Ivy, a giraffe at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, made her Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna debut on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Guests riding Kilimanjaro Safaris may now spot Ivy with the giraffe herd, though every safari still depends on where the animals choose to move during the ride.
Savanna debut
Disney Parks announced Ivy’s debut in a Thursday social post, saying the giraffe officially made her Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The post included new photos of Ivy on the savanna, including shots of her standing alone, walking near adult giraffes, and appearing close to a safari vehicle.
The practical change is simple: Ivy is now part of the possible animal sightings on Kilimanjaro Safaris, the open-air ride through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.
Where guests may see her
Kilimanjaro Safaris is located in the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney describes the attraction as an open-air safari vehicle tour through a wildlife sanctuary, with real animals roaming across the reserve.
The attraction page says the Harambe Wildlife Reserve is home to more than 30 species across 110 acres, with guests potentially seeing giraffes, elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, crocodiles, hippos, lions, zebras, painted dogs, and other animals during the ride.
What changes for riders
Ivy’s debut gives riders one more specific animal to watch for, especially in the giraffe areas of the savanna. Disney’s own attraction language still applies: animal sightings vary because the animals move on their own schedule.
That makes timing useful, but not guaranteed. Guests hoping to see Ivy should keep cameras ready when safari drivers approach the giraffe habitat and listen for any guide callouts during the ride.
Planning note
Kilimanjaro Safaris is listed by Disney as an 18-minute expedition. It has no height requirement, and on June 11 Disney listed operating hours for the attraction from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For guests building an Animal Kingdom day around Ivy, the best plan is to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris when it fits the day rather than treating the sighting as guaranteed. The new debut makes the ride more interesting, but the animals still decide the show.
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Source: Published June 11, 2026 by Disney Parks on X, with Walt Disney World’s official Kilimanjaro Safaris page used for attraction details. Disney Parks on X.
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