What types of food are served on Tanzania safari – Overview

The food served at all of the safari lodges and tented camps in our portfolio is of the highest quality. At certain lodges, gourmet cooks bake fresh breads, and produce soups, salads, and entrées that could easily grace tables at top restaurants around the world.
Meals are international in flavor with soups, salads, cold meats, pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes, breads and other starch.
We prefer to use camps and lodges that opt for good, wholesome home-style cooking at elegantly set dining tables (sometimes under the stars, sometimes under thatch or canvas) where guests can discuss and debate the day’s events with their guides and fellow guests.

Here are the usual food selections in a safari:

We offer vegan, vegetarian, regular and gluten-free food as well. For other dietary requirements, simply tell us in advance. We are happy to work out something and happy to keep your tummy happy.

• Breakfast or brunch: You can expect anything from omelets to quiches with a variety of salads. Continental breakfast is also typically served with toast, sausage, pastries, charcuterie, cold meat, coffee, and tea. Cereals, fruits, bread, eggs, and cheese are also very common.
• Lunch: More often than not, lunches are served picnic style in the middle of your game drive. Sometimes, guides/drivers also take you back to the lodge or camp for a hearty meal before going on an afternoon or sundowner game drive. Food is usually composed of sandwiches and fruits.
• High tea: Before setting off to your late afternoon game drive, afternoon snacks — or bitings, as it is usually called in East Africa — will be provided. Freshly roasted peanuts or cashews, cakes, sandwiches, biscuits, quiches, and tarts are the usuals.
• Sundowners: On your final game drive of the day, you will be enjoying alcoholic beverages (think wine and beer) with snacks such as nuts, dried fruits, and savories as you watch the sunset across the wildlife-ridden fields.
• Dinner: Prepared at the lodge or camp, dinner is usually served in three courses: soup, mains, and pudding. Butternut soup, vegetable curry, and fruit pudding is a very common combo, but of course, there will be a variety during your stay ranging from meat, fish and pasta dishe served with assorted vegetables and sauces.
• Drinks: For the drinks, it could be anything from water to coffee and tea to wine and beer. Filtered water is typically available but in the event that it’s not, the camp or lodge will either tell you in advance or provide water for you to drink each day.

Ensuring Food Safety

Generally speaking, as this article explains, six harmful types of pathogens can be found in food items. But before you let this put you off of traveling to Africa, it’s important to realise that there are measures that you can take to keep yourself safe.
Part of the reason that Africa has such a bad reputation for food safety is due to the fact that people often think of this continent as one, single entity, and forget that there are actually 53 very different countries within this continent.

Four Food Safety Tips

While you won’t have to worry about food safety if you’re staying in a lodge, you will want to keep the following tips in mind if you plan to go to the local markets and restaurants, or will be doing your own food prep while on safari.

• Avoid eating raw food, especially meat and fish, eggs and milk. You should only raw fruit and vegetables that can be peeled or hulled. .
• Always wash your hands after handling, peeling, or hulling raw fruit or vegetables.Only eat food that is well cooked.
• Avoid eating foods that appear under cooked or that have been sitting out for an unknown amount of time.
• Exercise caution when buying food from street vendors. You’ll want to avoid food that has sat out for too long.
• Look for popular venders that are serving piping hot food, and avoid food that’s sitting out, getting cold

Practice Good Hygiene

Good hygiene is important, especially when you travel.
Wash your hands as often as possible, and carry hand sanitizer or sanitizer wipes with you to cleanse your hands during those times that you won’t have access to soap and water.
It’s especially important to wash your hands after using the toilet, touching an animal, or handling raw fruits or vegetables in a market.
Finally, of course, the importance of washing your hands before eating cannot be overstated.

Choose Your Water Carefully

Drinking water is important, especially in hot climates, however precautions must be taken when drinking water abroad. Use these 6 golden rules for staying safe and hydrated.

• Drinking bottled water is the best way to ensure that the water is safe.
• You can also boil your water for five to ten minutes to sterilise it.
• Tap water is not safe to drink in many countries so be sure to err on the side of caution.
• Avoid any drinks that are prepared with tap water, such as juice.
• Tea and coffee that have been made with boiled water are usually fine.
• Avoid ice in restaurants because of the risk of microorganisms.

Store Food Properly

Food storage isn’t something that you’ll have to concern yourself with at all if you’re staying in a lodge, since all of the food will be prepared for you. But if you’re camping, or on a self-drive safari, it’s important to remember to store your food properly.
Food should always be kept on ice or in a refrigerator to prevent bacteria from growing.
One helpful detail to consider is that when you book a self-drive safari with Safari Drive your Land Rover or Land Cruiser will come with a refrigerator, allowing you to safely store your food.
As a side note, storing food properly will also help to keep wild animals away. For this reason, it’s recommended that you never bring food into your tent while camping.
Watch the amazing video below to see what a Safari Drive camp looks like being set up.

Precautions to Take

Sickness can occur at home or abroad, but it’s important to be prepared before you go.
It’s a good idea to bring a small first aid kit with you. While you most likely won’t have to use it, having it with you will give you peace of mind.
It’s also smart to bring oral rehydration salts sachets as these will help to restore electrolytes that can be lost during illness. You may also consider taking along some basic, over the counter Imodium.
While chances are, you won’t encounter any stomach troubles while you’re away, it’s important to go prepared, and exercise food safety while travelling.
Make sure you bring any recommended medications with you and take out travel insurance before you go.

Are You Ready?

Planning your holiday can be an exciting and enjoyable time, so don’t forget to have fun while you prepare for your amazing trip.
An African journey is something that many dream of, and naturally, you’ll want to take steps ahead of time that will help you to make the most of your spectacular trip. If you have friends or family members who have been on an African safari or journey before, you could also ask them for tips and advice. After all, there is nothing quite like firsthand information.
Be prepared, choose your food wisely, and have safe travels.

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