand upon the original list of former species; and if you’re wondering why a certain king of the beasts isn’t among the animals listed, then boy do I have some great news for you all in the next general update:

Off-Ride
• African Sacred Ibis


On-Ride
• Mantled Guereza
• South-Central Black Rhinoceros - (D. b. minor)
• Scimitar-Horned Oryx
• Yellow-Billed Stork
• Spotted Hyena - (rotated with the painted dogs)
• Kori Bustard
• “Reticulated” Giraffe - (Giraffa sp.)
• Addax
• Plains Zebra - (Grant’s specifically)
• Bontebok
• Lowland Nyala
• Klipspringer
• Secretary Bird
• Impala
• Marabou Stork
• Mhorr Gazelle - (N. d. mhorr)
• Gerenuk
• Yellow-Billed Duck / Anas undulata
• Red-Billed Teal / Anas erythrorhyncha
• Southern Ground Hornbill
• Thompson’s Gazelle
• Northern Pintail
• White-Faced Whistling Duck
• Fringe-Eared Oryx - (O. b. callotis)
• Blue Crane
• Helmeted Guineafowl
• Egyptian Goose
• White-Breasted Cormorant
• Hardhead / Aythya australis*
• Tufted Duck
• “Crowned Crane” - (Balearica sp. - possibly Grey / B. regulorum)?

(*notably, an Australian species in an African attraction; once mixed with the male hippos)

(underlined - newly added)
 
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PSO, I was under the impression that all of their current black rhinos belonged to the Eastern subspecies? If your statement is true, how many do they still have?
 
As slowly reach the end of the year, I figured that the following announcements were not enough for a complete update of the entire species list. Therefore, it should be mentioned that the Little Ituri Forest displays two subspecies of the Black Rhinoceros* (Diceros bicornis), and that the park now displays a new pride of African Lions; continuing their traditional presence at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
  • *Eastern Black Rhinoceros / D. b. michaeli
  • *South-Central Black Rhinoceros / D. b. minor
 
@biggest_dreamer to answer your questions, here’s what I know…

First, the rhinos that they have rotate between the two public habitats, so you’ll never know which individual you’ll see on a given safari.

Second, the park only acquired the eastern subspecies after the transfer of (1.0) Komati from the Great Plains Zoo in 2023. Afaik, they’ve solely had the south-central subspecies for a number of years.
 
Here below are the animals one can see while riding Kilimanjaro Safaris, as of 12/18/2024.

Off-Ride
Kilimanjaro’s Ride Queue - 2 total - {as of this year}
  • Black Crowned Crane / Balearica pavonina
  • Radiated Tortoise / Astrochelys radiata

On-Ride
Little Ituri Forest - 6 total - {as of this year}
  • Eastern Bongo / T. e. isaaci
  • Greater Kudu / Tragelaphus strepsiceros
  • Saddle-Billed Stork / E. senegalensis
  • Okapi / Okapia johnstoni
  • Yellow-Backed Duiker* / Cephalophus silvicultor
  • Eastern Black Rhinoceros / D. b. michaeli
  • South-Central Black Rhinoceros / D. b. minor
(*the ride’s most elusive animal)
- Note that both rhino subspecies rotate between two public exhibits


Safi River - 3 total - {as of this year}
  • Common Hippopotamus / Hippopotamus amphibius
  • Pink-Backed Pelican / Pelecanus rufescens
  • Nile Crocodile / Crocodylus niloticus
Note that the hippos have two viewable exhibits on either side of the vehicle; right-hand for males, left-hand for females and offspring.


West Savanna - 8 total - {as of this year}
  • Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra - Equus / ‘Hippotigris’ zebra hartmanni
  • Masai Giraffe / Giraffa tippelskirchi
  • Common Eland / Taurotragus oryx - (pattersonianus specifically)
  • Blue Wildebeest / Connochaetes taurinus - (albojubatus specifically)
  • Springbok / Antidorcas marsupialis
  • Domestic Cattle - (Ankole-Watusi) - / Bos taurus x indicus
  • Sable Antelope / Hippotragus niger - (niger specifically)
  • Painted Dog / Lycaon pictus

Monkey Point & More - 3 total - {as of this year}
  • Mandrill / Mandrillus sphinx
  • African Bush Elephant / Loxodonta africana
  • Greater Flamingo / Phoenicopterus roseus
Notably, similar to the hippos, there are multiple elephant exhibits for visitors to view from. With the biggest difference being that on the left-hand yard, there are two herds that rotate the space with one another. So, on one safari, you might see a bachelor herd. While on another, you may glimpse the sight of a matriarchal herd with current and future offspring.


East Savanna - 6 total - {as of this year}
  • Southern White Rhinoceros / C. s. simum
  • Ellipsen Waterbuck / K. e. ellipsiprymnus
  • Common Ostrich / Struthio camelus
  • Cheetah / Acinonyx jubatus
  • African Lion / Panthera leo
  • Common Warthog / Phacochoerus africanus

Mgadi Glen / “Warden’s Post” - 1 total - {as of this year}
  • Domestic Goat - (Nigerian Dwarf) - / Capra hircus
 
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