Food on Safari

26 June 2007, 05:34

Paul C

Food on Safari

Now that we are totally fired up about going to Tanzania, my oldest son, who can probably eat an entire tri-tip on his own, is asking about what he will be eating on safari. From what I have seen posted a lot of grilled meats are par for the course.
What other items can be expected during the course of a safari. I know a lot depends on the chef in camp.

Paul C

26 June 2007, 05:40

billinthewild

Grubs, beetle larvae, snakes, filet of anteater and buffalo balls if you are lucky.

26 June 2007, 06:01

yukon delta

You can make requests of course. Also, depends on what was shot just before you arrive and while you are there. I just let each night be a surprise and tried to eat some local dishes.

26 June 2007, 06:47

<Hunter Formerly Known As Texas Hunter>

My experience has been excellent fare. You also will likely be able to make reasonable requests. Great meals are part of the african safari experience. They will spoil you.

26 June 2007, 06:49

1115

Don't worry so much about what you are going to eat, just make sure that nothing eats you.

26 June 2007, 07:20

Allout

Just thank the heavens you aren't going with Ganyana. If you were the diet would consist of sodza once a day - usually at 10 at night, and anything you are lucky enough to kill!!! I had to shoot an elephant I was so hungry...

Oh - and you may be lucky to get a cold pork pie once or twice for lunch...

All in good fun...
Brian

26 June 2007, 07:28

vapodog

quote:
If you were the diet would consist of sodza once a day

....corn meal I believe!

I was so damn hungry after runnibg all over the place all day long that it didn't make any difference what they served.....But I agree.....they will spoil you...the food is typically spectacular.

We had lamb often as well as Gemsbok and Eland!

26 June 2007, 11:52

NitroX

I enjoyed an entree of snails a couple of times in Namibia.

26 June 2007, 15:55

JudgeG

Many camps in Tanzania will make sure that the wonderful seafood available in Dar is flown in on your charter. You might have prawns, snapper or clawless lobster (at least the first few days when it is fresh!).

The PH that I will be hunting with has sent his chef to cooking schools in the off season.

Expect the best!

26 June 2007, 15:56

Die Ou Jagter

You will find more veggies (usually 4 or 5 each meal) than most americans are use to, but that doesn't mean there won't be meat, there will be plenty. I have never gotten up from the table hungry while on safari in fact I always gain weight whilst in Africa.

26 June 2007, 17:49

Muletrain

We were asked what we wanted for dinner and requested tacos. Very interesting what was set on the sideboard that evening. It was not tacos but sort of looked like tacos.

Next night we asked for chicken fried steak and white gravy. We got Snitzel which is just about the same thing as chicken fried steak.

26 June 2007, 17:59

yukon delta

We didn't have that many veggies in our meals. It seemed more balanced than that. You will probably see a good amount of fruit which is nice. Also, the desserts were different than what I usually eat. That is one of the few things I remember eating less of...the PH turned down a couple too. I'm sure they were fine but I'm not a big custard/flan eater.

26 June 2007, 18:18

PSmith

The food at my camp was always great, except maybe for the mopane worms.

Paul Smith
SCI Life Member
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I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery
I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas"

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26 June 2007, 19:27

MARK H. YOUNG

Paul,

If you are hunting Masailand as you previously mentioned you'll probably have a pretty standard western diet with perhaps a little English, Indian or Greek influence. Basically you'll have meat, veggies and starch. I kind of like to let them cook whatever they want and then be surprised. Generally you can count on the food being excellent and plentiful.

Mark

26 June 2007, 19:37

SBT

In Masailand we did not experience any of the seafood that is prevalant in the camps serviced out of Dar. We had a lot of game meat which was excellent and as Mark said, there tended to be an English and Indian influence.

Some of my favorites included buffalo tongue, buffalo oysters and "ox" tail soup. The only thing I didn't like was what they thought was tuna. It tasted like canned mackrel.

26 June 2007, 20:00

Michael Robinson

In Tanzania, we have eaten like royalty. All of the meat was from the game we killed - and some fish and prawns were mixed in as well.

In the mornings, we have had fried or scrambled eggs, bacon or venison steak, fried potatoes and onions, grilled tomatoes and, of course, Africafe.

For lunch, boiled eggs, sardines, sandwiches, green salads, grilled warthog tenderloin in orange, mustard and garlic marinade, iced tea, etc.

