NǍHTǍZŪ-INSPIRED In the early days of Disney ’ s Animal Kingdom , a clever marketing campaign promoted a fictional word , nǎhtǎzū , whose phonetic pronunciation reminded visitors that Animal Kingdom is “ not a zoo .” The blueprint for Kilimanjaro Safaris serves as a visual example of this design philosophy .
In a formal zoo , guests might observe animals behind glass or caged fences . At Kilimanjaro Safaris , the animals roam in plain sight , unobstructed by any obvious barriers . While many herbivorous and amicable animals like giraffes and white rhinos freely wander around the Kilimanjaro Safaris vehicles , carnivorous and territorial animals like lions and hippos are cleverly separated by hidden barriers , which confine each set of animals to their respective zones .
CREATING NATURAL BARRIERS AND GO-AWAY GREENERY After clearing the natural Floridian topography , Imagineers created every aspect of the attraction ’ s landscape . Embedded in that intentional design , landscape architects created hidden moats , underwater bollards , fences disguised by foliage , unscalable rockwork , and other landscape barriers . These boundaries impede each animal from moving to an inappropriate area , keeping both guests and animals safe while maintaining the illusion of an untamed African landscape .
In addition to these barriers , landscape architects created obstacles to prevent guests from seeing backstage areas or upcoming parts of the experience . Natural obstructions such as berms , trees , rockwork , and shrubbery conceal what the Imagineers don ’ t want guests to see . This layout preserves the story of the attraction and allows the Imagineers to maintain a landscape that feels larger than its already massive size .
While they may appear to be free-roaming , there are strategically placed barriers for different species for their safety — and ours . PHOTOS BY DANNY SHUSTER | LEFT : Lions cozy up together on a rock to sun themselves throughout the day . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP