Africa

Probably the most amazing land in Disney's Animal Kingdom is Africa. After countless trips to the real continent, Disney designers have created a 100-acre "African" savannah, with forests, rivers, and rocky hills as a home for their hundreds of very real animals. Everything looks so authentic that guests won't believe they're still in a former Florida swamp. Guests enter Africa through Harambe Village, which was inspired by the town of Lamu, in Kenya. This lovely area, full of old-looking thatch-roofed buildings, contains Africa's shops and restaurants. The individual attractions in Africa include Kilimanjaro Safaris, the defining ride of Disney's Animal Kingdom where guests have many awe-inspiring encounters with live animals; and Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, a beautiful, self-guided walking tour past many species of animals including the majestic lowland gorrilas. The restaurants in Africa include Tusker House, Kusafiri Cofee Shop & Bakery, Tamu Tamu Refreshments, Munch Wagon, and Harambe Fruit Market; they serve chicken, salads, sandwiches, baked goods, fruit, hot dogs, ice cream, etc. The shops in Africa include Out of the Wild, Duka La Filimu, Mombasa Marketplace, and Iswani Traders. They sell toys, clothing, books, film, and other African-themed merchandise.

Interesting and little known facts

-the baobob tree (a gnarly looking African tree that looks upside down, with the roots at the top) in Harambe Village was brought to the park from Miami, Florida!
-the thatched roofs in Harambe Village were made by Zulu workers brought from their homelands who use their feet to fashion the virtually indestructible structures!

---

Which attraction would you like to learn about?

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

---

Kilimanjaro Safaris takes guests on an exhilarating and inspiring trip across the African savannah. Guests board a large open-air safari vehicle and then they're off, following a bumpy dirt road. Your driver also serves as your guide, and the first animals they'll probably point out is the okapi, a small deer-like animal. Hippos can be seen in a large pond up ahead; and even farther ahead you'll spot crocodiles, while crossing a small river. Soon, the safari vehicles turn a corner, and you're presented with an awe-inspiring view of the wide open African savannah that seems to go on forever. Everything seems so authentic, that you'll feel you've been transported to another continent, where zebras, giraffes, and gazelles roam freely. In fact, they're so free-roaming that your vehicle might have to pause to let an animal cross the road, or you might even have a giraffe sticking it's head into your vehicle! One of the best sights on the ride, is the lion area. These beautiful creatures are amazing to see, but don't worry, they won't be sticking their heads in your vehicle! Other animals seen on the safari include elephants, rhinos, warthogs, flamingos, cheetahs, and ostriches. The safari isn't without incident though, and near the end of the ride a message comes over the vehicle's radio stating that poachers have wounded the elephant, "Big Red", and have captured her baby, "Little Red". Your safari vehicle takes off in hot pursuit of the poachers over bumpy, rough terrain, past steaming geysers. Guests get a glimpse of the fleeing poachers vehicle, just before they pass their abandoned camp strewn with ivory. Rounding another corner, you find that a game warden has successfully captured the poachers and that "Little Red" is okay. Kilimanjaro Safaris is the most unique ride at any Disney theme park, and every 20-minute safari is unique in itself.

Interesting and little known facts

Kilimanjaro Safari Pictures

A beautiful pathway through Disney's Africa, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail takes guests past some of the park's most amazing creatures. As guests begin their trek, they enter a small research station where they see, among other exhibits, a colony of naked mole rats scurrying around in their tunnels. As you exit the research station, you may notice birds overhead, because you have just entered a giant aviary full of exotic birds. The hippo exhibit farther along the trail is one of the most entertaining. Through a large underwater window, guests can see the humongous creatures gracefully swimming around their watery enclosure as if they were as light as feathers. The main attraction of the trail though, is the gorrilla area right at the end. Guests can look to either side of the wide walkway and see an entire family of gorrilas: father, mother, teenagers, children, and baby. It's truly an amazing sight!

Pangani Forest Exploration Trail Pictures

---

Where do you want to go?

Back to Disney's Animal Kingdom

Back to Josh's Walt Disney World Page