Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Restaurants Guide

When it comes to dining, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has plenty of options. In fact, it’s one of our favorite resorts regarding restaurants. Below, we’ll preview the resort’s many dining options. For reference, Animal Kingdom Lodge comprises two sections, Kidani Village and Jambo House. So, we’ll go over the restaurants in each of these sections.

I’ll warn you now: all three of the resort’s table service dining options are exceptional. Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to an exquisite signature restaurant, a buffet that any adventurous eater will want to attend, and one of Disney’s most popular table service restaurants.

Whether staying at the resort or not, you’ll want to plan a meal here during your vacation. A visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is good for the soul.

The Mara (Counter Service)

The Mara is the primary counter-service restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is open daily from 6:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, those hours might be reduced during slower times of the year, so you’ll want to check the exact hours of operation during your visit.

• Location: Jambo House (Lower Level, Near the Pool)
• Hours: 6:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
• Disney: Menu with Prices
• Resorts Gal Review: The Mara Review

Overall, we’ve always enjoyed dining at The Mara. However, since this last update, many of the former items we’ve tried are no longer on the menu. The Mara offers mobile order dining, or you can order at the restaurant. Unfortunately, this location can be extremely crowded during popular meal times. Therefore, if you encounter a significant line, you’ll likely want to use mobile order.

The Mara is set up similarly to other counter services—a line forms in the middle where you order food. The cast member will give you a pager to return and pick up your order when it’s ready.

Here are a few menu items that you might find. However, you’ll want to check the menu link above or the My Disney Experience app for the most current menu items and prices.

For breakfast, you’ll find items like:

• Savanna Platter
• Mickey-shaped Waffles
• Kilimanjaro Bowl (Did someone say loaded totchos?)
• Steel Cut Oatmeal
• Croissant Breakfast Sandwich
• Ancient Grain Power Bowl
• Kid’s Breakfast Platter
• Kid’s Mickey-Shaped Waffles

For lunch and dinner:

• Bacon Cheddar Burger
• Chicken Strips
• Tamarind Pulled Pork Sandwich
• Grab-and-Go Sandwiches and Salads
• Flatbreads
• South African Vegetable Bowl
• Chermoula-spiced Shrimp Bowl
• Oak-Grilled Chicken Bowl
• Marrakesh Falafel Platter

Kids’ Meals include:

• Cheese Pizza
• Green Salad with Chicken
• Cheeseburger
• Chicken Strips

Unfortunately, the former crispy chicken and bacon sandwich is no longer on the menu. It was a massive sandwich that was easily shareable. It had two chicken breast filets and was served on Ciabatta bread.

The Mara has a decent selection of grab-and-go items, pastries, desserts, and specialty coffee. However, if you’re looking for more grocery-style items, you can check upstairs in Zawadi Marketplace. We have a separate post with photos of the types of items offered in the gift shop.

Related: What You’ll Find at Zawadi Marketplace

The Mara has several fun options for kids’ meals. I often order a kids’ meal at counter service restaurants and highly recommend those with a light appetite or on a budget to do the same. After you order, make sure you get all the components that come with the kids’ meal. The cast member at the checkout will usually point out if you are missing something.

The Mara is home to the resort’s primary beverage refill station. Guests who purchase Rapid Fill mugs can refill them here with soda, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

Learn More>>Rapid Fill Mugs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Zebra Domes are a popular treat at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. They are described as chocolate mousse baked with Amarula cream liquor-coated white chocolate drizzled with dark chocolate. You can usually pick up an order in the refrigerated case section of The Mara. They are also available on the Boma Flavors of Africa dinner buffet.

The Mara has a pleasant interior seating area with several televisions playing Disney cartoons. You might find a hidden Mickey or two in the mural that wraps around the room!

But if the weather is nice enough, we prefer to eat in the outdoor area in front of the restaurant.

Uzima Springs Pool Bar

The Uzima Springs Pool Bar sits on the outskirts of the Uzima Springs Pool. Seating is available at the bar, and tables with chairs are available around the parameter.

• Location: Uzima Springs Pool (Jambo House)
• Hours: 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. (Hours may vary based on the season.)
• Disney: Menu with Prices
• Special Mention: Dining Plans are not accepted at this location.

