BUSH DINING ON YOUR AFRICAN SAFARI
The Ultimate Open-Air Restaurant

Making cocktails for a sundowner bush dining experience at Losokwan Camp in the Masai Mara

Think of an African safari in Kenya, Tanzania or both and you’ll picture wide-open savannahs alive with lions on the prowl, cheetahs racing over the plains, or great majestic elephants lumbering to nearby watering holes.

But do your safari thoughts include a memorable dining experience? Probably not. You might not even think the food on the safari would be very notable. But, you’d be mistaken because the cuisine you’ll find on your adventure in Africa will easily beat your expectations.

And, adding to this pleasant surprise, you’ll quickly discover there’s nothing better to enhance a safari meal than enjoying it out in the open air – think breakfast under the arbor of a stunning acacia tree or a bush dinner out on the plain, lit only by candles and the evening stars.

Just as the wildlife brings its own magic to your African safari so too does dining out on the savannahs, with its fresh and colorful closeness to the wonders of the natural world all about you.

So, why eat in a restaurant or lodge when you can dine in the ultimate al fresco style – the fields and hills of Africa? 

PLEASE NOTE: Some of the bush dining experiences are dependent on the prevailing weather conditions and some may require a minimum number of people to book. Your Africa Kenya Safaris tour planning manager will advise accordingly.

Bush Lunch - Mara Engai Lodge - Africa Kenya Safaris
Three ladies eating breakfast outside at a Kenyan safari in Shaba National Reserve
Guide socialising with guests during sundowner outdoor dining in Kenya
Outdoor breakfast tables for guests at a Kenya safari lodge

So Many Ways To Dine

Where would you like to take your meals? You could relax at a boma, a fenced-off area used to keep predators at bay, perhaps accompanied by a glowing campfire. Or, how about dining in an open field under a starry sky, with the sounds of the wildlife adding their musical accompaniment to your meal?

The original bush dining experience was created by hunters, still far from home with their fresh kill of the day. They would make a stew and tell stories old and new, sitting by the fire. The night air and the crackle of the roaring fire were the perfect enhancement to their feast.

That’s not too different from what you can experience on your safari today – you’ll be served roasted meats and vegetables in a fresh outdoor setting, alive and adventurous. Long tables can be set up for groups or you can enjoy a more intimate, cozy arrangement for two. Blankets are offered for warmth with lanterns to provide a gentle glow.

You might relish a dinner near a river or lake, with the sounds of hippos and shore birds nearby. Or, imagine your special meal set on the plains with the echoes of the big cats and elephants not far off.

Some dinners are accompanied by traditional dance and singing performances to enhance the cultural feeling of place. Select the setting and style you want. But no matter where and how you enjoy your bush meals, it’s the perfect way to recap the moments of your adventure, tell stories, and feel closer to your safari companions.

And if you are honeymooning, or celebrating a special event like an anniversary, there is nothing quite as romantic as an outdoor candlelit dinner at sunset swathed in the soft evening breezes and the melodic songs of the nearby birdlife.

Breakfast In The Bush

Breakfast out in the wilds can mean a variety of experiences, from a simple repast of coffee and rolls set out on your safari jeep to a full-on English breakfast with eggs, sausage, scones, bacon, fruit, pastries, champagne, and more.

Either way, it’s a lovely time of day to break the nighttime’s fast in the dappled morning light. You could fuel up for your first game drive or take a refreshing mid-morning break from your safari activities.

There might be an open fire for cooking, or a private chef could whip up a magnificent feast on a portable station. Perhaps you’ll be overlooking a watering hole where the elephants or other wildlife will entertain. Or, you may spot a cheetah or leopard on the prowl to amplify the moment. What an incredible way to begin your safari day!

Outdoor breakfast at the Sarova Mara Game Camp in Kenya
Breakfast picnic dining in the Masai Mara in Kenya
Picnic Lunch at Masai Mara aNational Reserve - Africa Kenya Safaris

Lunch - Don’t Stop Your Safari

You may be out on an exciting game drive with sightings of lions, cheetahs, elephants, and more. Instead of pausing the wildlife action and driving back to your lodge for a mid-day meal, why not picnic out in the field, perhaps under the shade of a pepper tree, with the animals in full view?

Lunch in the bush is a more casual affair than breakfast or dinner. Your guide can set up a blanket and provide a selection of cold meats, cheeses, salads, breads, or perhaps premade sandwiches. Nothing too heavy to slow you down for the afternoon game drives to come.

The cuisine may be simple but your appetite will be stimulated by the natural world all about. The birds chirping and the monkeys overhead adding their chatter to the conversation, can only add to the fun of this mid-day culinary spread.

Design Your Bush Dinner / Sundowner

Luxury outdoor dining by lantern light at Sarova Mara Game Camp in the Masai Mara

Are you looking for a romantic bush dinner for two beneath the African sky or are you part of a larger group enjoying your natural camaraderie? Do you desire your dinner steps from your lodge or tented camp, or would you like to experience the day’s end in a wide-open field, with the twilight silhouetting the trees and perhaps distant wildlife?

This is your bush dinner and we will personalize it to accommodate your wishes.

Here is one picturesque scenario: Around sunset, you are driven to a lovely site near a waterfall, a lake, or overlooking a gently rolling plain.  A table has been set for you and your chef is waiting. The area is lit by soft lanterns and a glowing fire.

A popular dinner choice is bar-b-que, an assortment of meats and vegetables grilled over an open fire. But you could also opt for other African-inspired dishes. Entertainment is not unusual in the form of traditional music or even Maasai warriors dancing and singing.

