Taste of the Wild
Culinary Safari

Thomson Safaris staff will meet you at the airport via your Delta/KLM flight and transfer you to your comfortable lodge.

Take a brief, scenic flight to a private nature refuge in the Eastern Serengeti. As you journey to camp, your guides will give you a brief history of the 12,000-acre refuge. Enjoy wildlife viewing along the way, one of the tangible results of conservation efforts in the area. Giraffe, eland, dik dik, ostrich, leopard and even wild dog can be seen in this unique wildlife haven, dubbed "Giraffic Park" by one enthusiastic Thomson guest. This afternoon, stretch your legs on a brief but scenic walk (a luxury not available in the national parks). A local wildlife scout will accompany you and your guide, pointing out nearby wildlife. Enjoy a welcome dinner at camp this evening.

Rise early for a morning hike out into the refuge. Being out on the plains on foot at this time of day is magical. Next, you’ll visit a number of local community development projects including a primary school for Maasai children and a medical dispensary focusing on maternal care. After lunch you will learn more about the extraordinary culture of the Maasai by visiting a nearby boma just as young warriors return home with their herds. This evening at your Nyumba, the camp chefs will put on a cooking demonstration culminating in a traditional Tanzanian meal. Those interested in continuing their adventure can participate in a night wildlife drive by infrared spotlight to locate nocturnal animals like bat-eared fox and aardvark.

On your way out of the Eastern Serengeti, you’ll meet members of the Enjipai Women’s Group, formed by a small group of Maasai women with a great entrepreneurial spirit. Guests can support their community initiatives by purchasing elaborately beaded jewelry. As you journey into the heart of Serengeti National Park, you’ll be able to spot loads of wildlife. The big cats often spend these hours lying drowsily on the granite outcroppings of rock (also known as kopjes) that dot the plains, or up in a tree, while antelope, zebra, giraffe and other animals continue to graze.

The Serengeti, Tanzania's second largest national park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and riverine forests. Safari goers in search of big cats will be astounded by the large prides of lion as well as resident leopard and cheetah. Other commonly seen animals include gazelle, buffalo, giraffe, topi, hartebeest, ostrich, and jackal, but it is the full diversity of wildlife and habitats that you will truly find amazing.

Most of us know about the “Great Migration” from nature programs that capture some of the most thrilling moments on film. Often misunderstood, the migration is a perpetual, year-round process involving nearly 3 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle who roam the plains, in search of food and water. In the green season, vast herds will converge on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti. Thousands of pregnant female wildebeest will drop their calves in what is known as the world’s largest mass birthing event. This the best time of year to see large herds, as well as large prides of lion with their cubs. This area is also home to the largest concentration of leopard and cheetah in Africa. After a full day of wildlife viewing you will return to camp where Chef Jody will work with the local chefs to produce delicious small plates using rustic technologies and fresh local ingredients. Part of what makes the food experience on safari so special is the fact that all camps are located off the grid and do not feature full-time electricity or modern kitchen appliances.

This morning, enjoy one last wildlife drive in the Serengeti as you make your way to the airtrip. Board a private charter flight to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Upon arrival, you will be met and driven to the award-winning Gibbs Farm. Settle into your rooms, take a walk, enjoy tea on your veranda, or simply relax with your travel companions.

Today, enjoy a full day of optional activities at Gibbs Farm. Lauded as a three-time Travel + Leisure Top Safari Lodge in Africa, part of the allure of Gibb's Farm is that guests have access to over 60 acres available to explore on foot. Tour the herb and vegetable gardens. Hike through expansive coffee fields. Visit with the Artists in Residence who live and work on the farm. Book an optional spa service (advanced reservation and extra fees apply) with the Maasai healers, who infuse modern and traditional techniques into their therapies. Or just find a scenic spot to relax and watch the day go by. This is the good life!

Gibb’s Farm consists of 30 acres of coffee, 10 acres of vegetables and fruit, 5 acres of flowers and herbs and a working dairy and pig farm and today you will become a participant in the rhythm of farm life. Rise early and join chefs on their daily ritual to harvest fresh, organic vegetables for the day’s meals. Later this morning, divide into smaller groups and get ready to get your hands dirty as you join Jody in the kitchen. Today’s gourmet lunch will be a culmination of the talent, passion, and cultural experiences to celebrate your Tanzanian adventure. The remainder of the day can be spent as you wish.

Early this morning, you’ll depart for Ngorongoro Crater, a self-contained ecosystem teeming with wildlife. Often called “Africa’s Eden,” this caldera is one of the few places on earth where it is possible to see all of the Big Five in just one day. And that’s just the beginning: baboons and warthog in the Lerai Forest, hundreds of brilliantly pink flamingo around Lake Magadi, and clusters of wildebeest and zebra call this ecological wonder home. At the end of the day, return to Gibbs Farm where you and your new friends will gather around the tembo fire, an open-air sitting area nestled at the foot of the organic gardens. Tonight you will relax and enjoy a farewell dinner prepared by the talented Gibb’s Farm chefs.

Rise early to take in the delightful chorus of songbirds from your verandah before heading back to Arusha. During a special farewell lunch at River House, you will have time to say goodbye to your safari companions and visit the heartwarming Shanga workshop. This socially conscious business creates new jobs and a sense of purpose for disabled local people who had few, if any, employment opportunities elsewhere. As the employees learn new skills, they are able to become active members of the community and make contributions to their families' wellbeing. Transfer to a day room so you can freshen up and enjoy a light snack before your evening flight home.