Wilson Matua

**Wilson Matua** is a character from *Kilimanjaro Safaris*.

## History

### Background

Wilson Matua was a citizen of the port of Harambe in East Africa during the late 20th century. He was an aviator with an enthusiasm for ecological conservation and who by the 1990s (and likely 2000s) served as the warden of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. He frequently patrolled the wildlife reserve in his airplane while maintaining radio communication with operatives of the company Kilimanjaro Safaris; together working to keep the land and animals safe, particularly from poachers.

### Development History

Wilson was featured prominently in the original incarnation of Kilimanjaro Safaris which had much darker elements to emphasize the horrors of poaching and promote a call to action against it. Due to parent complaints of these elements and guest complaints for them being inappropriate as the attraction featured real animals; the elements were progressively removed over the years. In 2020, the pre-show video which was hosted by Wilson and which connected to the removed story was removed and replaced.

## Appearances and allusions

### Kilimanjaro Safaris

In the original incarnation of Kilimanjaro Safaris, Warden Matua hosted the pre-show video which welcomed guests to the Harambe Wildlife Reserved and gave them background on their institute. In this video he talked about how the reserve's animals were often targeted by poachers and how he patrolled the area in his plane to try and keep its wildlife safe. In the attraction, guests aboard the *Simba-1* jeep would encounter the corpse of the mother elephant, "Big Red" who had her tusks sawed off by poachers and the driver of the vehicle contacted Wilson. What proceeded was a team-up with Wilson in the skies and the safari on the ground, chasing down the poachers who killed Big Red and stole her baby, "Little Red".

Wilson's outpost is passed by near the exit of the attraction with it sometimes containing goats.

### Skipper Canteen

A book in the *Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen* is titled as *The Harambe Chronicles* by Wilson. The book was however not actually written by Matua given the 1930s setting of the Skipper Canteen, late 20th-21st century setting of Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Wilson having been Mutua's first-name rather than surname. The reference does however remain and Kilimanjaro Safaris has been connected to other park stories in a number of other ways.

### Wilderness Explorers

Matua is indirectly referenced as, "**The Warden**" on the page of the Wilderness Explorers' handbook detailing the instructions for obtaining the *African Culture Badge*. Here, a Wilderness Explorers operative is to be stationed by the post of Matua's outpost to assist junior Wilderness Explorers.

## Connections

### Adventure Trading Company

The Daily Gnus has an article titled, "ADVENTURE TRADING COMPANY ARRIVES IN ADVENTURELAND" mentions Harambe alongside Mystic Point and the Lost River Delta as having been host to the Adventure Trading Company.

### Disney Springs

A gate-board in the marketplace of Disney Springs mentions an airline departure to Harambe leaving on time.

### Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

On the walls of this bar is a photograph of a Safari including Trader Sam departing from Harambe with an elephant for transportation. Additionally when closely observed, the elephant's howdah is the logo for the Kilimanjaro Safaris company on it.

### Up

Harambe holds outposts for the *Wilderness Explorers* scouting organization from this film of which its reserves hold ideals of ecological conservation with. Notably is the Wilderness Explorers' Safari Badge which has guests taking a safari from Kilimanjaro Safaris and writing the name of the jeep SIMBA-1. It also mentions Harambe Wildlife Reserve by name and has participants document the animals which they observed.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2020/12/15/nigerian-dwarf-goats-have-been-added-to-the-newly-created-wardens-outpost-on-kilimanjaro-safaris/
2. ↑ https://schmirfle.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-wilderness-explorers-handbook.html
3. ↑ http://www.mainstgazette.com/2017/10/gate-change.html
4. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BZcEgKllDSx/