New lion siblings join Kilimanjaro Safaris: Mshango, Zahara, and Neema
Young lion siblings joined the savanna of Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Three African lions — Mshango, Zahara, and Neema, all siblings — moved in to their new home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom near Orlando, Fla., and now appear on the savanna as part of the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction. Disney shared the news with Attractions Magazine on Dec. 5, 2024.
The Walt Disney World park’s former lion tenants of 10 years — Dakari and Kamari — recently retired to a “conservation haven in Florida” accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), according to Dr. Mark Penning, VP of Disney Animals, Science, and Environment (who we interviewed earlier this year).
Mshango, Zahara, and Neema were born in October 2022. “They’re very playful and curious,” said Katie Jones, an animal keeper for the lions at Kilimanjaro Safaris. “I’m really excited for our guests to see that cub-like spirit.”
Disney intends Mshango, Zahara, and Neema to be part of the Species Survival Plan organized by the AZA. For now, they’re still acclimating to Animal Kingdom.
“Mshango is a little shy at first, but he’s also very curious and he’s definitely gaining confidence,” Jones said. “Zahara is very much the leader of the group. She’s very confident and bold and playful. Neema is a little bit more shy and reserved, but she definitely follows her sister’s lead.”
Together with the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund, Disney set a goal to help double the quantity of lions in the wild by 2050.
Be on the lookout for African lions Mshango, Zahara, and Neema the next time you ride Kilimanjaro Safaris.
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