Cottar’s Safaris is delighted to announce its new hosted safari experience: Cottar’s Culinary Safari. Launching in December 2025, this exclusive five-night epicurean safari adventure invites guests to experience the iconic Maasai Mara like never before, with a blend of gastronomy, culture, and wildlife at the award-winning Cottar’s 1920s Camp. Designed for culinary enthusiasts and adventurous spirits alike, this unique journey explores the art of wild foraging, celebrates authentic local flavours, and showcase traditional cooking techniques amidst the breathtaking African wilderness. With expertly guided wildlife experiences, enriching cultural interactions, and opportunities for meaningful engagement, this safari redefines luxury in the wild, offering a deep and lasting connection to the land, its people, and their unique culinary heritage.
Authenticity is key to everything at Cottar’s Safaris, and so at the heart of this extraordinary safari is internationally celebrated chef and Kenyan restaurateur Kiran Jethwa. Renowned for his expertise in bush foraging and wilderness cooking on hit shows such as Tales from The Bush Larder (Fox International), The Fearless Chef (National Geographic), and Chef Vs Wild (Disney Plus), Chef Kiran brings his passion for local ingredients and his distinctive culinary style to this adventure. A trained safari guide himself, Chef Kiran will lead guests on an unparalleled gastronomic journey, showcasing the natural bounty of Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes.
Joining Chef Kiran is Boniface Muhati, Head Chef at Cottar’s Safaris, whose training at South Africa’s prestigious Beau Constantia boutique wine farm and Maison restaurants brings an elevated approach to bush cuisine. Completing the team is Doug Nagi, Cottar’s Safaris’ esteemed Gold Level Guide and foraging expert, who will guide guests in discovering the edible treasures hidden within the African wilderness.
“Kenya’s landscape is a breathtaking treasure trove of unique, indigenous ingredients,” says Chef Kiran Jethwa. “I believe that food is the most authentic way to connect with a place, and this collaboration with Cottar’s Safaris is a celebration of that connection. Together, we’re crafting an epicurean safari rooted in Kenya’s cultural and natural heritage, bringing the true taste of the African bush to life.”
Cottar’s Culinary Safari is a set-departure experience offering an unparalleled blend of adventure, gastronomy, and cultural immersion. Spaces are limited, making this a truly exclusive opportunity to explore the Maasai Mara through its flavours, traditions, and stunning wilderness.
Highlights Include:
- Five Unique Dining and Immersive Experiences Curated by Chef Kiran Jethwa
- A Wild Forageable Feast: Spotlighting locally foraged ingredients, including herbs, roots, and bark, to craft dishes such as Whistling Thorn Berry and Wild Asparagus, and Red Water Bark Trifle. The evening is enriched by insights and storytelling from an il Dorobo forager-hunter.
- Dining in Competition with Baboons: A wild dining experience amongst the trees, celebrating seasonal foraged fruits of the Mara, paired with an insightful talk on baboon intelligence and social behaviour. Learn how the Maasai observed baboons to identify safe, edible plants, deepening our connection to these remarkable animals and their world.
- A Celebration of The Maasai: A unique lantern-lit, rustic dinner celebrating the Maasai people, their culture, and traditional flavours, using Maasai cooking techniques to create reimagined modern dishes.
- The Ultimate Bush Brunch: A wild bush feast centered around ostrich, offering a sensory culinary adventure.
- A 1920s Dinner Under the Stars: Blending historic African explorer recipes with epic stargazing and vintage safari flair.
- Cookery Demonstrations: Master safari cuisine infused with local flavours and outdoor cooking techniques.
- Maasai Cultural Experiences: Enjoy a unique meal using smoked flavours, inspired by the Maasai cattle and their cultural importance. Participate in Maasai warrior school visits, Maasai beading workshops, and storytelling from Letilet, an il Dorobo forager-hunter.
- Wild Foraging: Discover edible plants and learn how to incorporate them as ingredients.
- Wildlife Encounters: Explore the Maasai Mara and Cottar’s Safaris’ private conservancy with expert Gold Level guides.
- Seedball Reforestation: Participate in hands-on reforestation efforts through seedball throwing to restore ecosystems.
- Bush Walks & Stargazing: Explore the wilderness on foot and marvel at the vast African night sky, free from light pollution.
- Cultural Connections: Authentic interactions with the Maasai people, one of Africa’s most iconic cultures.
- Coffee-Tasting: Sample some of East Africa’s finest freshly brewed highland coffee.
