This large resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is a contemporary-styled interpretation of Africa, arranged in two separate buildings, each with several large curving wings of rooms that radiate from impressive central lobbies. The interiors of the public rooms and restaurants strike a great balance of sophistication and exotic whimsy, while the exterior viewing areas for the animal habitats and the pool areas are perfect compliments to the theming of the nearby Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. The four large African savanna exhibits containing a mix of live hoofstock species and birds that surround most of this resort make this a zoo attraction unto itself, and admission is free for visitors. Guests staying at the resort often have even better views since a majority of the rooms are adjacent to one of the four exhibits. The two buildings are Jambo House and Kidani Village; the former is the part of the lodge for regular guests, while the latter is for timeshare members and is less than a year old. Each has its own restaurants, shop, guest services, and pool and recreation areas. Together, the forms of the two buildings create the front boundaries of the four savannas. These exhibits total 46 acres and are populated by about 35 species.
The Jambo House Lobby is a grand multi-story space with a massive window at its far end that overlooks one of the savannas. Each side of the lobby also has a half-round elevated porch overlooking the same scene. After stepping outside of the lobby, the outdoor Arusha Firepit is surrounded by rocking chairs and is the beginning of the Arusha Rock Savanna Overlook. The two main room wings that branch from the back of the Jambo House Lobby form a large curving U-shape that encloses much of the Arusha Savanna, one of the four animal habitats. This viewing area is composed of a rock and wood-railing enclosed path that extends a short distance into the habitat. There are several rock outcrops along the walkway and trees and shrubs planted in a naturalistic setting. Several large interpretive graphics as well as small spinning species identification signs are here, typical of all the habitat viewing areas. A staff member is often stationed at each for education as well. The vegetation and containment of this savanna is typical of all four as well; each is dotted with a variety of hardy native trees that form canopies, interspersed with a scatter of exotics such as palms, set in a flat grassy landscape with occasional mounds and waterholes. Rustic keeper roads curve through each, the distant back containment boundaries are chainlink fence, and the front containment boundaries are a line of ground-mounted closely-spaced hotwire clusters set about 15 to 25 feet away from the building faces and viewing areas for separation. These features are not too obtrusive or distracting, but are a step down from the higher quality immersion techniques of the nearby theme park. According to a staff member, Arusha Savanna is 11 acres and currently occupied by 11 species. These include the antelopes bongo, bontebok, greater kudu, and roan antelope; reticulated giraffe; Grant’s zebra; ankole cattle; red river hog; and the birds East African crowned crane, pink back pelican, and vulturine guineafowl. A printed handout covering all the habitats also mentions that there are helmeted guineafowl that are often seen foraging with the vulturine species, so there may be 12 species here. The pelicans have an attractive waterhole traversed with deadfall perches directly adjacent to the overlook area. Before the addition of Kidani Village, this was the best of the then three savannas, but is now the second best, eclipsed by the enlargement of one of the others.
The two wings on the East side of the Jambo House Lobby enclose the outdoor swimming pool area for this part of the resort, called Uzima Pool. A stream begins near the Jiko restaurant and appears to feed the swimming pool; in turn, a stream appears to emerge from the pool and continue into a waterhole in the adjacent animal habitat, forming a nice illusion of naturalism. The animal habitat at the far end of the pool area is Uzima Savanna, and begins with a nice rocky-walled habitat with a shallow lagoon for greater flamingo. This is viewed from the Uzima Savanna Overlook, a smaller but similarly-detailed area as the previous one. It runs along the side of one of the wings before ending at a view of the savanna which extends in a narrower layout than the Arusha Savanna that it eventually adjoins at the back. This one has no building to contain its other side, so a thicker forest forms its backdrop. According to a staff member, Uzima Savanna is also 11 acres and currently occupied by 12 species. These include the antelopes common eland, nyala, and sable antelope; Thomson’s gazelle; reticulated giraffe; and the birds African spoonbill, East African crowned crane, Egyptian goose, greater flamingo, ostrich, Ruppell’s griffon vulture, and shelduck (I am not sure which species). This habitat is the third in viewing and habitat quality, but not far behind the two better ones.
The third savanna visible from Jambo House is viewed from a small balcony outside an intimate oval-shaped lounge adjoining the lobby. Sunset Savanna is partly enclosed by the outdoor space formed by the two wings on the West side of the lobby, as well as the entire undulating length of Kidani Village where its best views are found.