For dinner, red snapper, prawns, and a lot of venison - spaghetti bolognese with ground cape buffalo tenderloin, hartebeest, kudu, zebra, impala, reedbuck, wildebeest and cape buffalo steaks - with potatoes or rice and vegetables, including salads.

We have had some good desserts, too. I particularly liked the fried banana eclairs.

All accompanied by excellent St. Emilion and Pommard Bordeaux. And served on china and in crystal by waiters dressed in white, with red bowties and cummerbunds.

This is the absolute truth. Right in the middle of Selous Game Reserve nowhere, where everything must be flown in by charter plane.

But of course, our outfitter is French, and the French do know food. Just the memories are making me hungry.

26 June 2007, 20:09

MARK H. YOUNG

Now that SBT has mentioned it I think what they called turkey had to be something else. Not terrible but tough and stringy. I'd avoid the puff adder if offered also but I don't think that is normally on the menu. We had it for an appetizer and it was quite nasty. Tasted like bad fish.

Mark

26 June 2007, 20:20

drwes

Food was excellent in our camp. The meat was always from animals shot while on safari prepared numerous ways. They did a lot of what I would call Dutch oven cooking. Stews in heavy cast pots with potatoes and veggies. I actually lost 10 pounds but ate more than I do when I am home. Very little greasy food, and no fast foods plus your activity level will be much higher. I never left the table remotely hungry or dissapointed. After 5 days of blue wildebeast we did ask to try something else and he, [owner/Ph] let us shoot a cow kudu for camp with no fee associated with it which was very good. The Eland we ate was also very good, like heavy aged beef. We always had biltong available for snacks while in camp or in the field as well. We had appetizers before dinner while enjoying a sundowner. The quality of the food was a very pleasant surprise.

26 June 2007, 21:04

Jarrod

quote:
Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Paul,

If you are hunting Masailand as you previously mentioned you'll probably have a pretty standard western diet with perhaps a little English, Indian or Greek influence. Basically you'll have meat, veggies and starch. I kind of like to let them cook whatever they want and then be surprised. Generally you can count on the food being excellent and plentiful.

Mark

Although I haven't been on a safari yet, this would be my take on it. I would let them cook whatever and suprise. To me it would be no fun to request something that I already know.

26 June 2007, 23:58

Die Ou Jagter

As to meat I always ask for venison but sometimes it is not possible. I did have back strap from bait Zebra which was snitzel like (much better than chicken fried)

, the chef did my Leopard and Waterbuck in a like manner. They served a wedge of lemon with the Zebra and it was better that way than any other way I have had Zebra.

27 June 2007, 00:07

Dogleg

I found food to be excellent, with a high ratio of native game. Soft cooked bacon and what passed for coffee were the exceptions.

27 June 2007, 00:07

hikerbum

While hunting in Namibia, our food was fantastic. Always way more than we could possibly eat. Usually 2 or 3 types of meat each meal, with 4 or 5 different vegetables ( I include potatoes, squash, etc here).

I was very surprised that we had a great variety of dishes with pumpkin in them. Breads, cakes, etc. Very nice.

Lunches were usually cold sandwhiches, and were very tasty. Again, more than we needed.

Breakfast was usually a quick biscuit, coffee, etc. Why waste early morning hunting time.

27 June 2007, 00:39

bulldog563

quote:
Originally posted by mrlexma:
In Tanzania, we have eaten like royalty. All of the meat was from the game we killed - and some fish and prawns were mixed in as well.

In the mornings, we have had fried or scrambled eggs, bacon or venison steak, fried potatoes and onions, grilled tomatoes and, of course, Africafe.

For lunch, boiled eggs, sardines, sandwiches, green salads, grilled warthog tenderloin in orange, mustard and garlic marinade, iced tea, etc.

For dinner, red snapper, prawns, and a lot of venison - spaghetti bolognese with ground cape buffalo tenderloin, hartebeest, kudu, zebra, impala, reedbuck, wildebeest and cape buffalo steaks - with potatoes or rice and vegetables, including salads.

We have had some good desserts, too. I particularly liked the fried banana eclairs.

All accompanied by excellent St. Emilion and Pommard Bordeaux. And served on china and in crystal by waiters dressed in white, with red bowties and cummerbunds.

This is the absolute truth. Right in the middle of Selous Game Reserve nowhere, where everything must be flown in by charter plane.

