Top 5 Serengeti Food: Taste of Tanzania in the Wild

The Serengeti. Just the name makes you dream, right? Big skies, even bigger wildlife, and that feeling that you’re totally someplace amazing. What you may not realize is that your taste buds are also in for an unbelievable time! Yeah, so let’s discover tasty food in Serengeti!

#1: Nyama Choma – Tanzania’s Grilled Delight

Okay, so Nyama Choma…it’s basically grilled meat. Sounds pretty ordinary, yeah? Wrong! What makes it so special is how it’s made, and where you eat it. Nyama Choma very often means goat, grilled over hot coals till it is incredibly juicy on the inside and charred just right on the outside. It’s nearly always served super simply – maybe with some salt and some pepper, and maybe some roasted bananas or ugali (more on that later). The best Nyama Choma isn’t usually at some fancy hotel; instead, search out local spots! You might just find a roadside place where the grill’s smoking and the air smells wonderful. That is it! That’s where memories are made, by the way.

The experience really does kick it up a notch. Picture this: you’re eating Nyama Choma, the sun’s going down over the Serengeti, and you’re surrounded by sounds you’d never usually hear back home. Every single bite is kind of smoky, kind of gamey, and totally Serengeti. So tasty, too!

Read our full review: Nyama Choma Serengeti Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Find Serengeti Dining)

#2: Ugali – The Hearty Staple

Ugali’s the food you see with practically every meal. It’s just a very simple dish of maize flour and water, cooked into almost a dense dough. You are definitely not eating it for any stand-out flavor (it’s fairly mild), but instead it’s about what Ugali lets you do with it. Usually, Ugali acts a bit like bread or rice. Folks tear off a little piece, and use it to scoop up sauces, stews, or vegetables. When you’re having a meal, say, with some flavorful greens or a tasty sauce, Ugali really shines, so tasty, too!

And, you know, it’s not just tasty, it really sticks with you. After a morning out tracking lions, Ugali will keep you going until suppertime. When you’re out on safari, that definitely is a big deal!

Read our full review: Ugali Serengeti Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Find Serengeti Dining)

#3: Tanzanian Coffee – A Morning Kickstart

If you like your coffee, then Tanzania has what you are searching for. Up in the highlands surrounding the Serengeti, that’s where they grow some amazing coffee beans. Farmers really do take pride in their coffee, that is for sure! Usually, Tanzanian coffee has this bright, fruity thing happening. Also, there’s a bold taste, that is to be expected. What makes it so good is drinking it while looking out at the Serengeti at dawn. I mean, seriously, think of any better way of beginning your day? Each and every cup seems like a jolt that wakes you up, that, plus the amazing views… you’re just totally set up for an exciting day.

Oh, and the farms? If you’ve the time, that is. A lot of them welcome visitors! So that makes it easy to discover how your beans are grown, harvested, and roasted. Usually you’re drinking it down the road from the coffee farm. I’m telling you it doesn’t get any fresher than that.

Read our full review: Tanzanian Coffee Serengeti Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Find Serengeti Coffee)

#4: Mandazi – A Sweet Treat

Everyone likes a little bit of sweet stuff! And Mandazi fills that spot. These are really similar to doughnuts, but still, kinda different. They are always triangular, and what’s unusual is that there’s a little bit of coconut milk and cardamom flavoring going on, too. These ingredients provide them that nice warm flavor.

Almost, Mandazi goes perfectly with that morning coffee. However, any time you grab one, is great. You can often find them getting sold at roadside stops, little cafes, and even your lodge could have some. So tasty, too! If you get a fresh batch, those are unbelievably good – just a bit crisp on the outside, soft as anything on the inside, and you are set up for the day, so good!

Read our full review: Mandazi Serengeti Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Find Serengeti Snacks)

#5: Serengeti Sundowner Cocktails – Sipping in Style

Right, so a “sundowner” means an evening drink! The Serengeti makes things classy though, believe me! Usually, after your day’s adventures you will find a gorgeous spot where you can look out across those huge plains with drink in hand. Lodges go out of their way in setting up a fancy scene. Maybe some comfy chairs, little snacks, and a full bar ready for you! Pick a gin and tonic, a local beer, or have the barman make something crazy and great for you. As the sun sinks, the sky turns every color, and sipping something tasty makes a wonderful finish to any single day.

The peace? It is amazing. You will be chatting about what you did earlier in the day (did you see the cheetah, like your driver said?), or, you can listen as the African night begins to wake up. Often, these moments are just the tops for remembering the trip!

Read our full review: Serengeti Sundowner Cocktails Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Find Serengeti Dining)