One of the questions Jewish families understandably ask before booking a safari is not about the lions.

It is about the kitchen.

In a remote African camp, how can you feel confident that meat and dairy will remain properly separated, especially when your family is relying on a team that may not routinely cater to kosher guests?

The answer begins long before you arrive.

Kosher arrangements are planned in advance with the camp, lodge, chefs, and suppliers. Where required, kosher meat can be sourced through established kosher suppliers such as Moishe’s Butchery in South Africa or, depending on the destination, through Chabad communities and kosher networks in East Africa.

The important distinction is that this is not left to chance once you reach camp.

Dedicated preparation procedures can be established for your stay, with meat and dairy kept separate and appropriate utensils, cookware, serving equipment, storage, and preparation areas arranged according to the level of kashrut your family requires.

For families observing a stricter standard, those requirements are discussed before the itinerary is confirmed. The goal is simple: you should know what has been arranged before boarding your flight, rather than having to negotiate kosher details beside a camp kitchen in the African bush.

That preparation continues through Shabbat.

Meals can be planned around sundown, fresh challah arranged in advance, kosher wine prepared for Friday evening, and the camp experience paced so that your family can observe Shabbat with privacy and dignity.

There is something reassuring about sitting down to dinner beneath an African sky and not having to wonder what happened behind the kitchen door.

You already asked the important questions.

They were answered before you arrived.

And now you can concentrate on what brought you to Africa in the first place: your family, the wilderness beyond the lanterns, and the rare luxury of being completely present together.

Kosher food in Africa is certified by the Beth Din of South Africa which is the Jewish religious court responsible for ensuring that food and other products meet the standards of Jewish dietary laws.

Stainless steel pots and pans are boiled and torched clean between each meal or for a nominal fee new pots, pans, plates, and cutlery/flatware will be supplied and be inspected by you when you check into the safari lodge or camp, or if you prefer you can bring in your own pots & pans.  After every use, they are washed in a special designated area.  During your stay, you are more than welcome to inspect the kitchen to ensure you are pleased with how your meals are being prepared.

Deluxe Option

At our approved Kosher Safari Lodges, Pareve meals will be prepared fresh on-site by chefs who have been trained in kosher catering, and at your request, kosher milk products as well as kosher meat from a Mehadrin Commission Kosher Butchery will be brought in.

Private & Exclusive

A Mashgiach who is Shomer Shabbat and has completed the Mashgiach kashrut course will be flown into the safari lodge.  If the lodge doesn't have a dedicated kosher kitchen, he will set up a temporary separated kitchen with new cooking utensils & equipment as well as import the Kosher approved ingredients including Chalav Yisrael & Mehadrin meat as well as shabbos candles and fragrance for havdalah.  He will supervise all the cooking.

If needed we can also get a private Jewish Kosher chef from a recognized kashrut authority to accompany him.  Both of them are very involved in the Jewish community in South Africa and work with full permission of their overseeing Rabbi. 

Shabbat While On Safari:

For all lodges & camps that we recommend Eruv is key, so we ensure the lodges/camps we select are on enclosed grounds.  To avoid elevators we book rooms at lower levels as well ensuring they don’t have electric pass keys or they are electronically disconnected during Shabbat.

To ensure compliance with Jewish dietary laws Shabbat dinner and lunch are cooked before Shabbat starts. A stove or grill with a blech or an oven will be used to keep food warm over Shabbat.

Hot water for tea or coffee over Shabbat will be boiled and preserved in flasks.

Activities during Shabbat

Whenever available we will select kosher safari Lodges that have watering holes where animals visit and from the comfort of your chair, you will have a wildlife viewing experience during Shabbat.  Another option during Shabbat is to have a Walking Safari in the Masai Mara or Serengeti escorted by an armed guard