There’s a rhythm to life on safari. Days begin early—often well before sunrise—with a gentle wake-up call, usually accompanied by a tray of tea or coffee and a homemade cookie, just enough to rouse you for the adventure ahead. Then it’s into the vehicle and out into the bush, just as the sky blushes pink and the animals are still active before the heat of the day sets in. This is prime time for wildlife viewing—and the perfect setup for one of the great joys of safari life: bush breakfasts.
A bush breakfast is exactly what it sounds like: a meal served out in the wild, far from camp, usually after a couple of hours of game viewing. It’s a chance to pause, stretch your legs, and soak up the landscape while enjoying an open-air breakfast. There are a few variations on the theme, depending on where you’re staying, the style of camp or lodge, and how long you’re on safari.
1. The Classic Picnic Breakfast
This format is my favourite—it works brilliantly. After your pre-dawn coffee and early start, you’ll stop mid-morning at a scenic spot. Your guide unpacks a picnic breakfast, sometimes on the bonnet of the vehicle, or on a folding table set in the shade—perhaps on a kopje with sweeping views, or beside a dry riverbed.
The meal is simple but delicious: granola, yoghurt, fruit, breakfast muffins or rolls, all washed down with fresh juice and a flask of hot coffee or tea. It’s the perfect pause. You can stretch your legs, use the ‘bush bathroom’ (after your guide checks the area is all clear!), and continue your drive without needing to head back to camp. It’s also practical—picnics allow you to cover more distance and stay out longer if wildlife sightings are unfolding.
2. The Elevated Cook-Out
Stay a few nights at a quality camp and you might be treated to a full bush cook-out—an upgraded experience complete with a field kitchen. The camp crew heads out ahead of time and, when you arrive, you’ll find a table set with china and cutlery, and chefs working over a skottle braai. Eggs made to order, fresh toast and more—it’s a luxurious treat and a real highlight of any extended safari.
3. Light Breakfast & Brunch or Lunch Back at Camp
Some camps, particularly those located near waterholes or with excellent wildlife viewing close by, opt for a lighter format. You’ll start the day with toast, fruit and strong coffee in camp, before heading out on drive. A mid-morning stop might include tea and snacks, but you’ll return to base in time for a cooked brunch or lunch, depending on the season and daily schedule.
At Zambezi Expeditions in Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, we’d gather around the campfire for breakfast at sunrise, with the best toast you’ve ever had— grilled over the fire. After the morning drive or walk, with a coffee stop, we’d return to camp for a siesta and a lovely lunch in the mess tent.
Bush Breakfast Memories – Top Spots
Tanzania
Across all the Nomad Tanzania camps—from the Serengeti to Ruaha and Nyerere—picnic breakfasts are a daily ritual. In the Serengeti, we picnicked on the southern plains with zebra and wildebeest grazing nearby. In Nyerere, we paused our river safari to enjoy breakfast on a sandbank—after the crocodiles had vacated.
Kenya
Among the most memorable bush breakfast experiences we’ve had were at Ol Donyo Lodge, in the Chyulu Hills. One morning we picnicked by a huge rock with sweeping views and a steady procession of giraffe. Another day we enjoyed a full cook-out, complete with family members joining us on horseback—a picture-perfect scene where every detail was considered.
Zambia
After a thrilling morning game drive in South Luangwa National Park, we pulled up next to the river and were met by the smiling faces of the camp chefs—grinning in their whites, cooking up a bush breakfast feast with the river as our backdrop.
Whatever the format, bush breakfasts bring a special kind of magic.
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