Since the pool bar is fenced separately from the pool area, anyone visiting the resort can use the pool bar. However, if you would like to grab a drink and enjoy it in a less crowded area, there are many places to relax in the immediate area.

Food is not typically available at Uzima Springs Pool Bar. You’ll want to order food from The Mara since it’s immediately next to the pool area. (The entrance to The Mara is within a few steps of the pool, immediately next to the kiddie pool.)

Related: The Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma, Flavors of Africa

Boma, Flavors of Africa, is one of two table-service restaurants in the Jambo House portion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is located on the resort’s lower level, on the immediate left at the bottom of the staircase.

• Location: Jambo House, Lower Level
• Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Dinner: 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Disney: Menu with Prices
• Resorts Gal Review: Boma Breakfast Review

Boma, Flavors of Africa is a buffet that boasts a tremendous amount of items for breakfast and dinner. For breakfast, the restaurant has a selection of traditional items like Mickey-shaped waffles, pancakes, biscuits, bacon, and sausage. In addition to traditional items, various African dishes include turkey bobotie, avocado papaya, grapefruit salad, carved ham, and more. Here are a few items you’ll find on the buffet.

Fresh fruits include this pistachio watermelon dish.

The buffer offers a variety of meat and breakfast potatoes.

These sticky buns are delicious.

And yes, there are Mickey Waffles. You can eat as many as your heart desires.

Jiko, The Cooking Place

Jiko, The Cooking Place, is the signature dining location for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s located on the resort’s lower level, past Boma, before you exit to the pool area. Jiko ranks as one of our top choices for signature dining restaurants at Disney World.

• Location: Jambo House, Lower Level
• Hours: 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Disney: Menu with Prices
• Resorts Gal Review: Jiko, The Cooking Place Review
• Disney Dining Plan: Two Credits

Food preparations are inspired by Indian, African, and Asian cuisines. No matter what you order, it’s difficult to go wrong. Everything here is exceptional.

Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar

Cape Town Lounge is located in Jiko’s foyer. It features a wine bar with a few tables and chairs.

• Location: Inside Jiko’s Foyer (Lower Level of Jambo House)
• Hours: 5:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
• Disney: Menu with Prices

If you’re checking in to Jiko and your table isn’t ready, you can order a cocktail or glass of wine. The lounge offers various options, including African wines, after-dinner drinks, brandy, ports, and single malt liqueurs.

Victoria Falls Lounge

Victoria Falls is located between the Jambo House lobby and the lower level. This location sits on a landing area accessible from the resort’s large staircase. Additionally, you can take the elevator down to the second level and access Victoria Falls from the back entrance.

• Location: Mid-Level Jambo House (Between the Lobby and Ground Level)
• Hours: 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Disney: Menu with Prices

Victoria Falls has a lengthy cocktail list that includes specialty drinks, wines, beer, scotch, cognac, and several drink flights.

Victoria Falls offers a small bites menu between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. They have a few appetizer items on the menu, some of which would make a complete meal. Here are a few items we saw on a recent visit. However, note that menu items are subject to change:

• Braai Burger with Fries
• Goat Cheese Dip
• Marinated Olives with Almonds
• Cape Town Slap Chips

Sanaa

Our last table service restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge is Sanaa. Sanaa is most famously known for its Indian-style bread service. The restaurant is located on the lower level off the lobby of Kidani Village. Guests can walk or take a shuttle service between the two resorts.

• Location: Kidani Village, Lower Level
• Breakfast: Quick Service Options
• Lunch Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Dinner: 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Disney: Menu with Prices
• Resorts Gal Review: Dining at Sanaa with FAQS

Sanaa is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant offers quick service options during breakfast, so reservations are not required. However, you will want to have reservations for lunch and dinner. Due to the restaurant’s popularity, it might be difficult to get walk-up seating.

Sanaa is one of the most exquisitely themed restaurants at Walt Disney World. You will feel as though you’ve been transported to an African country the minute you set foot inside.

For breakfast, Sanaa has items like:

• Eggs Benedict
• Enriching Grains and Fruit
• Boere Breakfast
• Banana Brûlée French Toast
• Sanaa Breakfast Sandwich
• Mickey-Shaped Waffles
  

Kids’ Meals include:

• Kid’s Explorer Platter
• Kid’s Mickey Waffles and Bacon

Other side and grab-and-go items are available.

