7 Reasons We Love the Africa Section of Animal Kingdom
With the live-action version of The Lion King coming out in just a few days, we felt inspired to share with you one of our favorite places in ALL of Walt Disney World- The Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Though Pandora: The World of Avatar seems to get all of the glory these days we think Harambe Market and the surrounding area has so much to offer. Check out a few of our favorite things to do here!
Festival of The Lion King
If you only have time to take in one stage show while at Walt Disney World make it Festival of the Lion King. This incredible production combines elements of your favorite Broadway musical with the circus, parades and more! The production offers a vibrant and playful take on many of the key scenes from the original animated version of The Lion King with breathtaking musical numbers including The Circle of Life, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and Hakuna Matata. Performances take place daily at the theatre in Harambe Market at 10:00 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Lines can get long though so consider using one of your Animal Kingdom FastPasses to attend!
Boozy Dole Whips
Adults can savor the flavor of your favorite Dole Whip treat with a hint of delicious rum at Tamu Tamu Refreshments. For $8.50n guests can choose between a shot of dark rum or a shot of coconut room. There’s also the normal version for those with kids in tow.
Tusker House
This is my favorite character dining spot in ALL of Walt Disney World! At this buffet-style eatery, you’ll find an impressive array of dishes inspired by the flavors of Africa. Parents will also be pleased with the kids buffet options with something sure to please even the fussiest eaters! However, what really makes this restaurant a special treat are the characters. During your dining experience, you’ll be visited by Safari Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy. Prices here range from $35 – $59 per adult or one table service credit for those on the dining plan. Advance booking is essential.
Kilimanjaro Safari
For my family, this ride never gets old! Guests board a safari vehicle and head of into the parks massive wildlife reserve where you’ll encounter all sorts of incredible animals from lions and zebra to hippos and elephants! This 20-minute expedition offers so many sights and sounds that you’ll struggle to take it all in. It’s the perfect way to rest those weary feet and experience the true heart of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Bring on the Gorillas! You’ll find some incredible walk-through animal exhibitions at the Animal Kingdom including the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail which you’ll find nestled next to the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction. During your walk, you’ll find exotic animals including meerkats, zebras and our favourite an incredible group of western lowland gorillas. With several viewing locations you can easily spend an hour watching these incredibly beautiful creatures interact.
Street Performers
You’ll be amazed at the incredible under-the-radar entertainment you’ll find at the Animal Kingdom throughout the day. Two of our favorites are the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe which will have you dancing along as well as Burudika who performs sing-along Afro-pop versions of songs like “You Can Call Me Al” and “Iko Iko”. These street parties are wonderful and have the ability to magically transport you to another land.
Harambe Marketplace
Pretty much our favorite place to get a quick service bite, this eatery is an absolute treasure trove of delicious treats. Our favorite at the moment is the refreshing Coconut Cake which comes with a Pineapple Coconut shaved ice! There’s also an incredibly tasty Grilled Chicken Gyro served with African coleslaw that is amazing! We also recommend you wash it all down with a Serengeti Sangria! It is definitely a worthy pit stop for those looking for a quick bite.
We hope we’ve given you reasons aplenty to spend a bit of time lingering in Africa next time you’re at Animal Kingdom. Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for the latest Walt Disney World tips, tricks and planning advice!
Thinking about a visit to Disney? Getting started is easy! Simply fill out our form below to get your FREE, no-obligation quote from MickeyTravels!
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to assist you with everything from finding your perfect package to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your visit truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook.
