At a glance
La Girafe Curieuse, whose full name is La Girafe Curieuse (Tout pour le Safari), sits inside the Adventureland Bazar, right where the land begins.
Its made-up backstory follows a traveling merchant who was driving his Jeep through the African desert when he swerved to miss a giraffe and crashed into a lamppost. He moved into a crumbling building and set up his business there. The giraffe became a regular, sticking its head through a window in the back room, and the shop was named after it. The Jeep, still parked out front, works as the shop sign. According to Imagineer Chris Tietz, it was first meant to be a souvenir stand, an idea that was eventually dropped.
The architecture blends several West and Central African influences: a facade of clay mud (a common building method in Africa because it keeps interiors cool), colorful bas-reliefs inspired by Hausa architecture from northern Nigeria, where elaborate decoration signals a prosperous household, a main tower with ventilation openings, and a side entrance covered in giraffe-print patterns.
Inside, look for exposed beams, bamboo, thatched roofs, hanging greenery, African ceramic lanterns, and expedition props (a tent, a camp chair topped with a Fedora, a camera, a stuffed crocodile). Wooden crates carry the names of playfully invented recipients such as "M. Sapristi," "Porcelaine à l’Éléphant," "Dr Leakey," or "Sligo, Safaris Inc." Best of all, a giraffe Audio-Animatronic (a moving robotic figure) pushes its head through an opening at the back of the store to watch guests and nibble on leaves. It comes from the same mold as the giraffes on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland in California.
The selection covers travel-ready clothing for adults and kids, accessories, Disney ears, toys, plush toys, baby items, tableware, and souvenirs in the colors of the African continent.
A giraffe pokes its head into the back room. According to the made-up backstory, a traveling merchant swerved to avoid a giraffe in the African desert, hit a lamppost, and then opened his business in the building next door. The giraffe turned into a regular customer and now leans in through a window in the back room. That’s where the shop gets its name, and it’s the detail guests photograph most.
What you’ll find
History
This shop has been open since the park’s opening day, April 12, 1992.
Theme & world
Who it’s made for
Pros and cons
The highlights
- Giraffe animatronic that leans its head into the back of the shop
- Immersive setting with a safari Jeep parked by the entrance
- Themed crates labeled with made-up destinations and senders
The downsides
- Small sales floor
- Tight aisles between the crates and displays
- Smaller selection than the park’s main shops
- Guests sometimes walk right past it, since it sits a little off the main flow of foot traffic
My verdict
Julie’s tip
Best time to go
Stop by in the late morning or early afternoon, and give yourself a minute to spot the giraffe in the back room.
Map & getting there
La Girafe Curieuse is in Adventureland, near the Agrabah Café restaurant.
Your questions about this shop
01 Where can you buy Disney merchandise at Disneyland Paris?
There are four main places to shop: Disneyland Park (Main Street U.S.A. above all, plus every land), Disney Adventure World, Disney Village (open to everyone, no park ticket required), and, if you book an official Disney hotel, the shop inside your hotel. My dedicated article walks you through the main shops.
02 Is there a way to shop without lugging bags around all day?
Yes. The Shopping Service lets you have your purchases sent to a pickup point, so you can collect them later at the same shop, at another shop on your way out of the park, or even at your Disney hotel’s shop. The service is free in most shops (with a minimum purchase). Just ask the cast member at checkout.
03 What are the shop hours?
Shops inside the parks roughly follow park hours, often opening a little earlier on Main Street U.S.A. and closing a little later after the nighttime show. Disney Village shops have their own hours, usually running later into the evening. You’ll find the exact hours in the Disneyland Paris app.
04 Can you buy Disneyland Paris merchandise online?
There’s no official Disneyland Paris online store. To shop from home, you can use the Disney Store website (formerly shopDisney), which sells official Disney merchandise and sometimes a few items specific to Disneyland Paris. At the resort itself, you buy everything directly in the shops.
