Spot your real-life Disney’s Lion King favourites at these 3 African safari getaways
Disney’s latest version of The Lion King has inspired Fairmont Hotels and Resorts to offer three East African holidays right in the heart of the ‘pridelands’
Has the newest Lion King live action film stirred the travel bug within you? Want to check out the “pridelands” for yourself? You can even bring the kids.
In a bid to pay homage to the all-time popular Disney story, The Lion King, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has identified a circuit of three of their properties to transport you right into the heart of the action.
Inspired by the new live action film and the animated version first released 25 years ago, Fairmont Kenya is offering a “cinematic inspired safari itinerary” in East Africa, which is said to be the setting for the action-adventure with a three stop destination itinerary of Fairmont’s trio of properties.
All three properties are located in Kenya: The Norfolk (in Nairobi), Mount Kenya Safari Club (which overlooks Mount Kenya), and Mara Safari Club (situated within the plains of the Masai Mara).
Fairmont says that guests can “spot real-life characters of the film and find many more resident East African wildlife who did not make an appearance in the feature”.
Fairmont says that guests can “spot real-life characters of the film and find many more resident East African wildlife who did not make an appearance in the feature”
The Norfolk is only a short drive away from Nairobi National Park – the only national park in a city – where animals such as antelopes, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and troops of baboons prowl the grassy plains, while lions, leopards and black rhinos seek shelter in acacia bushes in the sweltering heat.
Two interesting sites to visit are the Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The Giraffe Centre is best known for the obvious animal its name refers to: giraffes. Housing the endangered Rothschild species, guests will find opportunities to feed and interact with the animal residents while the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is famous for its elephant orphanage which offers visitors up-close experiences with baby elephants on their way to get their bottle of milk.
Next stop is the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club – the exclusive former home of actor William Holden – with its very own on-site animal orphanage and the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. Here, a breeding programme is in place for the endangered Mount Kenya bongo antelope and the rare white zebra (not featured in the animated Disney film). Without even going off property, travellers can spot cheetahs, leopards and pygmy hippos on site.