Savour a Sense of Place

At Time + Tide, our culinary experiences offer an immersive journey, inviting you to savour the essence of Zambia with all of your senses.

Our food philosophy centres on sustainable dining experiences that authentically represent the distinct locations of all the Time + Tide properties, spanning land and sea, where every meal reflects the destination’s unique local flavours and traditions.

This safari season, Group Executive Chef Anton Rautenbach has introduced sensational new updates to our menus across our Zambian safari camps. Anton has dedicated meticulous hours training our chefs on the new dishes, honing new skills, curating new setups, and supporting the incredible teams that come together to provide our guests with the very best dining experiences that align with our values.?

Celebrating the local, seasonal flavours of Zambia’s flourishing agriculture

Embedded within our food experiences is local collaboration. Through our commitment to sourcing locally, we uphold the highest standards of freshness and flavour, fostering positive impacts in the surrounding communities. We aim to lead the way in establishing sustainable dining practices that benefit both the environment and the inhabitants of these environments. Across all our locations, our chefs have been extensively trained with a deep passion driving their skills.

Zambia’s climate, fertile lands, and plentiful water resources position it as a leader in agriculture, with farming serving as the main source of livelihood for many Zambians. Recently, there has been a noticeable shift in agricultural trends from traditional crops like beans and grains, to include higher-value products such as macadamia nuts, ground walnuts, avocados, and berries. During May for example, our guests enjoy the lingering sweet summer fruits with a highlight on blueberries sourced directly from Zambian farmers, creating the perfect base for refreshing sorbets, jams, fruit salads and more.

These delightful offerings are a true reflection of the abundant harvest from Zambia’s agricultural landscape which we proudly showcase through our menus in camp.

Immersive dining experiences in the heart of Africa

Our culinary adventures forge a genuine connection with the natural world, enabling guests to immerse themselves in Zambia’s spectacular surroundings. Our chefs’ adaptability and skills span from our kitchens in camp through to the captivating culinary experiences that we set up for our guests out in the raw and untouched wilderness, from bush lunches, where the element of surprise and delight matches the exceptional flavours on your plate, to dinner under the open skies.

No two meals are the same, with menus that change daily. One evening, enjoy a refined three course dinner at Time + Tide Chinzombo, sampling a starter of Zambian grass-fed beef carpaccio served with burnt Parmesan, fried capers, chimichurri and arugula. Followed by a main course of smoked paprika grilled Tilapia served with charred cassava root alongside a green bean and baby spinach salad, with tahini dressing and herb salsa. Finished off with a decadent white chocolate and munkoyo root mousse with fresh mango and honeycomb.

Another evening, settle into the romantic atmosphere of the camp with a relaxed Zambian-inspired barbecue under the stars, with choices such as tamarind, chilli and cumin pork belly, tender yoghurt and coriander chicken thighs, or cinnamon and thyme butternut roasted on the coals. Take the time to take in your surroundings, and admire the clear skies as the milky way emerges above.

At Time + Tide Chongwe, a big focus is on open-fire cooking, offering guests the opportunity to relish breathtaking views of the confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi rivers in the open plan main area. The tranquil sight of elephants wallowing in the water and birds returning to their nests at sunset sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Head out the next day for a pontoon lunch on the river itself.

A day on safari seasoned to perfection

Guests are encouraged to savour each moment of their safari journey. Between meals, each day is peppered with small touches and irresistible delights.

Start the day at sunrise with a hot cup of tea or coffee and a light breakfast cooked over the fire, before heading out for your morning activity. Whether it’s a jaffle filled with bacon, brie cheese and onion marmalade, or a filling bowl of warm oats with cinnamon and apples, you’ll somehow find space for another delectable morsel on your game drive, such as our bush biscotti or homemade seeded rusks.

Sit down to an early lunch after returning to camp and gather again for afternoon tea, coffee and cake before your afternoon activity. It’s difficult to resist a mini chocolate orange tort, or a savoury mozzarella and pesto tartlet. As the sun starts to set, your guide will find the perfect spot for sundowners, that wouldn’t be complete without grazing on spiced roasted nuts and smoked marinated olives and feta one evening, or homemade crisps and cucumber, mint and chilli salsa another.

Upon your return, enjoy a drink at the bar complemented by a light snack of vegetable pakoras with fresh basil and cashew nut chutney. Or refresh in your room before dinner and dessert. Finish off the day relaxing around the campfire with a nightcap and a little stargazing before turning in for the night.

Tailored culinary delights for every explorer

Our kitchens have mastered the skill of flexibility and adaptability. Creating the best experience for our guests is done by simply listening. Listening to likes, dislikes, preferences and dietaries.

If, after a busy morning of checking off the species on your list, taking some downtime in your room might be just what you need. Our in-tent menu at Chinzombo was crafted precisely for this moment, featuring tapas-style platters that allow you to indulge in the comfort of your surroundings, whether by the pool or on the sun loungers.

Last, but very much not least, our experiences cater to all ages. With specially crafted menus for the youngest adventurers, our children’s offering features age-appropriate activities and games intertwined with simple yet delicious meals, carefully curated by our family-oriented staff and kitchen.

We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you to our camps and share these culinary experiences as part of your unforgettable safari adventure. Join us as we embark on a journey to tantalise your taste buds and beckon you to savour the distinctive essence of Zambia.

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