Your options for Kosher Safaris in Africa

By - Jo Wagner
02.06.17 01:55 AM

Kosher Safaris in Africa is very challenging and something that should be handled only by the professionals.

1)  Tanzania

Tarangire National Park; its here where the long-distance migration of wildebeest and zebra starts. The sandy endless plains of the Serengeti disturbed annually by millions of hooves of the migrating masses of animals. Ngorongoro Conservation area west of Tarangire is an inactive volcano with a 600m deep filled in caldera. Here the Masai lion is king. Zanzibar an archipelago off the east coast of Tanzania where Africa’s rarest primate the red colobus – a type of monkey – survives. Stone Town designated a UNESCO heritage is the oldest historic part of Zanzibar City the capital of Zanzibar.

Arrive and depart Kilimanjaro International airport. Zanzibar has its own international airport

Level of Kosher available:

Kosher style are prepared in separate kitchens, with Glatt Kosher approved ingredients flown into the country from South Africa. All kosher meals prepared by trained local staff. Guests are invited to turn on ovens, light fires and inspect the kitchens. Mashgiachs and Jewish Chefs can be flown in from South Africa at an additional cost to prepare kosher meal. If you are with a pre-arranged group, a Mashgiach and Jewish chef is included in the package price.

Since no Shuls are available in Tanzania Shabbos is planned for in advance at one of the camps where you do not need transport to see animals from a waterhole or a viewing site. Delicious Kiddush wines, Challa breads and Shabbos meals are pre ordered.

2) Kenya and Tanzania combination

Masai Mara on the border of Tanzania the hunting grounds of the Masai lion, Tanzanian cheetah and African leopard that are after wildebeest, Thompson’s gazelle and Zebra. Amboseli National Park is famous for its elephants, leopards and lions; and great views of Mount Kilimanjaro Nairobi National Park. Traditional African Safaris in the Serengeti, Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta international airport is the best airport to arrive and Kilimanjaro International airport to depart from.

Level of Kosher available:

Kosher style are prepared in separate kitchens, with Glatt Kosher approved ingredients flown into the country from South Africa. All kosher meals prepared by trained local staff. Guests are invited to turn on ovens, light fires and inspect the kitchens. Mashgiachs and Jewish Chefs can be flown in from South Africa at an additional cost to prepare the kosher meals. If you are with a pre arranged group, a Mashgiach and Jewish chef is included in the package price.

There is a small Shul in Nairobi for Shabbos and hotels are across the road or within safe walking distance. Delicious Kiddush wines, Challa breads and Shabbos meals are pre-ordered.

3) Botswana

The best of land based and waterways safaris. Experience the annual spectacular filling of the Okavango Delta. Explore countless waterways using the traditional mokoro. The central island of the Delta Moremi has some amazing lodges. Savute and Chobe northeast of the Delta is great 4×4 country with the largest elephant herds in Africa. East on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is the stupendous Victoria Falls offering some awesome white water rafting.

Maun is the best airport to arrive and Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to depart.

Level of Kosher available:

Generally it’s easier to do Parev only in Zimbabwe or Zambia, because you generally stay for 1 or 2 nights. Importation of Mehadrin commission meat and Cholov Yisrael dairy is quite a challenge due to import restrictions.

Botswana offers Fleischik and Milchik meals in a handful of camps with mobile Kosher style kitchens in separated areas prepared by trained chefs.

No Shuls are available in Botswana, Zimbabwe or Zambia, but Shabbos is planned for in advance at one of the camps where you do not need transport to see animals from a waterhole or a viewing site. Delicious Kiddush wines, Challa breads and Shabbos meals pre-ordered.

4) Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park attracts +/- 2 million visitors annually. It has an amazing variety of animals including +/- 2 000 Lions, 13 000 Elephants, 40 000 Buffalos, 1 000 Leopards, 30 000 Zebras, 11 000 Wildebeest, and 160 000 Impala. Southern and central areas are best for open plain viewing whilst elephants are found in numbers in the hilly north.

Private safari areas bordering on the park: Sabi Sands (south), Timbavati, Thornybush. Manyeleti and Kapama, Karongwe and Klaserie (central). Other excellent private Concessions include Singita Lebombo and Singita Sweni; Hoyo Hoyo and Imbali. Private Concessions within the southern section park: Jock Safari Lodge, Kruger Pioneer Camp, Lukimbi, Rhino Post Lodge, Lion Sands.

Nelspruit, Skukuza, Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa are the best airports for arrival and departure with Fedair direct to lodge airstrips.

