Kvelling Over Kosher in the Mara

17 January 2025 | Stories from Angama | Elias Nanka

Reading time: 5 MINUTES

Specialty Chef Elias tells us about the prep and care that goes into serving the perfect Kosher meals

Above: Elias juggling every challenge with ease

The first time I cooked kosher food for guests at Angama Mara was in 2017. I quickly realised this was more than just preparing a meal – it was about caring for guests on another level. I had to consider every detail, from breakfast to dinner; even the picnic out on safari. It was a challenge I embraced with excitement: learning about cooking, myself, and especially another culture.

Where every dish is crafted with care, tradition, and kavod

Guests enjoy a kosher picnic in the middle of the Mara

I prepare everything in a coal oven (called a jiko, in Kenya) dedicated solely to kosher meals. Angama Mara has a small kosher kitchen for our Jewish guests, separate from the lodge and is equipped with crockery, cooking utensils, pots and pans, the jiko, cooking top, refrigeration and washing-up facilities.

Nyama and nosh, a kosher Kenyan fusion

Every meal, a new setting – curated for your preference

I enjoy creating kosher menus that excite our guests and which still give them a taste of Kenya, using the necessary substitutes and protocols. Angama’s existing menu serves as a starting point for our Kosher guests to gauge the structure of meals — from soups and fresh salads to main courses with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and a choice of desserts.

Stroll through the Shamba, pick your own veggies to be freshly prepared for lunch by Chef Elias

Upon arrival, I meet our guests after their welcome briefing to discuss their preferences. Some kosher guests bring their favourite snacks or additions, such as cheese or dairy alternatives, which we serve as they prefer – perhaps a light snack while on safari. The largest kosher group I’ve catered for was 34 guests (not including the Jewish wedding in 2018 when the entire lodge was made kosher by a Mashgiach).

A menu carefully considered to accommodate tradition and tastebuds

Have a favourite? Tell us when booking, and we’ll have it ready

I love learning to work faster, stay organised, and develop new skills. While I enjoy being a chef in the Angama kitchen, I’m most proud to be the speciality kosher chef, bringing delicious food to all Angama’s guests.

Inspired by the creativity under chef hats and the flames of flambé

When I’m not cooking Kosher meals, I work in the internal kitchen, and at times, I also go to cook at Angama Safari Camp. Here, the animals come close to me while I’m cooking. Usually, around 19h00, you can hear the lions roar, and it's always nerve-wracking to wonder if the lions can smell the meat on the menu.

Note From the Editor:

At Angama, we want to ensure we cover guests' requirements exactly as you wish, so we have compiled a list of possibilities:

No pork: Guests eat all food at Angama except anything made of or deriving from pork, lard, etc.
Vegetarian: Cooked, served and eaten in Angama dishes, cutlery, etc.
Vegetarian & fish: Cooked, served and eaten in Angama dishes, cutlery, etc.
Kosher: Angama’s chef creates dishes for guests from scratch using the small kosher kitchen, its kosher utensils, and only kosher ingredients.
Kosher catered: This option includes a kosher caterer who takes care of all requirements. It has extra costs, including accommodation, the caterer's fee and transport, food transport and freight, etc.
Fully kosher pre-prepared: Food is prepared and cooked by a kosher caterer in Johannesburg, sealed in foil dishes, and sent to the camp. This option has extra freight and catering costs.

Filed under: Stories from Angama

Tagged with:

Angama Mara , Angama Team , Maasai Mara

About: Elias Nanka

The man with the jolliest smile and a big heart for cooking. Elias has been whipping up magic at Angama since 2015. Starting out as a construction worker, he couldn’t resist the pull of the kitchen and worked his way to earning his chef’s hat. Now, he’s the go-to guy for all Kosher meal requests, making sure they’re as delightful as they are delicious.

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