But of course, our outfitter is French, and the French do know food. Just the memories are making me hungry.

Damn MR, you are making me hungry!

27 June 2007, 01:38

Doyle Hufstedler

Freshly prepared game dishes are the centerpiece of most meals, complimented by a daily variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Brunch â€“ pancakes, Impala Liver, Warthog chops, eggs, sliced tomatoes, fresh fruit, Juice, bottled water, Coffee, Tea.

27 June 2007, 03:09

Use Enough Gun

Your son will not go hungry.

27 June 2007, 05:56

Paul C

Sniper - I wish my wife would set a table like the pic you sent. Then again I wish I had a house maid that looked like Salma Hayek!!! I am sure that my boys will not go hungry.

Paul C

27 June 2007, 06:02

Paul C

Yeah, there is something about Salma that really gets the blood surging. Now if she could get a PH license in Tanzania well....

27 June 2007, 06:18

PostDriver

Mmmmmmm ... eland biltong with sundowners.

On my first safari, one evening we had a bread pudding for dessert with an absolutely wonderful white sauce. My buddy and I both remarked it was so good we'd eat it for breakfast. Guess what ?

We also described pineapple upside down cake to the chef (one of my absolute favorites). The next evening, voila! there it was.

You'll eat well, suffice it to say.

27 June 2007, 20:01

cewe

Sniper: Did you have to post that? Not only did you make me hungry but also homesick! Amandas cooking -and especially the sweet corn and pumpkins- are superb!

So youÂ´re off in three months time? Lucky b-----d!

27 June 2007, 20:34

h kittle

Ok, I am probably taking the bait. Could anyone post a picture os Salma?

27 June 2007, 23:50

Atkinson

At Pierre van Tonders camps in Tanzania you get Crab, Lobster, shrimp, every kind of soup imaginable, salad, game meat, and my very favorite is Annali Van Tonders Ox tail soup (made from buffalo tail), its to kill for...The cook was trained in Italy for about 5 years, so you get some good Pizza and Italian food also..

Lots of veggies, and about 15 loaves of hot fresh bread is cooked every morning..

wines, bottled water, bottled water ice, several beers and sodas of all kinds are available at all times...coffee, tea,

Hot chili peppers and hot salsa etc.

Breakfast is bacon, ham and eggs anyway you want them, jelly and of course that brown meat stuff in a jar that all Africans dote on, I have over the years gotten to where I like it, how I will never understand.

Various deserts to follow...

Napoleon once said a hunter survives on his stomach or something like that!

28 June 2007, 01:00

M70Nut

Salma, simple but absolutely gorgeous!

28 June 2007, 01:24

Bill C

The food I enjoyed on both my trips to Tanzania was fabulous, and it would be easy to gain weight. Have the chef prepare extra quantities of the main dishes for your boys, plus cooler box [truck] snacks and they will be all set.

You guys mean this Salma? What's the big deal?

28 June 2007, 02:07

Brain1

Melons come to mind.

28 June 2007, 10:42

Blair338/378

quote:
Originally posted by mrlexma:
In Tanzania, we have eaten like royalty. All of the meat was from the game we killed - and some fish and prawns were mixed in as well.

In the mornings, we have had fried or scrambled eggs, bacon or venison steak, fried potatoes and onions, grilled tomatoes and, of course, Africafe.

For lunch, boiled eggs, sardines, sandwiches, green salads, grilled warthog tenderloin in orange, mustard and garlic marinade, iced tea, etc.

For dinner, red snapper, prawns, and a lot of venison - spaghetti bolognese with ground cape buffalo tenderloin, hartebeest, kudu, zebra, impala, reedbuck, wildebeest and cape buffalo steaks - with potatoes or rice and vegetables, including salads.

We have had some good desserts, too. I particularly liked the fried banana eclairs.

All accompanied by excellent St. Emilion and Pommard Bordeaux. And served on china and in crystal by waiters dressed in white, with red bowties and cummerbunds.

This is the absolute truth. Right in the middle of Selous Game Reserve nowhere, where everything must be flown in by charter plane.

But of course, our outfitter is French, and the French do know food. Just the memories are making me hungry.

The food can be great and the wine, well Sonja Kibble kept raiding her cellar to show me the superiorty of SA wines to Australian

And she insisted on using Riedel stemware, as they are a good German product!

I remained "unconvinced" until the end of the hunt