Hot Farm Africa puts you in control of your own African Safari theme park in this refreshingly unique time management game. Join Kate and her father as they journey to Africa and attempt to make a new plot of land into a profitable and popular spot for tourists. Can you help this struggling family create a successful theme park while avoiding yellow fever? Find out in Hot Farm Africa. 

Hot Farm Africa – the latest release from game developer PlayWay – is a new time management game with a refreshingly original setting: an African Safari park. I enjoy time management games, although I was initially turned off by the title.

Hmmm... how can we get the word "farm" into an African themed game? I know… we'll put "Hot" in front of it! So just to be clear – if you are expecting Holstein cows and Hampshire hogs, you’ll be sorely disappointed. If monkeys, hippos, and zebras are more your game, then you’ll enjoy Hot (e‘hem) “Farm” Africa.

When Hot Farm Africa launched, I found myself bobbing along with the cheery, rhythmic jingles and chimes of the music. We learn that Kate is packing to go to the savannah in Africa to meet her father. I hope she got her shots!

The game gives no indication that Kate is aware of the health situation in most African countries that requires vaccines for Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio. She also seems to indicate she’ll be doing quite a bit of overland travel, which would require a specific vaccination for yellow fever.

I must say I was also alarmed to hear that her father had bought a piece of land on credit from a mysterious man, and that this man will be coming immediately to collect his first payment. Kate’s father should be asking what type of person sells a piece of land solely on credit? What then are the implications for this piece of land? Don’t be surprised, Kate, if the Kony 2012 documentarians come rolling through. Also, Kate, please tell your father I have a mansion on the Gulf Coast I’m having trouble unloading.

Kate either has no common sense, has a deep abiding to family, or is a CIA agent (which could explain why she didn't get the shots)... whatever the case, Kate gets roped into helping her father deal with their new loan shark friend.

Once the doors open to your new Safari Park, tourists arrive, and you must give them a tour by boat to see the animals. It’s a time management version of the Disney Jungle Cruise.

You must quickly switch between animal locations to deal with their respective needs (food, water, etc.) while simultaneously keeping your tourists happy with snappy service and hawking chachkies.

Eventually, you can have up to 12 types of animals and various upgrades to your Safari center. Here are some quick tips to get you started with Hot Farm Africa:

• Make sure the circle is spinning around the base of the plant or the animal you want to interact with. I had trouble with this at first and couldn’t understand why I was unable to water and feed animals.
• Group tourists who want to see the same animals together in the same boat to get a bonus.
• You don't need the same number of trees as you have animals. Two or three trees can support your initial herds.

Personally, I enjoyed the new setting and seeing the tourists travel through the various locations. The added element of switching contexts was also challenging and fun. Check out the video below to see the gameplay for this exciting time management game, Hot Farm Africa.