Last Updated on November 20, 2024
Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of my family’s favorite places to stay in the magical Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. For good reason.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a unique and immersive hotel experience offering guests the opportunity to stay in an African-themed resort with the added benefit of viewing exotic wildlife from their rooms and common areas.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and it’s designed to transport guests into an African safari experience. The lodge is made up of two main sections: Jambo House (the original section) and Kidani Village (part of the Disney Vacation Club resort).
Both offer incredible views of African savanna where you can see a variety of wildlife like giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and antelope. As a matter of fact, there are over 30 species of African wildlife and more than 200 hoofed animals and birds living on the resort’s savanna with multiple viewing areas to “ooh” and “aah” over these exotic beasties.
On a fall 2024 stay at a two-bedroom vacation villa at the resort, there wasn’t a time when we didn’t see African wildlife that included even ostrich, crowned cranes, Ankole cattle, eland, waterbuck, blesbok, and impalas. Just stepping out onto our balcony was a total adventure in itself. You won’t be alone, as you’ll see many other guests on their balconies as well in total amazement of their surroundings.
Disney Animal Kingdom Resort Accommodations
The architecture of Animal Kingdom Lodge is heavily inspired by African design, featuring African art, carvings and décor throughout the property, boasting one of the largest collections of African art in the U.S. The buildings are patterned to resemble an African village, with thatched roofs and open courtyards.
Jambo House has a grand, open-air lobby with high ceilings, large wooden beams and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the savanna.
Kidani Village has a more intimate feel, but still features a striking design with African-style decor, including mosaic tile work and animal-inspired elements.
Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a variety of room types, ranging from standard hotel rooms to larger suites and Disney Vacation Club villas. Many of the rooms, especially those with savanna-view rooms, have direct views of the animals roaming the property.
Visitors tip: if you’re going to book this resort, opt for the views. You won’t regret it, and your family will thank you forever.
Standard Rooms typically offer either a garden or pool view, but there are also rooms with views of the savanna where you can see the wildlife. Savanna View Rooms are the highlight for many guests, as they offer direct views of the African savanna and the animals that graze along the savanna.
One-and-two-bedroom suites are available for families or groups looking for more space and Disney Vacation Club Villas at Kidani Village are available for those using points in the Disney Vacation Club system or trading through the Interval International portal.
On this visit, our family stayed in a two-bedroom vacation villa in Kidani Village, though, we have also stayed in rooms and suites in Jambo House, so, we’re comfortable sharing information about both of these areas.
Resort Amenities
Aside from the multiple savannahs viewing areas available to guests, the resort also offers two themed pools, Uzima Springs, with a 67-foot waterslide at the Jambo House and Samawati Springs with a 128-foot waterslide at Kidani Village.
The pool area also includes Uwanja Camp, a water playground with three distinct zones for kids of all ages. At Observation Station, children four and younger can climb through cargo crates, unscramble animal images and frolic through a gently bubbling geyser and shallow cistern pool.
A leaky water tower and sneaky African irises at Departure Zone squirt children five to seven years of age, while at Base Camp, kids eight and up can douse each other with water cannons. That’s a whole lot of water fun!
Families gather round as the sun goes down at Jambo House to toast marshmallows near a crackling fire. Movies under the Stars is a fun way to enjoy Disney movies with varying schedules to accommodate seasonable time frames.
Guests also have access to a full workout facility and spa experience.
Dining at the Resort
Another reason to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge is the number of outstanding dining options. If you’re a fan of South African cuisine, this is a place you’ll love.
Sanaa
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sanaa at Kidani Village features the art of African cooking with Indian flavors, as exotic animals roam the Sunset Savanna in view of guests. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during prime lunch and dinner hours.
My family loves this casual restaurant so much that on every visit to Disney World, we always have lunch or dinner here. You’ll want to start your meal with Indian-style bread service (naan) with nine accompaniments from sweet mango chutney to spicy red chile sambal. This is an absolute delightful and fun experience picking which flavors are our favorites.
If you’re not sure which entrée to order, you’ll find the Potjie Inspired, a great choice that includes a seafood or meat selection and a plant-based one.
Boma
This is Animal Kingdom Lodge’s all-you-care-to-eat buffet restaurant located at the awe-inspiring Jambo House and ideal for those who enjoy a myriad of food choices along with families with children.
The pre-fixe buffet open for breakfast and dinner includes you-can-eat dining with an African flair, including spiced and crusted meats, African soups and an assortment of hummus and desserts. Diners will also find some American dishes here as well. Breakfast features 45 selections while dinner boasts more than 60.
Jiko- The Cooking Place
Open only for dinner, this fine-dining restaurant at Jambo House offers delicious dishes and tastes of exotic African and Mediterranean flavors.
The intimate atmosphere and decor at Jiko easily make it the most graceful restaurants on property. This signature dining experience does not disappoint guests looking for a unique upscale dinner that introduces them to the flavors of the African continent.
Our favorites include Moroccan-spiced lamb shank and the daily sustainable fish (mine was an Alaskan halibut over black rice and exotic mushrooms). Jiko also offers the nation’s largest assortment of South African wines.
Other Dining Options
For quick service, guests can order food at Uzima Springs Pool Bar, Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar near Jiko or head to a firepit and sink into a comfy sofa with a cocktail at Victoria Falls Lounge.
If you love wildlife, this is the ideal venue for your next trip to Walt Disney World. And with a variety of room type selections, your safari experience begins the moment you enter the property.
