How Safari Theme Parks Exoticize Africa

Welcome to our latest video in the "Animatronics, Theme Parks, and Race" series, where we delve into the complex world of Africa's representation in American and European theme parks. In this episode, we uncover the continuity from the colonial era to the present day, where white corporations continue to exoticize "The Dark Continent" for their audiences.
Join us as we explore specific attractions, themed lands, and parks, while shedding light on the concept of Africa in the Western imagination. We draw insights from Dr. Curtis A. Keim's groundbreaking work, "Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind," to analyze the depictions of Africa in American theme parks.
Discover the three recurring patterns that emerge when it comes to portraying Africa in these parks: the fabrication of "Nature on Demand," the presentation of Africa as a homogeneous entity, and the cementing of Africa as an excitingly different and exotic land in Western imaginations.
We start our journey by examining Six Flags Great Adventure's indoor roller coaster, Skull Mountain, and its portrayal of a dangerous African village. Then, we delve into other attractions like the Adventure Rivers section of the park and Monsieur Cannibale at De Efteling theme park in the Netherlands, both perpetuating stereotypes about non-Western peoples.
Next, we explore Busch Gardens Tampa and its former identity as Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent. We uncover how this theme park failed to provide proper context for the diverse peoples and cultures of Africa, sustaining Western myths about the continent.
Finally, we take a closer look at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and its headline attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris. While Disney aimed to avoid negative depictions, we analyze how the park inadvertently reinforces tropes of exoticism and conquest nostalgia.
Through this comprehensive analysis, we aim to challenge the misrepresentations and mistakings of Africa in theme parks, while raising awareness about the impact of these portrayals on cultural understanding and appreciation.
Join the discussion by watching the full video, and don't forget to use the following hashtags to help spread awareness: #animalkingdom #efteling #greatadventure #buschgardenstampa #themepark #rudyardkipling #africanhistory #orientalism