Cottar’s Safaris, a family-run safari operator based in Kenya, has announced the launch of a new gastronomic safari experience in December 2025. The five-night program will combine wildlife viewing with exquisite gastronomy and cultural experiences of the Masai Mara region.
Celebrity chef Kiran Jethwa, known for popular Kenyan TV shows such as “Tales From The Bush Larder” and “Chef Vs Wild,” will lead the cooking program alongside Cottar’s executive chef Boniface Muhati and operator Doug Nagi, a gold-level guide.
The itinerary includes five signature dining experiences featuring foraged ingredients, bush cooking demonstrations and traditional Maasai cuisine. Guests will participate in guided hunting expeditions, wildlife viewing and cultural activities with the Maasai community.
Maasai-inspired meal
Here are five dining experiences curated by Kenyan native Jethwa.
• Wild Forageable Feast: Spotlight on locally foraged ingredients such as herbs, roots and bark to create dishes such as whistling thorn fruit, wild asparagus and red water bark trifle. In the evening, you can also hear the stories of il Dorobo hunter-gatherers.
• Competitive Dining with Baboons: A wild dining experience among the trees, celebrating the seasonal fruits of the Mara along with insightful conversations about the intelligence and social behavior of baboons. Learn how the Masai observe their baboons to identify safe and edible plants and deepen our relationship with these amazing animals and their world.
• Maasai Celebration: A simple, lantern-lit dinner celebrating the Maasai people, their culture and traditional flavors by creating modern dishes recreated using Maasai cooking techniques.
• Ultimate Bush Brunch: A wild bush feast centered around ostriches for a sensational culinary adventure.
• Dinner Under the Stars in the 1920s: Combining the recipes of historic African explorers with epic stargazing and vintage safari flair.
Accommodation in Cottar’s 1920s camp in Kenya. Photo credit: Cottar’s Safaris
The program, scheduled for December 9-14, 2025, is based on the company’s 1920s camps. Activities include conservation efforts such as wildlife drives, forest walks, stargazing and seed reforestation. Cultural activities include visits to Maasai warrior schools, beadwork workshops and sessions with traditional hunter-gatherers.
Prices start at $7,420 per person for double occupancy, with an additional cost of $1,135 per person. A minimum of 12 guests is required to depart, with a maximum of 4 single travelers.
The package includes full-board accommodation and all scheduled activities. Commissionable bookings can be made through the Cottars Safaris website. Travel advisors can contact the company directly for detailed itinerary and reservation assistance. Contact Cottar’s Safaris to make reservations.
