Simpson Safari

"Simpson Safari" is the seventeenth episode of The Simpsons' twelfth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 1, 2001. When the Simpsons run out of food thanks to a bag boy strike, the family finds an old box of Animal Crackers in their attic. In the box is a golden cracker that was part of a contest conducted by the owners of Animal Crackers. Finding out that anyone that found the golden cracker would win a trip to Africa, Homer shows it to the company's owners, who explain that the contest ended several years ago. When he is injured by one of the box's sharp corners however, the family is given a free trip to Africa as compensation.

Although "Simpson Safari" was written by John Swartzwelder, the idea for the episode was pitched by former staff writer Larry Doyle. The episode was directed by Mark Kirkland, who had been to Africa as an adolescent. Because of his visit there, Kirkland attempted to make the episode look as authentic as possible, even though the Simpsons trip to Africa was "all over the place" geographically. The episode features Frank Welker as all the animals in Africa. In its original broadcast, the episode was seen by approximately 7.7 million viewers, finishing in 42nd place in the ratings the week it aired. Following its broadcast, the episode received mixed reviews from critics. The episode was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series in 2001, which it ultimately lost.