Savored in the night air, the flavors of your meal are as alive as the vibrant world around you. The fire crackles, the moon is aglow and the music thrums to the land’s ancient rhythms.

You may even spot the lit eyes of some nocturnal wildlife in the distance. This is the joy of an authentic nighttime dinner in the African bush.

Join us and we’ll prepare a feast that will be remembered as the most delicious moment of your safari adventure.  

BOOK YOUR AFRICAN SAFARI HOLIDAY IN KENYA & TANZANIA WITH AFRICA KENYA SAFARIS

Seeing elephants on safari in Amboseli National Park

KENYA SAFARIS FROM/TO NAIROBI

2 Days Nairobi Kenya 4x4 Road Safaris

Got more than a day to explore? You’ll see much more on our two-day safaris to Kenya’s wildlife reserves. Choose from one, two, or even three destinations in your touring package. From Mt. Kilimanjaro to the Masai Mara, we’ll personalize a custom journey to your specific wishes

Ol Pejeta Wildlife Sanctuary
Masai Mara National Reserve
Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha & Attractions

3 Days Nairobi Kenya 4x4 Road Safaris

If you have a little more time, a three-day journey will bring added opportunities to settle into the safari rhythm and mood. Three days is lots of time to get familiar with the land and wildlife of the great Tsavo East and Tsavo West Parks, with their red-dust elephants and vast expanse of sky and land. Or go for the rolling hills and thick wildlife herding across the Masai Mara. And then there’s the photographic splendor of Amboseli Park, nestled at the base of Kilimanjaro. You can’t go wrong with any of these choices.

Masai Mara National Reserve

Tsavo East, Tsavo West National Parks

Tsavo West National Park, Amboseli National Park

4 Days Nairobi Kenya 4x4 Road Safaris

These are longer tours – plenty of time to track the lions of Masai Mara and the elephants of Amboseli. Or you can combine the Mara experience with the up-country Rift Valley lakes of Nakuru and Naivasha with their blazing birdlife, rhinos, and sailing safaris.

Whatever way you design your 4-day adventure, this safari journey will make lasting impressions and create a meaningful with the land.

Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Amboseli National Park

Lakes Nakuru & Naivasha, Crescent Island, Masai Mara

Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island, Hell’s Gate National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve

2-4 Days Nairobi Kenya Flight safaris

5 & 6 Days Nairobi Kenya 4x4 Road Safaris

The great reserves of Amboseli and the Masai Mara dominate these safaris. You’ll have time to spend several days at these world-famous parks, tracking for the big cats, elephants, giraffes, zebra, and rhinos. Just click on the tours to learn more.

7 & 8 Days 4x4 Road safaris from Nairobi

These longer tours feature the above-mentioned great parks but also additional environments like the cool forests of Aberdare to the north and Rift Valley Lakes like Nakuru and Naivasha, with their dazzling birdlife. These are colorful and immersive safari experiences.

NAIROBI TO DIANI BEACH KENYA SAFARIS

3 Days Nairobi to Diani beach Kenya Safaris

If you don’t have a lot of time but want to get a taste of the safari life, try one of these excursions before heading off to the beach. Tsavo East and Tsavo West are big parks with lots of big game to discover – lions, leopards, elephants and so much more. Amboseli Park guarantees the majesty of world-famous Mt. Kilimanjaro and numerous sightings of great free-ranging elephants.

4 & 5 Days Nairobi to Diani beach Kenya Safaris

You’ll have more time to explore the parks and settle into that safari rhythm on these longer tours. In addition to Tsavo East, Tsavo West, and Amboseli, your choices expand to include Kenya’s most popular park, Masai Mara. The reserve is thick with the big cats and thousands of herding wildebeests and zebras during the Great Migration

6, 7 & 9 Days Nairobi to Diani beach Kenya Safaris

These safaris are enough time to become a seasoned safari-goer. You’ll have plenty of time to visit three or even four parks on this extended safari excursion. Your choices of parks to explore include Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli, the Masai Mara, and two additional reserves – Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru – home to immense birdlife, rhinos, and even sailing safaris.

KENYA BEACH SAFARIS FROM DIANI

2 & 3 Days Kenya safaris from Diani beach

These quick getaways will add fun and variety to your beach holiday while giving you a taste of safari action. Choose colorful combinations of Tsavo East or Tsavo West Parks, Amboseli, and the privately-owned Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Between these parks, you’ll find all of Africa’s biggest game.

4 & 5 Days Kenya safaris from Diani beach

More time. More choices. In these more in-depth safari packages, you can choose to go to the above parks of Tsavo, Amboseli, and Masai Mara. Adding to the list are the Great Rift Valley high-altitude Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru, home to colorful birdlife like pelican, cormorant, and pink flamingoes.

Fly & Drive Kenya safaris from Diani beach

Cover more ground in less time with these fly and drive tours. Choose from two, three, six, or seven-day safaris. Part of your tour will be in a private 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeep, but you’ll also see Kenya from the air flying between the coast and the capital of Nairobi. Our seven-day safari features visits to six parks including the Masai Mara, Lakes Naivasha, and Nakuru.

COMBINED KENYA & TANZANIA SAFARIS

4 parks: Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara

 
4 Parks: Amboseli, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
 

5 parks: Masai Mara, Lake Victoria/Serengeti/Ngorongoro, & Tarangire 

TANZANIA SAFARI HOLIDAYS FROM /TO ARUSHA

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