Cottar's Safaris, a Kenyan-based, family-run safari operator, has announced a new epicurean safari experience launching in December 2025. The five-night program will combine wildlife viewing with high-end gastronomy and cultural experiences in the Masai Mara region.
Celebrity chef Kiran Jethwa, known for popular Kenyan television shows, including "Tales From The Bush Larder" and "Chef Vs Wild," will lead the culinary programming alongside Cottar's head chef Boniface Muhati and Doug Nagi, a gold level guide with the operator.
The itinerary includes five signature dining experiences featuring foraged ingredients, bush cooking demonstrations and traditional Masai cuisine. Guests will participate in guided foraging expeditions, wildlife viewing and cultural activities with Masai communities.
Masai-inspired meals
There are five dining experiences that have been curated by Jethwa, a native Kenyan:
• 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 will also feature storytelling from an il Dorobo forager-hunter.
• Dining in Competition with Baboons: A wild dining experience among the trees, celebrating seasonal foraged fruits of the Mara paired with an insightful talk on baboon intelligence and social behavior. 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 Masai: A lantern-lit, rustic dinner celebrating the Masai people, their culture and traditional flavors, using Masai 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 historical African explorer recipes with epic stargazing and vintage safari flair.
Accommodations at Cottar’s 1920s Camp in Kenya. Photo Credit: Cottar's Safaris
The program, scheduled for Dec. 9 to 14, 2025, will be based at the company's 1920s Camp. Activities include wildlife drives, bush walks, stargazing and conservation initiatives such as seedball reforestation. Cultural activities feature Maasai warrior school visits, beading workshops, and sessions with traditional forager-hunters.
Pricing starts at $7,420 per person based on double occupancy, with a single supplement of $1,135. The departure requires a minimum of 12 guests to operate, with a maximum of four single travelers.
The package includes full-board accommodations and all scheduled activities. Commission-able bookings are available through Cottars Safaris' website. Travel advisors can contact the company directly for detailed itineraries and booking support. To book, contact Cottar's Safaris.