Sanaa’s bread service is the restaurant’s claim to fame. Here’s a photo of what to expect.

You can choose from five flavors of Naan bread and nine different accompaniments. The Naan bread choices include Traditional Naan, Garlic-Ginger Naan, Spiced Naan, Onion Kulcha, or Paneer Paratha.

The sauces include Cucumber Raita, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Mango Chutney, Tomato-Date Jam, Tamarind Chutney, Coriander Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Red Chile Sambal, or Spicy Jalapeño-Lime Pickle.

Related: Sanaa Review (with Bread Service)

Other lunch and dinner items include:

• Tandoori Chicken
• Zanzibari Vegetable Curry with Shrimp
• Potjie Inspired (Goan Seafood Curry, Butter Chicken, Braised Beef, or Pork Vindaloo)
• Sanaa Burger
• Samaki Upma Peri Peri

Below is a photo of the Peri Peri, a sustainable fish dish I had on a recent visit. It was divine.

Sanaa Lounge

In addition to the restaurant, Sanaa has a lounge. The lounge is available on a first-come-first-served basis, and the entire restaurant menu is available there. Of course, if you don’t have a reservation for Sanaa or would like to take an order of the tasty bread service back to your room, you can mobile order and take it to-go.

Maji Pool Bar

The Maji Pool Bar is located in the Kidani Village pool area. This pool bar serves as the counter service for the Kidani Village area of the resort.

• Location: Samawati Springs Pool
• Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Hours may vary.)
• Disney: Menu with Prices

Maji has a reasonable amount of menu items, including:

• Grilled Cheese
• All-Beef Foot-long Hot Dog with Chili and Cheese
• Naan Pocket Chicken Club
• Spiced Pork Nachos
• Caesar Salad (with Tandoori Chicken or Poached Shrimp)
• Multigrain Tabouleh

Kids Meals’ include:

• Ham Sandwich
• PB&J Uncrustable
• Grilled Cheese

Most of the menu items have vastly improved since our last update. However, I stopped here for a break while taking these photos for updates and noticed a small issue. While most of the food I saw looked impressive, several parents surveyed the menu and then ended up ordering kids’ meals from The Mara. They had to leave and bring the meals back to the pool.

So, it would be nice if Disney added burgers or chicken nuggets to this pool bar menu. Visiting The Mara is inconvenient if you’re spending the day at the Samawati Springs Pool.

On another note, if you have children, you’ll want to visit the pool at Kidani Village. Both the pools at Jambo House and Kidani Village are excellent, but the Samawati Springs Pool has an amazing water play area for children and a cool, twisty slide.

Related: The Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or only visiting for a meal, you’re sure to have a wonderful time. The resort is incredible and as unique an experience as you can get at Walt Disney World. There is nothing like it.

While you’re at Jambo House, you’ll want to take some time to explore. The resort has two significant public savanna viewing areas. One is behind the lobby. You’ll walk to the back of the lobby and take the stairs or elevator down to the viewing area. The other viewing area is near the resort’s restaurants and behind the pool. When you enter the Jambo House lobby, you’ll take the stairs or elevators on the left, center of the lobby, down to the lower level. If you take the staircase down, you’ll pass the Victoria Falls Lounge mid-level. On the lower level, you’ll run directly into Boma and Jiko. From there, you’ll continue outside, and either path around the pool will lead to the same flamingo habitat and additional viewing area.

You never know what kind of animal you might encounter, and the grounds are absolutely breathtaking.

If you’re at Kidani Village, you can take the stairs or elevators down from the lobby to the large public viewing area near Sanaa. An additional viewing area is near the pool. To get to that area, you’ll exit at the lobby’s front door and follow the signs to the right that lead down to the pool. The additional viewing area is to the right, near the Maji Pool Bar.

For more information about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort, you might enjoy the following:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
• Kidani Village Review
• Transportation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

For more on dining at the resorts, browse our list of resort dining guides. Or these individual options:

• Disney’s Polynesian Resort Restaurants and Dining
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Restaurant Guide
• Wilderness Lodge Dining and Restaurant Guide
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Restaurants
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort Restaurant Guide

Our Disney World Dining Guide provides a complete overview of everything you need to know about dining at Walt Disney World

In the Comments

What are your favorite restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge? Do you have any questions about these dining options?