Restaurants nearby Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offers on-site dining ranging from quick-service at The Mara to buffet breakfast and dinner at Boma – Flavors of Africa, plus signature dinner at Jiko – The Cooking Place and several bars (Cape Town Lounge, Victoria Falls Lounge, Uzima Springs Pool Bar). Advance reservations are recommended for table-service restaurants; The Mara is walk-up quick service and open long hours.
In this guide
Quick bites: The Mara (quick-service)
The Mara is the resort’s quick-service/counter-service spot in Jambo House, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It offers familiar food-court items alongside a few African-influenced choices such as Falafel Platters and the resort’s Zebra Domes dessert.
Hours for The Mara are listed as 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., making it convenient for early breakfasts and late returns to the resort. The counter-service format means guests can order at the counter and pay without a table reservation.
- Service style: Counter/quick service
- Typical service times: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
- Good for: Families, grab-and-go mornings, late snacks
| What to expect | Notes |
|---|---|
| Food-court favorites plus some African-influenced items | Walk-up orders; no reservation needed |
| Grab-and-go pastries and hot breakfast items | Open early for park days |
| Desserts including Zebra Domes | Quick option when table-service is full |
Buffet dining: Boma – Flavors of Africa
Boma is a table-service, all-you-can-eat buffet in Jambo House serving breakfast and dinner with a range of African-inspired dishes alongside familiar American choices. Breakfast service and dinner service each run in set time windows.
Boma is family-oriented and popular with groups who want variety. Advanced Dining Reservations are recommended because seating can fill up, and day guests may dine there without staying at the resort.
- Service style: Buffet table service
- Hours: Breakfast 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; Dinner 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Good for: Families, large groups, guests seeking variety
- Reservation tip: Reserve ahead; walk-ups possible but may wait
| Meal | Typical hours |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
| Dinner | 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. |
| Reservation | Recommended for dinner and busy dates |
Signature dining: Jiko – The Cooking Place and wine bars
Jiko – The Cooking Place is the resort’s Signature Dining restaurant in Jambo House, focusing on African fusion with Indian and Mediterranean influences and an open show kitchen with twin wood-burning ovens. It is a dinner-only venue; hours are generally listed around 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Jiko maintains a dress expectation of neat, clean attire (no swimwear, tank tops, flip-flops, or cut-offs). The restaurant is known for an extensive South African wine collection and has been noted with AAA Four-Diamond recognition; reservations are strongly recommended.
- Service style: Signature dinner-only
- Typical hours: Dinner (generally 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)
- Dress: Clean, neat attire required (no swimwear or flip-flops)
- Reservations: Recommended; table-service credit and dining-plan notes vary
| Venue | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Jiko – The Cooking Place | African fusion dinner, open kitchen, extensive South African wines |
| Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar | Wines and appetizers in Jiko’s foyer; casual pre- or post-dinner drinks |
| Victoria Falls Lounge | Bar overlooking Boma with specialty cocktails and light bites |
Poolside and lounge options
For casual drinks and light bites, Uzima Springs Pool Bar serves frozen drinks, beer and wine beside the Uzima Springs Pool in Jambo House. Uzima's operating hours have been listed as 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and it does not accept the Disney Dining Plan.
Kidani Village has the Maji Pool Bar at the Samawati Springs pool; it offers cocktails and African beers and, unlike some pool bars, may have a small food menu since Kidani Village lacks a quick-service outlet of its own.
- Uzima Springs Pool Bar (Jambo House): 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (hours posted by resort)
- Maji Pool Bar (Kidani Village): Poolside drinks and light bites; check current hours
- Lounge options: Cape Town Lounge, Victoria Falls Lounge for wine and cocktails
| Bar | Location |
|---|---|
| Uzima Springs Pool Bar | Uzima Springs Pool (Jambo House) |
| Maji Pool Bar | Samawati Springs Pool (Kidani Village) |
| Cape Town Lounge | Jiko foyer, Jambo House |
Kidani Village dining: Sanaa
Sanaa, located in Kidani Village, serves African-inspired food with Indian flavors and offers savanna views from many tables. Hours commonly list lunch and dinner (lunch roughly 11:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; dinner about 5:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.).
Sanaa accepts reservations and may be booked by resort guests within the standard Disney dining window. The restaurant also offers a no-reservation Kuamsha Breakfast at times listed by the resort.
- Service style: Table service (lunch & dinner) plus a quick-service breakfast option
- Typical hours: Lunch and dinner (check current times when planning)
- Reservation tip: Book early, especially for window seats with savanna views
| Meal | Notes |
|---|---|
| Lunch & Dinner | Table-service with reservation recommended |
| Kuamsha Breakfast | Quick-service breakfast offering (check availability) |
| Savanna views | Many tables at Sanaa overlook the Kidani Village savanna |
Practical tips for dining at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Advance Dining Reservations are recommended for Boma, Jiko and Sanaa; guests do not have to be staying at the resort to dine there but should plan transport since Disney buses serve only Disney properties. The Mara operates on a walk-up basis.
Be aware of a few resort policies that affect dining: balloons and plastic straw/cup tops are restricted in dining and event areas due to the nearby savannas and animals. If you’re staying in a Club Level room such as Savanna View - Club Level Access Room or Savanna View - 1 BR Suite - Club Level Access, Kilimanjaro Club offers refreshments during set hours.
- Reserve table-service restaurants in advance when possible
- Day guests can park for dining visits but check current parking policies
- Dress appropriately for Jiko’s dress guidance (no swimwear or flip-flops)
| Tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Make ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) | Ensures seating at busy times for Boma, Jiko, Sanaa |
| Plan transport if not staying on-site | Disney bus service does not go to non-Disney destinations |
| Avoid balloons and plastic straw tops | Safety measure because live animals share the resort grounds |