Level of Kosher available:

Kosher style available in separate kitchens, with Glatt Kosher approved ingredients delivered by cold truck to some lodges. Meals can be made by trained local staff, and you are invited to turn on ovens, light fires and inspect the Kosher style kitchens yourself. Mashgiachs and Jewish Chefs can also drive up from Johannesburg ( 5 hours drive), at an additional cost. If you are with a pre arranged group a Mashgiach and/or Jewish chef is included in the package price.

No Shuls are available in or around Kruger but you can easily fly back to Johannesburg on a Friday afternoon and stay in various accommodations within the Jewish communities till Sunday morning.

If spending Shabbos at a lodge, it is planned for in advance at one of the camps where you do not need transport to see animals from a waterhole or a viewing site, or you can go on a bushwalk over Shabbos, without needing to use a vehicle to get to the starting point. Delicious Kiddush wines, Challa breads and Shabbos meals pre-ordered.

5) Madikwe Game reserve

Located on the transition zone between Bushveld and Kalahari. A recent 1991 addition to the many reserves it does not require 4×4 vehicles. Madikwe is Big 5 country with the Kalahari lions, black and white rhinos, African Buffalos, Cheetahs, Leopards, Elephants and the spotted hyena. Madikwe’s secret is the rare African Wild Dog. It’s a malaria free park and close enough to the major centre of Johannesburg/Pretoria to drive within 3 ½ hours. Royal Madikwe, Etali, Makayane, Motswiri and Madikwe Hills Sarai Lodges are all top class lodges to choose from.

Depart from Lanseria Airport and arrive at airstrips south and north of Madikwe.

Alternatively fly to and from Gaborone and use Fedair direct into lodge airstrips.

Level of Kosher available:

Kosher style available in separate kitchens, with Glatt Kosher approved ingredients delivered by cold truck to some lodges. Meals can be made by local staff, and you are invited to turn on ovens, light fires and inspect the Kosher style kitchens yourself. Mashgiachs and Jewish Chefs can also drive up from Johannesburg (3 ½ hours drive), at an additional cost. If you are with a pre arranged group a Mashgiach and/or Jewish chef is included in the package price.

No Shuls are available in or around Madikwe but you can easily travel back to Johannesburg on a Friday afternoon and stay in various accommodations within the Jewish communities till Sunday morning.

If spending Shabbos at a lodge, it is planned for in advance at one of the camps where you do not need transport to see animals from a waterhole or a viewing site, or you can go on a bushwalk over Shabbos, without needing to use a vehicle to get to the starting point. Delicious Kiddush wines, Challa breads and Shabbos meals pre ordered.

6) Eastern Cape Game reserves around Addo elephant National Park

The extended Addo makes it the 3rd largest National Park in South Africa. It includes the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape. Malaria free area and child friendly short drives to encounter black rhino, lion, Cape buffalo and plenty of elephants.

Private reserves bordering on Addo are Amakhala, Kariega and Pumba Game reserves as well as Kuzuko Game Lodge. Some interesting lodges include the 4 star Dung Beetle River Lodge, Elephants Footprint Lodge and Happy Jackal Guest House.

Port Elizabeth and East London airports are the best to arrive and depart

Level of Kosher available:

Pre-made Kosher meals flown into the lodges from Cape Town, with a Beth Din / Rabbinic supervision seal, meals are reheated and served with unbroken seals at the table, with disposable cutlery.

Some lodges are offering a basic Parev Kosher solution, with new pots and pans, and made in a non Kosher stove, but double sealed with tinfoil. Some possibilities exist on new barbeque grids, to make Kosher meat on an open fire, and served on brand new plates, if you would like some Kosher meat added to the menu.

We are currently working on setting up a completely separate mobile Kosher style kitchen that will be able to raise the level of Kosher compliance if you want all the meals to be made fresh on site rather than flown in.

No Shuls are available in or around Addo Elephant National Park (but you can easily drive back to Port Elizabeth{ 1 hour 30 minutes} on a Friday afternoon and stay close to the PE Hebrew Congregation, quality is 3  star guesthouses. Nothing more luxurious available within walking distance.

If spending Shabbos at a lodge, it is planned for in advance at one of the lodges, where you do not need transport to see animals from a waterhole or a viewing site, or you can go on a bushwalk over Shabbos, without needing to use a vehicle to get to the starting point Delicious Kiddush wines, Challa breads and Shabbos meals pre-ordered.

Jo Wagner