October 1, 2007

Africa & Mideast | Kenya

Tigers & Toques

By Nicole Cotroneo

Learn the art of Italian cooking — in the Serengeti.

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So there you are in the east African bush, near the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro, ready to grate a wedge of parmesan. Perhaps not the most obvious place for a cooking class but then check out the menu: homemade tortellini with sun-dried tomato pesto; asparagus risotto; and mango gelato. Did we mention you’re in Kenya? There’s nothing predictable about Uncharted Outposts’ new 11-day Kenyan “culinary safari” — except how plush each of your five lodgings will be.

At Campi Ya Kanzi you’ll sleep on fine Italian linens in a private stone cottage. You can also learn gourmet Italian from local chefs, who were taught by the camp’s proprietors — two Italian ex-pats. Then you’ll switch gears to a roaring campfire barbecue at Cottars’ 1920’s camp on the northern edge of the Serengeti. Next, move on to upscale African cuisine at Kenya’s newest retreat, The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, a ridiculously posh hideaway with four fully-staffed houses (think butler, housekeeper, chauffeur.) When you’re not discovering the secret of tending ostrich fillet, you can sip a cocktail on the game-viewing deck — where even at night you’ll clock some sightings. Just note: they’ll be of the celestial kind, thanks to a GPS-controlled telescope.