How Far Of A Walk From Mara To Sanaa Animal Kingdom

The Mara

is absolutely a "go-to" spot for me at Walt Disney World. It's a great place to get away from it all and just take a sabbatical in the eye of one of my favorite Disney resorts.

Located at Animal Kingdom Guild's Jambo House, The Mara counter-service eating house offers exotic eats inspired past the various flavors of the African continent, while besides providing more traditional American fare for the less adventurous eaters in your crew.

And don't even get me started on all of the special Disney food cult favorites that we'll make a trip hither just to snag!

But I only realized that for all of my visits to Mara, I didn't really take my own review of the spot up on the weblog! Time to remedy that right away.

Atmosphere

Located on the ground floor, The Mara is just a rock'southward throw away from Animal Kingdom Social club's Uzima Springs Pool. It'due south accessible through an outside entrance near the doors to Jambo House's other restaurants, Boma and Jiko.

Exterior Menu and Data Stand

The Mara is named for the Masai Mara National Reserve in North Tanzania, a game conservation area established in 1948.

The reserve serves as home to dozens of native animals and over 470 species of birds, making it an first-class identify to observe the big game with which Africa is associated.

The Mara Story

The indoor seating area takes its themeing from the wetlands and grasslands of the Reserve, with colorful murals painted on the back walls, and a canopy of trees overhead. With the predominant background color of blueish, the setting is soothing with plenty of natural lite flooding in, which gives you the impression of a absurd space.

Indoor Seating

In that location is as well ample outdoor seating at tables that are shaded by umbrellas and plenty of leafage and trees.

Outdoor Seating

On your way over to the ordering area, yous'll find last minute pool gear and an assortment of bagged candy available for purchase. This is a bang-up option near the pool since the gift store, Zawadi Market place, is relatively far away if you forget your puddle noodle or demand some extra sunscreen!

Gifts and Gear

On the day we visited, we found the eating house to be adequately uncrowded and quiet as we headed to the food surface area to make our selections. This is oftentimes the case with the Mara for me, just perhaps I'm just visiting during "off-hours."

Eats

Yous'll find The Mara open from 7 a.grand. until 11:xxx p.one thousand. daily, serving breakfast, dejeuner, and dinner.

Mara Menu and Info -- Click to Enlarge

The carte features many items that yous'll detect every fourth dimension that you visit, but guests will as well notice some dishes available as daily specials.

Daily Specials -- Click to Enlarge

The menu boards overhead are LCD and offer both descriptions and pictures of the dishes available.

Flick Bill of fare -- Entree Items -- Click to Enlarge

Motion-picture show Bill of fare -- Additional Entree Items -- Click to Enlarge

Kids' Meal choices offering a good variety of both standard options like macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets, and healthier offerings similar a Chicken Leg Meal or Rotisserie Chicken.

Menu -- Entree and Kids' Repast Descriptions -- Click to Overstate

Menu -- Entree and Kids' Meal Descriptions -- Click to Enlarge

In addition to the bakery snacks and dessert offerings that we come across at most resort counter service spots, you'll also find some more upscale beverage options at The Mara, like smoothies and specialty coffee drinks.

Picture Menu -- Specialty Drinks and Sweets

Menu -- Sweets and Specialty Beverages -- Click to Enlarge

When it comes time to gild, you won't notice any computerized kiosks here similar you see at Contempo Cafe or Helm Cook's. Instead, a Cast Member will consummate an order form and paw you a pager.

Ordering Process -- Order Grade and Pager

Take away containers make it a sure-fire to transport your repast or whatever leftovers back to your room or to a poolside location.

Take Away Containers

Once you've ordered your main dishes, it'due south time to take a look around and encounter what else is available. There's enough, to be sure!

The baker case is ever stocked with breakfast pastries and a few dessert items.

Bakery Case Items

On the bottom tier, I even found i of my new favorite treats, the Mickey Ganache Tart! Here, it features a chocolate shortbread crust and is dressed up with a few star sprinkles.

Mickey Ganache Tart

In the refrigerated grab and go area, you'll detect a large pick of fresh salads, sandwiches, and set up-to-eat fruit and breakfast items.

Grab and Go Refrigerator

I actually honey the convenience of this individual serving of Hummus and Veggies. It'south perfect for snacking on the go, and a great option for throwing into your bag and taking to the park also.

Hummus and Veggies

Kids' Picks and refrigerated desserts tin also exist plant here as well.

More than Grab and Go and Kids' Picks

If y'all're making a pilgrimage to The Mara to choice upwardly some Zebra Domes, this is where yous'll find them!

Zebra Domes!

