Animal Kingdom's Africa - Exploring the "World", One "Land" at a Time

As we cross the bridge from Discovery Island, we enter Africa and the village of Harambe. Food, entertainment and some of the most exotic animals in the world await us in this small African village. 

Head to the Harambe Wildlife Preserve for the most exciting attraction in Africa! Kilimanjaro Safaris take you on an 800 square mile tour of the savanna. You will ride an open-air safari vehicle where over 34 different species of African wildlife seemingly roam free. Your tour guide will provide valuable information on this 18-minute tour and slow whenever possible for great photo opportunities! 

Previous versions of the safari included a scripted story of poachers invading the reserve to capture the elephant Big Red and her young child Little Red. Your vehicle (Simba 1) would cross a dangerous bridge and speed up in time to stop the poachers and save Little Red! A later version removed the danger to Little Red and had him roaming the reserve and asking us to be on the lookout for him. We still encountered a speedy poacher chase at the end. These versions have since been removed and it is now a calm, slow-paced safari with no accompanying storyline. I personally enjoyed the stories very much and found the safari just a little more boring without them. Although the story has been removed, Disney maintains that the safari still has a strong emphasis on conservation. 

After your safari ends, there are still many more animals to be seen. Take a walk through the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. Here you will get a close-up view of animals such as okapi, hippos, tropical fish, naked mole rats, meerkats and of course, the Lowland Gorillas!

If all this exploring has worked up an appetite, there are plenty of satisfying choices in Africa. You can enjoy a bountiful all-you-can-eat buffet at Tusker House Restaurant. They have many delicious food choices with African flavoring. You can also meet and greet some of your favorite characters at breakfast, lunch and dinner!

If a buffet is too much for you, there are many other choices in Africa. Stop in for a relaxing specialty cocktail at the Dawa Bar. Enjoy some cool drinks and fresh fruit at the Harambe Fruit Market. Enjoy something hot or sweet at Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery. Or, grab a sandwich or salad at Tamu Tamu Refreshments.

You can also now visit the newly-opened Harambe Market. The market is made up of four quick service windows. They include: Kitamu Grill, Famous Sausages, Chef Mwanga's, and Wanjohi Refreshments. Each offers a variety of African inspired dishes. The area also includes 220 seats with viewing of the live entertainment at the Harambe platform. The space also opens up to a new pathway to Bradley Falls and the Asia section. (photo credit: Orlando Sentinel)

At its new home in Africa's Harambe Theater, take a break from the heat to enjoy Festival of the Lion King. Currently the longest running attraction in Animal Kingdom, this spectacular stage show features puppets, stilt-walkers, acrobats and singers. The interactive performance puts the audience in the fun, breaking them into four animal groups. Will you be a giraffe, warthog, elephant or lion? Join Simba, Timon and Pumbaa for this bigger-than-Broadway show!

FUN FACTS:

**50 Cast Members perform at Festival of the Lion King
**The only live baobab tree in Africa stands outside Tusker House restaurant
**Gift shops in Africa have fake business licenses with the official seal of Harambe
**The largest tree replanted in the park is located in Harambe Village. It tips the scales at 90 tons
**Kilimanjaro Safaris covers over 110 acres
**Harambe Village is based on the Kenyan town of Lamu



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