Let’s be real—some travel memories fade with time, but others? They stick with you. Like the crackle of the campfire, the sounds of the bush at sunset… and the unreal meals you swore you’d never forget.

With African Safari Collective lodges, the food isn’t just a treat—it’s part of the adventure. Sourced locally, cooked with love, and seasoned with stories, every dish is a taste of the land it comes from. And now, lucky us: we can recreate those moments at home.

Here are three standout recipes from the lodges that let you bring the spirit of safari right to your kitchen:

Drakensberg Smoked Trout Pie (from Three Tree Hill)

This isn’t your average fish pie. We’re talking creamy, herb-laced filling with wild Drakensberg trout, a splash of local wine, and a golden crust that’ll have everyone asking for seconds. Comfort food with a mountain soul.

Ingredients
500g smoked trout – boned & de-skinned
125ml milk
2 eggs
5 large potatoes
1 bag fresh spinach
1 onion – finely chopped
1 carrot – finely chopped
½ cup cheddar
125ml cream
1 heaped tsp English mustard
Olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
½ cup flat leaf parsley – chopped
Salt, ground pepper & nutmeg
¼ cup Parmesan or Pecorino

Method
• Boil potatoes and hard boil the egg.
• Fry the onion and carrot in olive oil for 5 minutes.
• Add cream and milk and bring to boil.
• Remove from heat and add cheese, lemon juice, parsley & mustard.
• Put fish, eggs & spinach in dish and mix together then pour over the sauce.
• Mash potatoes. (Add little olive oil, salt, pepper, nutmeg)
• Can also add the Parmesan to the mash.
• Spoon the mash on top of the fish.
• Place in the oven for 25-30 minutes until potatoes are golden brown.

Lamb Curry (from Leopard Mountain)

Slow-cooked to perfection and infused with earthy spices, this lamb curry is the kind of dish that brings people together. It’s rich, bold, and deeply rooted in South African tradition—ideal for those chilly evenings when you miss the warmth of the firepit and the sound of lions in the distance.

Ingredients
1kg leg of lamb – cubed
2 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp garam masala
4 tsp coriander seeds
4 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp chili powder
4 onions – diced
3 tins chopped tomatoes
plain yogurt or crème fraiche

Method
• Toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a dry pan.
• Crush the seeds in a pestle and mortar and mix with the garam masala, turmeric and chilli powder.
• Rub the spice mixture onto the cubed lamb.
• In a large pot, heat 3 tbsp oil and fry the lamb cubes until brown on all sides.
• Remove the lamb cubes with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add the onion to the same pot and fry until soft.
• Return the lamb to the pot along with the chopped tomatoes and enough water to just cover the lamb.
• Bring the curry to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer until the meat is tender.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with a spoon of plain yogurt and a couple sprigs of fresh coriander.

Clarice’s Chocolate Brownie (from Makakatana Bay Lodge)

Yes, we saved the sweet stuff for last. This brownie is next-level: dark, decadent, and made with locally sourced cream and premium chocolate. Clarice knew what she was doing—and we thank her for it.

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
½ cup flour
Cocoa powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking powder
Eggs – 2 each
½ cup oil
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method
• Preheat the oven to 180°c
• Prepare a small baking tray – about 15 x 20cm and line with parchment paper.
• Sift all the dry ingredients.
• Mix all the wet ingredients together.
• Add the wet into the dry ingredients and mix quickly.
• Pour into the tray and bake for 20 – 25 minutes – no more!
• Remove from the oven and cut while it is still hot. Hot Tip from Clarice: “Be careful when you bake them, they need to still feel slightly raw when you take them out of the oven, to give that scrumptious gooeyness”
• They keep very well in an airtight container in the fridge.

Whether you’re craving a return to the bush or just looking for something meaningful to cook, these recipes let you reconnect with the places (and people) that made your safari unforgettable. Every bite supports local farmers, honors food traditions, and brings a little piece of the journey home.

Ready to get cooking?
Grab the recipes and relive the magic. Remember to post a photo of your creation on social media and tag @AfricanSafariCollective