Back to Nature: Americans’ Great African Adventure

Abstract

In this article in the New York Times Mireya Navarro describes taking one of the first safaris at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Florida (April 16, 1998). Her report, though, begins with the story of collisions and setbacks as Disney was struggling with injuries and sickness among its animals—including the death of some from being run over by the park’s safari vehicles. Most Americans can easily visit this site of encounters and collisions between an imagined Africa and Americans. Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Florida offers visitors an opportunity to be tourists in a picture-perfect representation of Africa that includes not just a safari redux but an adventure in saving animals from poachers.

“Is this everybody’s first trip to Africa?” one guide asked on Sunday at the start of a safari.

“Yeeeess!” eight rows of camera-ready adventurers on the all-terrain motor “lorry” roared bach, as if they did not know the difference.