When we stay in our villa we love the fact that we can please ourselves each day whether to stay in & cook or go out to eat in one of the many different types of restaurants within easy reach. This summer we had a birthday to celebrate so decided to try somewhere different & booked for dinner at the ‘Boma’ restaurant in Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Wow! If you have never visited this hotel before, ensure you arrive a good hour before your meal to soak up the atmosphere! From the moment you enter the lobby you are transported to Africa – the fabulous sights & sounds overpower all your senses! Head through the lobby, past the fire pit to the huge glass doors, which are the exit to the Savannah. We could not believe that we could see giraffes, elephants, bison, pelicans, flamingos & lots more too numerous to name! We talked to an informative guide who brought the African way of life come alive for the children.
We were told that our table would not be ready for another half-hour or so but with so much to see that wasn’t a problem (though at the end of a long day at the parks or with young hungry children, it may have been). When it was time to head off to our table we were equally amazed by the setting here. Boma is a buffet type restaurant, which is set out like an African marketplace, with rows of food, set out under thatched roofs & chefs can be seen behind the counters preparing food. The waiters are from all different parts of Africa and were extremely friendly & explained the choices. It would be impossible not to find something to appeal to everyone – the only problem is what to choose first! The chefs were happy to give advice though.
The food is inspired by different cuisine’s from all over Africa so is very varied. The salad selection with seafood made a wonderful starter; even the children were inspired to try combinations they had never heard of before (although there is the usual children’s fare for the not so experimental). It was difficult to pass on more than one helping of the delicious meats carved in front of the ovens & the regional African casserole dishes were delicious! Vegetarians were well catered for with hot & cold dishes.
When we really could not manage another morsel of tasty food, it was time to sample the deserts & again we were not disappointed! The banana bread & butter pudding was divine & our chocoholic family member was delighted with the warm chocolate muffins. The fruit platters were amazing & again the children had the usual ice creams (though even they were tempted by the more unusual African options).
All in all, a most fantastic & memorable experience for all the family. There is another restaurant at AK Lodge – Jiko – and if you would prefer a more formal experience, waiter service etc then this may be for you, but we would definitely recommend a trip to Boma to broaden the culinary horizons!!