Under the Baobab: Culinary Journeys Across the Continent

From open-flame feasts to farm-to-table elegance—taste your way through Africa's wildest kitchens.

There’s something magical about food in the wild.

Maybe it’s the way fresh bread smells when it’s baked in a safari oven beside a river. Or the sizzle of venison over open flame as elephants splash nearby. Or the sweet surprise of mango sorbet served in the shade of a giant baobab.

Wherever you go on safari, food is not just sustenance—it’s part of the story.

And it’s a delicious one.

Singita Kataza, Rwanda - House Dining.

Singita Kwitonda, Rwanda - Dining area showcasing John Banovich's Kwitonda painting.

Flame, Flavour, and Firelight

In Botswana, a meal might begin with sundowners under an acacia tree, the clink of ice, the golden flicker of firelight, and the low whoop of a distant hyena. Then comes dinner—flame-grilled game meat, maize meal infused with wild herbs, and seasonal vegetables harvested from a nearby garden.

There are no printed menus. Only moments, carefully crafted, rooted in place, and served under a canopy of stars.

In Tanzania, you may find yourself sitting on the sun-warmed rocks at Mwiba, sipping a local cocktail as dancers move rhythmically against the setting sun. Or gathered around a riverbank bush breakfast—complete with cinnamon-spiced oats cooked over the fire, fresh-cut fruit, buttery egg-and-bacon sandwiches, and strong bush coffee poured into enamel mugs.

Sundowners watching wildlife pass by…

In Zimbabwe, along a dusty road in Hwange or Mana Pools, you might encounter a bush brunch beneath fever trees or a sunset picnic where lanterns sway in the breeze, and a bush loo tucked quietly under a camelthorn feels like a luxurious escape from modern life.

Lodge Gardens & Wild Kitchens

At properties like Singita Kwitonda Lodge in Rwanda or Legendary Lodge in Tanzania, the garden is part of the kitchen. Freshly picked herbs, vibrant vegetables, and indigenous ingredients inform a menu that is both elegant and grounding.

Expect Swahili-inspired dishes—grilled fish, coconut rice, colourful salads, and slow-cooked stews—served with international flair and deeply local heart. Breakfasts here may include little glass jars of muesli and yoghurt, while African-style omelettes or frittatas make hearty brunch staples.

Whether under the baobabs of Zimbabwe or on the plains of the Serengeti surrounded by desert date trees and balanites, the meal is always more than a plate—it’s a connection. To land, to people, and to the moment.

Mila Tented Camp, Tanzania - Family dining.

Come Taste the Wild

At Wildscapes Travel, we believe food is part of the journey—not a break from it.

We’ll take you to the wild kitchens of Africa’s most breathtaking destinations—where every bite is a connection, and every meal a memory waiting to be made.

Singita Faru Faru breakfast bowl.

Mwiba Lodge, Tanzania - Fly-in camp dinner.

A Toast to the Unexpected

A luxury safari doesn’t just serve wine—it tells stories with it.

You might sip a Swartland Syrah beside a roaring fire, toast with a chilled Chenin Blanc at sunset, or sample a craft gin infused with baobab fruit or wild herbs during a remote sundowner. It’s these little touches—barefoot toasts around the campfire, laughter rising into the starlit sky—that make each drink unforgettable.

Chem Chem Lodge, Tanzania - Dining under the Baobab.

Singita Serengeti House - Afternoon lunch snack on the deck.

The Power of Food to Reconnect

Food has always brought people together. But in Africa, it does more—it grounds you. It slows you down. It awakens the senses.

For families, it becomes a sacred tradition—gathering around the fire each night, sharing tales and toasting marshmallows. For solo travelers, it's a moment of quiet reflection. For couples, it's an intimate dance of flavors under the stars.

From farm-to-table elegance to bushveld simplicity, meals on safari stir more than hunger. They ignite connection. They inspire joy. They bring us home to the present moment.