In that location's a broad pick of bottled drinks bachelor, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Grab and Go Drinks

Boosted Grab and Get Drinks

And yous can also satisfy your peckish for water ice foam treats hither as well. The broad selection includes iconic favorites similar the Mickey Ice Cream Bar, the Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich, and one of our other favorites, the Nestle Delicias Pineapple Bar.

Ice Foam Novelties

Yous'll notice the Triple Nail Ice Popular hither besides, in case you need an icy treat between park visits.

: More Ice Foam Novelties

Whole fruit is also available — wrapped, and ready to go.

Fresh Fruit Pick

Bread for toast (or picky eaters who desire Atomic number 82&J) is also on hand, and there's a toaster nearby likewise.

Bread

A selection of cereals in disposable bowls makes a light breakfast or snack quick and convenient. You can as well snag a Rice Krispie Treat here!

Cereal

Shelves containing African art accent a vino rack that includes a option of South African Red Wines. (You'll observe a selection of White and Rosé Wines in the take hold of and get refrigerated section as well.)

Option of South African Wines

You'll also find your refillable potable station here if you've purchased refillable souvenir mugs for your visit.

Refillable Drinkable Station

Coffee and Tea

Every bit I mentioned earlier, The Mara also has a nice selection of "fancier" drink options, like Iced Coffee, Smoothies, and Espresso drinks. It will be interesting to annotation whether the coffee options remain once Joffrey's becomes Disney's Official Coffee Provider.

Coffee Drinks

Smoothies

Espresso for Specialty Coffee

Beyond the beverage station, yous'll find plenty of condiments and fixings to wearing apparel up your nutrient items.

Condiment Bar

More Condiments

Ketchup and Other Condiments

Sauces on the Condiment Bar

And there is also a toaster besides equally a microwave for toasting breads, or for heating upwards baby foods, leftovers, or other items.

Toaster and Microwave

Whew!! Once you've fabricated all of your selections, you'll go along to the check out area, where you'll guild beverages. At that signal, the cashier will tally your gild, drinks, and any grab and go items.

You'll pay and will expect the pager's signal that your food is set up. By the time you explore the area, information technology may be time to head to the selection upwards surface area!

Check Out Expanse

After picking upwards the food, information technology was time to settle into a table and get eating!

I tried the Butternut Squash Soup. Consistently one of my favorites throughout Disney World, I have to give top marks for this one, which is like to what yous'll find at Boma and Jiko too.

It's very creamy with an almost sweetness-nutmeggy flavor that's indicative of the circuitous flavors yous'll find at play in African food, with a background annotation of coconut. It tasted more like Pumpkin than Butternut Squash to me.

Butternut Squash Soup

The Chicken Pita was touted to me every bit a guest favorite by Mara cast members. It looks deceptively unproblematic here, but there are some really nice flavors hidden beneath the fresh, crisp lettuce.

Chicken Pita

The sandwich is dressed with two unlike sauces — a nutty Sun-dried Lycopersicon esculentum Hummus also as a creamy Mint Yogurt Sauce. Paired with the pliable pita bread, they worked well to make this a delicious and dissimilar alternative to a fairly common sandwich offering.

Craven Pita -- Upwardly Close

Entrees at The Mara come with your pick of a side of Chips or Couscous, and I opted for the latter.

Served cold and flavored with lots of fresh chopped veggies and a dash of that wonderful spice, it'south an interesting accompaniment. There was a definite nutty season to this.

Couscous with Chicken Pita -- Up Close

Next, we sampled the African Stew. A hearty dish full of beefiness, turkey, and ham combined with chick peas, green peas, and other vegetables, it's served over a massive helping of basmati rice.

African Stew

The add-on of raisins adds a sweet-savory component to the stew. I consider this dish a hidden gem, and such an amazing option to find in a counter service spot.

African Stew -- Up Close

And with that, nosotros wrapped upward tiffin — knowing that ganache tarts and zebra domes were ours for the taking afterwards that day. 🙂

Overall

Equally with Creature Kingdom Lodge's other restaurants Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa at Kidani Village, The Mara remains one of my favorite hidden gems for dining in Disney Globe. With food that is interesting and delicious, information technology'due south a welcome difference from the hamburgers, fries, and other standard fast food options that tin sometimes become too prevalent on our visits to Disney World counter-service spots.

Fifty-fifty though information technology's a flake off the beaten path, I urge you to take some time and caput to The Mara at some signal for a meal. Really, y'all tin can't go wrong, whether information technology's breakfast, tiffin, or dinner. With succulent hot food items, premium drinks, and an interesting selection of African wines, you lot'll observe that The Mara is a counter service spot that'southward worth your fourth dimension.

Have you lot eaten at The Mara in Disney's Brute Kingdom Order? What's your recommendation? Let usa know in the comments below.