Food, Drinks & Water

Meals on safari

• Breakfast at the lodge, or a packed breakfast for early starts.
• Lunch at the lodge, or a picnic lunch in the park so you can spend the whole day exploring.
• A three-course dinner at the lodge or camp, often with a choice of dishes.

Local dishes to try

• Ugali: a firm maize porridge, eaten with stew or greens.
• Nyama choma: grilled meat, the classic East African celebration food.
• Pilau: rice cooked with spices from the coast.
• Chipsi mayai: a chips omelette, the favourite street snack.
• Zanzibar seafood and spices: octopus curry, grilled fish and the night food market at Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town.

Drinking water

Do not drink tap water. Bottled mineral water is available everywhere and is usually provided in our safari vehicles. Many lodges now offer filtered water to refill your own bottle, which cuts plastic waste. Use bottled or filtered water for brushing your teeth, too.

Avoiding an upset stomach

• Eat freshly cooked, hot food, especially in your first few days.
• Be careful with cold buffets, salads and peeled fruit at roadside stops.
• Wash or sanitise your hands before eating.
• In general, better-run lodges and restaurants have better food hygiene.

Drinks

Good local beers (such as Kilimanjaro, Safari and Serengeti), soft drinks and fresh juices are sold everywhere. Imported wines and spirits are available in hotels and lodges but can be expensive. Your quote shows whether drinks are included.

Dietary needs

Vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free and other diets can be catered for with notice. Tell us when you book and we will inform every lodge, camp and mountain cook on your itinerary. Please also tell us about any food allergies.