Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is home to many unique and immersive experiences, but Kilimanjaro Safaris stands out as a truly wild adventure. It offers guests the chance to see incredible animals up close in a realistic safari setting. Recently, however, some Walt Disney World Resort guests have shared surprising accounts of a disturbing animal collision on the ride.
Kilimanjaro Safaris transports guests through a multi-acre wildlife preserve filled with exotic animals like giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and antelopes. The open-air, safari-style vehicles make guests feel like they’re really in the heart of Africa. But with so many animals freely roaming the area, encounters with them are inevitable—unfortunately, a few of these encounters went wrong.
In a recent Reddit thread, Disney Parks fans shared stories of “crazy” things they’ve seen while on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Among the stories were two separate accounts from guests describing an animal-vehicle collision involving a bongo, a striking forest antelope known for its distinctive orange coat and white stripes.
One guest, u/BobbaGanush87, recalled their nighttime safari experience, describing how their safari vehicle “drove straight into a bongo” as it stood on the path. “The Bongo was standing there the whole time. [The Disney cast member] called it in and said, ‘It jumped in front of the vehicle,'” the guest shared, adding that the bongo quickly ran off into the night.
Another guest, u/psychosholtis, reported a similar incident during an evening ride. “It was after dark, and apparently the driver didn’t see the bongo walking across the road,” they explained. The vehicle reportedly made contact with the animal, prompting the driver to stop the ride and wait for the Disney’s Animal Kingdom team to assess the situation.
“It was okay, but we all had to wait while they checked on everything,” the Disney Park guest explained.
Whether these incidents happened on the same ride or during different safaris remains unclear, but both accounts highlight the unique and sometimes unpredictable nature of Kilimanjaro Safaris. While animal encounters are common on the ride, it’s rare to hear about collisions, especially those that require on-the-spot attention from Disney’s Animal Kingdom‘s dedicated veterinary team.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has a top-notch team of veterinarians and animal experts who are always on hand to respond to situations like these. As an Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited facility, Animal Kingdom adheres to rigorous animal welfare standards, ensuring that the animals’ safety and health remain a top priority.
Has an animal ever interrupted your Kilimanjaro Safaris ride? Share your story with How to Disney in the comments.
Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on a personal Disney Parks guest experience. No two guest experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with How to Disney’s personal views on Disney Park operations.
