Outdoor Dining on Safari
The Boma, Farm-to-Table, and Picnics in the Bush
Daniela Powers, Bushtracks safari travel expert, loves rhinos, painted dogs, and Amarula, a creamy African liqueur made from the fruit of the Marula tree. During her multiple trips to Africa, Daniela has experienced many styles of dining on safari. Guests may dine onsite in the camps, but because being outdoors is the epitome of safari living and game drives can last all day, dining al fresco is an integral part of the journey.
Most days, especially for brunch and lunch, an elaborate picnic is served with items that you can easily eat in the bush, like gourmet wraps, fruit, and salads, and there’s always beer and wine. Past traveler Elizabeth Pembroke gushed over the cuisine on her African expedition. “Every meal we had in South Africa was over-the-top delicious. From the freshest seafood to farm-to-table, locally sourced produce. The cuisine blew us away.”
“If we are traveling in a larger party and we know everybody is going out in their vehicles, maybe we say, hey, let’s all get together for lunch. All the vehicles will come to one place where magically somebody has set up lunch,” Founder David Tett explains. “If the conditions are right, we may set up a five-star dinner lit by lanterns.”
“Usually, when we say bush dinners, we’re talking about the boma,” says Daniela. “Bomas offer security under the stars and trees in a separate part of the camp enclosed with a handwoven branch fence. It’s a gathering place where people congregate for a traditional meal in a traditional setting, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African wilderness. A chef prepares dinner outdoors as guests gather around an open fire and exchange stories about the day’s wildlife sightings. Dancing has been known to occur!”
Daniela shares a personal favorite African treat. “We even bring Amarula in the bush and add it to coffee like Bailey’s. Drinking Amarula coffee on an early morning safari is living the dream.”
