The Mara is the Animal Kingdom Resort's only counter-service eatery, and is located near the Jambo House pool. The Mara river (for which the restaurant is named after) flows through Keny and Tanzania. The design cues in the restaurant attempt to mimic a savanna-like space with tree, water, and river stone flooring treatments. As nice as the space is, the first thing that people notice is just how low the ceilings appear to be. We're not sure if it's an optical illusion, or if they're less tall that other areas.

The dining area itself is medium sized (compared to some of the counter service locations at the resorts), and I have to say, being so close to the pool area… there are quite a few "swimsuit dressed" guests running around inside. More than what the well-designed space might suggest when entering.

There are enough similarities in the lunch and dinner menus for us to consider it an all-day menu. There tend to be a few sandwiches at lunch that are not on the dinner menu, and few hot plated dinner items that are not on the lunch menu.

American fast-food type items such as salads, burgers, and flatbreads dominate the menu.

The lunch menu features an African themed stew (Potjie) and Falafel Bites. The dinner menu features a few plated items such as an Oak-fired Rotisserie Chicken and BBQ Ribs.