Overview

The restaurants at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge are inspired by the flavors of Africa. But if you are not familiar with African cuisine, don't be nervous. You'll find a lot of familiar flavors here.

"African cuisine has something for everyone," says Dieter Hannig, vice president of Walt Disney World Food & Beverage. "There is freshness, elegance and simplicity -- borrowing flavors from many of the 53 countries on the world's second largest continent. This is our interpretation of Africa."

Because Africa borders both the Indian and Atlantic oceans, seafood is abundant, and the multi-cultural influences -- grilled meats from the British, vineyards from the French, curries from India and Asia, stews from the native Africans -- create a tremendously versatile cuisine.

Jiko-The Cooking Place
Type: Fine Dining
Open: Dinner
In Brief: Fine dining inspired by the flavors of Africa
Menus: Dinner | Children's
Description:
Berbere-braised lamb shank with couscous and baby spinach; pan-roasted monkfish and vegetables, and roasted chicken with preserved lemons, olives and garlic. Appetizers are equally imaginative, like kalamata olive flatbread, or a crispy cinnamon-spiced beef roll.

The restaurant’s children’s menu features everything from grilled salmon to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Jiko offers exclusive South African wines that are rarely available in the United States with most of the 65 vintages available by the glass. South African climate mirrors the northern coast of California, so the grape varietals and flavors are familiar.

Jiko's artful interior, the work of noted restaurant designer Jeffrey Beers, is inspired by Disney's "The Lion King," with muted earth tones and stylistic white birds gracefully suspended from the ceiling. Twin wood-burning ovens are the centerpiece of the open kitchen in the 235-seat dining room. For private dining, the glass-walled Cape Town Wine Room seats up to 40.

Boma-Flavors of Africa
Type: Casual Buffet
Open: Breakfast (7-11 a.m.) and Dinner (5-10 p.m.)
In Brief: On-stage food stations, African-influenced selections
Menu: Breakfast | Dinner
Description:
Boma in Africa is "an open, natural space that provides safety and shelter in the bush." The 270-seat "marketplace" restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, featuring an exhibit kitchen and bakery that allows guests to walk up to a half-dozen side-by-side cooking stations and have their entrées freshly prepared. Curries, chutneys and other Indian and Asian influences add fabulous flavors to grilled fish, meats and vegetables. Diners find authentic soups, stews, tossed-to-order salads and other market-fresh fare on the daily menu. "Choices can be as simple as rotisserie grilled chicken, but the fun begins when adventurous eaters add a flavorful cucumber sambal or a sweet chutney," says Chef Frank Brough, who oversees the team of chefs in Boma's kitchen.

Soups, from hearty seafood gumbo to curry-infused mulligatawny, are a highlight, along with salads such as avocado, grapefruit and papaya or roasted chicken with chili-cilantro vinaigrette. Entrees include grilled seafood, slow-roasted ribs and whole-spiced chicken accompanied by couscous, saffron rice or fried sweet potato. Add chutneys, a peppery sambal or a sweet-and-sour chile papaya sauce for a delightful international treat. Breads, too, are African-inspired, including golden-brown naan, light and flaky chapatis or a blue cornbread.

Victoria Falls
Type: Lounge
In Brief: This lounge overlooking Boma serves gourmet coffee, teas, South African vintage wines and international beers and cocktails.

The Mara
Type: Food Court
Open: Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner
In Brief: Quick service with burgers and chicken sandwiches; also noodles with tofu, chicken on sugar cane skewers with spicy mustard sauce
Description:
This poolside express restaurant serves everything from fresh soups and burgers to egg rolls on the menu. Even here, the food is a bit more creative. For instance, the spices and sugar trade in the South African town of Durban inspired the Durban-spiced chicken skewered on sugar cane. Menu boards explain new and unusual creations to diners.

Uzima Springs
Type: Poolside Snack Bar
Open: Daily
In Brief: Drinks and snacks

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