Dining with Elephants: Culinary Adventures at Makubi Safari Camp
Tucked deep within the wild embrace of Nyerere National Park, Makubi Safari Camp is not just a place to sleep under canvas or watch wildlife - it’s a destination where food, culture, and nature converge in unforgettable harmony. The park itself is a marvel: Tanzania’s largest national park and one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife sanctuaries. Here, the Rufiji River meanders through sun-scorched grasslands, elephants wander freely, hyraxes scurry among rocky outcrops, and ancient baobab trees stretch their limbs toward the wide blue sky.
At the heart of Makubi is Tendekayi Guni, or Tende as he’s known to many - a member of the African Private Guides Network (APGN). Tende wears many hats: he’s not only a seasoned safari guide but also the owner and chef of Makubi Safari Camp. His unique approach fuses hospitality, culinary tradition, and conservation into one seamless experience.
A Kitchen Rooted in Culture
Tende’s culinary vision draws deeply from Tanzanian and Swahili heritage, with dishes that are as soulful as the land they come from. At Makubi, food is more than fuel - it’s storytelling. Meals are crafted using local ingredients like cloves and coriander seeds, spices historically vital to Tanzania’s role in the global spice trade. One of the camp’s signature dishes, the Buddha salad, celebrates wild and indigenous ingredients like mchicha (local spinach), okra, and roasted pumpkin, all brought together with a dressing made of tangy baobab fruit, honey, and a medley of native spices.
The camp works closely with local farmers and foragers to source seasonal produce, from sun-sweetened tropical fruits to wild greens gathered from the surrounding bush. Guests are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and participate in the cooking process - learning traditional techniques, hearing stories behind the ingredients, and building real connections with the people and culture behind the meals.
Nature as Your Dining Room
Every meal at Makubi is thoughtfully staged to honor the wilderness around it. You might start your day with breakfast in the camp’s open-air restaurant as birdsong echoes from the trees. Evenings bring the warmth of a boma dinner - a fireside feast beneath the stars where stories are shared, and the rhythms of the bush form the evening’s soundtrack. For those seeking intimacy, a private sunset meal by the lake offers serenity, solitude, and a view that stretches into forever.
During the dry season, Makubi offers a rare and magical experience: meals set beside watering holes where elephants come to drink at dusk. Imagine dining just meters from these gentle giants, their quiet presence adding a wild and humbling punctuation to your evening.
A Truly Tanzanian Experience
Makubi Safari Camp isn’t just a lodge - it’s a living, breathing celebration of Tanzanian land, people, and flavors. With Tende at the helm, guests are invited not only to observe the wilderness but to become part of it, one slow-cooked stew and one sunset at a time.
Whether you’re drawn to the wildlife, the food, or the people, Makubi offers an authentic and immersive safari experience—one where the landscape feeds you in every possible way.