This second main building is just as massive as the first, composed of a curving backwards E-shape whose entry is at its midpoint and faces the side of Jambo House across the Sunset Savanna. Although not as large as Jambo House Lobby, its nicely detailed lobby features a similar thatched arched ceiling and an impressive window overlooking the savanna at its far side. On each side of the lobby, small curving porches hug round boma-like forms in the building; both are for viewing the savanna, and one has a small round view lounge as well. A stairway leads down from the lobby to ground level, where a door exits to the outside and Sunset Savanna Overlook, a short peninsular path similarly-detailed to the previous two that juts into the habitat. At the far end of this nice rock and wood-railing enclosed path is another firepit surrounded by rocking chairs. According to a staff member, Sunset Savanna is 18 acres and currently occupied by 12 species. These include the antelopes blue wildebeest, common eland, and roan antelope; reticulated giraffe; Hartmann’s mountain zebra; ankole cattle; and the birds East African crowned crane, marabou stork, and ostrich. It is the largest and best of the four habitats, easily viewed from two overlooks as well as several windows in the hallways of the room wings. This savanna became the best when it was enlarged to fit the form of the new building.
Pembe Savanna is the newest one, created this past year on the far side of Kidani Village and hugging about one quarter of the building’s length, and is the only one not visible from Jambo House. It is viewed from a small outdoor overlook at one end, next to the Samawati Springs Pool area that serves Kidani Village. It is also viewed from several windows in the hallways of one of the room wings. According to a staff member, Pembe Savanna is 6 acres and currently occupied by 9 species (and in this case, she told me the numbers of each). These include the antelopes ellipsen waterbuck (4), impala (7), nyala (5), and yellow-backed duiker (1); okapi (2); red river hog (3); and the birds Abyssinian ground hornbill (3), blue crane (2), and spur-winged goose (2). This is the weakest habitat due to its narrow (at one point very narrow) layout, very visible fencing and back service road, and struggling new landscape. However, it is promising because it appears that in time it will be the most lush with large stands of bamboo and other plants that will form a scattered dense undergrowth.
The four habitats here are a worthwhile trip for hoofstock fans, especially those visiting the nearby theme park who wish to spend more time with the animals than the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride allows. Although none of the four make my top 25 large mammal individual exhibits, they are certainly nice roomy habitats with a great mix of species. I consider this facility a separate zoo, and as such I rank it at number 42 of the 48 I have visited; this low rank is not indicative of the quality, but rather the lack of breadth of exhibits and animal types (which is understandable). Admission is free and is a great value; free busses with frequent schedules link the lodge to the four Disney theme parks nearby. I have not stayed at the lodge, but having seen it I am not convinced that the in-room experience justifies the exorbitant per night fee it charges (especially for some rooms that do not face the savannas). I have posted pictures in the gallery.
The Jambo House Lobby is a grand multi-story space with a massive window at its far end that overlooks one of the savannas. Each side of the lobby also has a half-round elevated porch overlooking the same scene. After stepping outside of the lobby, the outdoor Arusha Firepit is surrounded by rocking chairs and is the beginning of the Arusha Rock Savanna Overlook. The two main room wings that branch from the back of the Jambo House Lobby form a large curving U-shape that encloses much of the Arusha Savanna, one of the four animal habitats. This viewing area is composed of a rock and wood-railing enclosed path that extends a short distance into the habitat. There are several rock outcrops along the walkway and trees and shrubs planted in a naturalistic setting. Several large interpretive graphics as well as small spinning species identification signs are here, typical of all the habitat viewing areas. A staff member is often stationed at each for education as well. The vegetation and containment of this savanna is typical of all four as well; each is dotted with a variety of hardy native trees that form canopies, interspersed with a scatter of exotics such as palms, set in a flat grassy landscape with occasional mounds and waterholes. Rustic keeper roads curve through each, the distant back containment boundaries are chainlink fence, and the front containment boundaries are a line of ground-mounted closely-spaced hotwire clusters set about 15 to 25 feet away from the building faces and viewing areas for separation. These features are not too obtrusive or distracting, but are a step down from the higher quality immersion techniques of the nearby theme park. According to a staff member, Arusha Savanna is 11 acres and currently occupied by 11 species. These include the antelopes bongo, bontebok, greater kudu, and roan antelope; reticulated giraffe; Grant’s zebra; ankole cattle; red river hog; and the birds East African crowned crane, pink back pelican, and vulturine guineafowl. A printed handout covering all the habitats also mentions that there are helmeted guineafowl that are often seen foraging with the vulturine species, so there may be 12 species here. The pelicans have an attractive waterhole traversed with deadfall perches directly adjacent to the overlook area. Before the addition of Kidani Village, this was the best of the then three savannas, but is now the second best, eclipsed by the enlargement of one of the others.
