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Meet Rafiki

Rafiki, born in 1979, is the matriarch of the Disney’s Animal Kingdom herd.  Her name means “friend” in Swahili.  Rafiki was wild caught as a result of culling operations in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.  She arrived at the Phoenix Zoo at the age of three after being purchased from the International Animal Exchange in 1982. 

Rafiki is a beautiful, large female.  At about 8,900 pounds, she has a large square head and two symmetrical tusks that currently protrude 12” from her lips.  She is full of energy and is highly motivated by food!  She is not afraid to push her way through a crowd of elephants to get what she wants.  Rafiki is congenial and gets along with everyone, elephants and people alike.

The Early Years

At the Phoenix Zoo, Rafiki was part of a free contact program until 1993, at which time her training changed to a protected contact management system.  Due to her smaller size, she was at the bottom of the dominance hierarchy in the group.  Rafiki displayed maternal instincts very early on and even as a youngster she adopted a tire, caring for it as if it were her own calf.  Jerry Brown, then Curator at the Phoenix Zoo, remembers Rafiki.  He says, “Every day after lunch we would go over to the elephant exhibit to see what chaos the elephants had caused.  One day Rafiki and her partner in crime, Ibala, had dismantled their pool.  When Jerry came by, she and Ibala stood very still, hoping they couldn’t be seen!”  Rafiki was always a great learner, quickly solving puzzles that the keepers used to keep her stimulated.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Rafiki and Ibala arrived together at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in October 1997.  Since the loss of her long-time friend Ibala, Rafiki developed a close relationship with Vasha, a 22 year-old female who is now always by her side.  Today she is the proud caregiver and “auntie” to three young calves and provides a calm, nurturing environment for them to thrive in.  As their protector, Rafiki is pivotal in the introduction of the infants to the rest of the group.



Rafiki has moved up the hierarchy and has become an effective, fair leader who maintains law and order within her herd.  When Rafiki speaks, all the elephants listen.