The two wings on the East side of the Jambo House Lobby enclose the outdoor swimming pool area for this part of the resort, called Uzima Pool. A stream begins near the Jiko restaurant and appears to feed the swimming pool; in turn, a stream appears to emerge from the pool and continue into a waterhole in the adjacent animal habitat, forming a nice illusion of naturalism. The animal habitat at the far end of the pool area is Uzima Savanna, and begins with a nice rocky-walled habitat with a shallow lagoon for greater flamingo. This is viewed from the Uzima Savanna Overlook, a smaller but similarly-detailed area as the previous one. It runs along the side of one of the wings before ending at a view of the savanna which extends in a narrower layout than the Arusha Savanna that it eventually adjoins at the back. This one has no building to contain its other side, so a thicker forest forms its backdrop. According to a staff member, Uzima Savanna is also 11 acres and currently occupied by 12 species. These include the antelopes common eland, nyala, and sable antelope; Thomson’s gazelle; reticulated giraffe; and the birds African spoonbill, East African crowned crane, Egyptian goose, greater flamingo, ostrich, Ruppell’s griffon vulture, and shelduck (I am not sure which species). This habitat is the third in viewing and habitat quality, but not far behind the two better ones.
The third savanna visible from Jambo House is viewed from a small balcony outside an intimate oval-shaped lounge adjoining the lobby. Sunset Savanna is partly enclosed by the outdoor space formed by the two wings on the West side of the lobby, as well as the entire undulating length of Kidani Village where its best views are found.
This second main building is just as massive as the first, composed of a curving backwards E-shape whose entry is at its midpoint and faces the side of Jambo House across the Sunset Savanna. Although not as large as Jambo House Lobby, its nicely detailed lobby features a similar thatched arched ceiling and an impressive window overlooking the savanna at its far side. On each side of the lobby, small curving porches hug round boma-like forms in the building; both are for viewing the savanna, and one has a small round view lounge as well. A stairway leads down from the lobby to ground level, where a door exits to the outside and Sunset Savanna Overlook, a short peninsular path similarly-detailed to the previous two that juts into the habitat. At the far end of this nice rock and wood-railing enclosed path is another firepit surrounded by rocking chairs. According to a staff member, Sunset Savanna is 18 acres and currently occupied by 12 species. These include the antelopes blue wildebeest, common eland, and roan antelope; reticulated giraffe; Hartmann’s mountain zebra; ankole cattle; and the birds East African crowned crane, marabou stork, and ostrich. It is the largest and best of the four habitats, easily viewed from two overlooks as well as several windows in the hallways of the room wings. This savanna became the best when it was enlarged to fit the form of the new building.
Pembe Savanna is the newest one, created this past year on the far side of Kidani Village and hugging about one quarter of the building’s length, and is the only one not visible from Jambo House. It is viewed from a small outdoor overlook at one end, next to the Samawati Springs Pool area that serves Kidani Village. It is also viewed from several windows in the hallways of one of the room wings. According to a staff member, Pembe Savanna is 6 acres and currently occupied by 9 species (and in this case, she told me the numbers of each). These include the antelopes ellipsen waterbuck (4), impala (7), nyala (5), and yellow-backed duiker (1); okapi (2); red river hog (3); and the birds Abyssinian ground hornbill (3), blue crane (2), and spur-winged goose (2). This is the weakest habitat due to its narrow (at one point very narrow) layout, very visible fencing and back service road, and struggling new landscape. However, it is promising because it appears that in time it will be the most lush with large stands of bamboo and other plants that will form a scattered dense undergrowth.
The four habitats here are a worthwhile trip for hoofstock fans, especially those visiting the nearby theme park who wish to spend more time with the animals than the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride allows. Although none of the four make my top 25 large mammal individual exhibits, they are certainly nice roomy habitats with a great mix of species. I consider this facility a separate zoo, and as such I rank it at number 42 of the 48 I have visited; this low rank is not indicative of the quality, but rather the lack of breadth of exhibits and animal types (which is understandable). Admission is free and is a great value; free busses with frequent schedules link the lodge to the four Disney theme parks nearby. I have not stayed at the lodge, but having seen it I am not convinced that the in-room experience justifies the exorbitant per night fee it charges (especially for some rooms that do not face the savannas). I have posted pictures in the gallery.
