Botswana
Duba Plains Camp
Location: Kakoro, Botswana
“Duba Plains Camp sits on an island in the Okavango Delta with a high concentration of wildlife. One of the larger Great Plains camps, it has one of the highest staff-to-guest ratios in the portfolio. The signature dining experience is an interactive food and wine pairing night where you sit with the kitchen team, learn about each dish, and discover the wines being served together.”
@mauragftravel, who manages celiac
Selinda Camp
Location: Selinda Reserve, Botswana
“Selinda Camp is my personal favorite and the camp that started it all for me. Designed by Dereck Joubert as a tribute to elephants, it has only three suites, each with a private verandah and plunge pool. The chef’s-table style kitchen lets you watch dishes being prepared (this doesn’t happen every night) right in front of you. The reserve is home to large elephant herds, African wild dogs, and the famous Selinda lion pride. This is where I first met Chef Assistant when he was the Executive Chef. During the last trip, he also made gluten-free bao buns because I had never had them, and a whole gluten-free Asian night.”
@mauragftravel, who manages celiac
Wilderness Mombo
Location: Masarwa, Botswana
“Mombo Camp is considered the most elite camp in Botswana. The wine program is the best I have encountered anywhere, complete with a wine cellar and a food-and-wine tasting experience. Every morning you can have jaffles, a sealed toasted sandwich cooked in a cast iron over an open fire, a beloved South African tradition and the only camp in Botswana where you will find them. Your meal is prepared with a separate knife and iron to keep it fully gluten-free. Mombo also has a pizza oven, and on one trip they delivered a gluten-free pizza to us out in the bush. Every Monday is Boma night, where all guests gather around a traditional fire enclosure to learn about Botswana culture through singing, dancing, and traditional food. Gluten-free options are included. It is one of the most emotional and memorable nights of any safari.”
@mauragftravel, who manages celiac
Wilderness Vumbura Plains
Location: Lechomos, Botswana
“Vumbura Plains is a water camp best known for its romance and its sunrise. Breakfast is served on the floating deck above the water as the light comes up over the Delta, with hippos audible in the distance. The shower is open-air, the setting is intimate, and the whole experience is unlike any other camp.
Both Great Plains and Wilderness will take exceptional care of you as a celiac traveler. Safari is one of the few travel experiences where I truly forget I have a dietary restriction.
If you have questions or need help planning, reach out at [email protected]. I have a whole travel routine and have worked with agents I trust to plan the best trips. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
@mauragftravel, who manages celiac
Zarafa Camp
Location: Selinda Reserve, Botswana
“Zarafa Camp neighbors Selinda on the private reserve and is known for spectacular sunsets from camp. The signature experience is a make-your-own pizza night at the pizza oven, gluten-free crust included. On safari. In the Okavango Delta.”
@mauragftravel, who manages celiac
Egypt
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Location: Cairo Governorate, Egypt, Africa
“A thoughtful staff that will make sure your needs are met! They have a wide variety of food selections at every meal. Their food was delicious, and I would definitely recommend!”
@gholleb, who manages a tree nut allergy
Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh
Location: Sharm El Sheikh 2, Egypt
“The staff are extremely cognizant and attentive about allergies. This is a great place with an amazing array of food for any dietary restrictions!”
@gholleb, who manages a tree nut allergy
Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
Location: Cairo, Egypt
“This hotel was gorgeous with a rooftop pool and great views of the city. There were many restaurant options within the hotel. Each one was able to accommodate my allergy, and I always felt safe.”
@lfrost5, who manages celiac and a tree nut allergy
Steigenberger Nile Palace
Location: Luxor, Egypt
“We stayed here during our trip to Luxor. It’s important to note this hotel was booked for us through our tour that we booked; we did not choose this ourselves. (I’m not sure if you could request certain hotels, but I know they choose between this and one other resort). There were two restaurants in this hotel, each with a sign with an “allergy policy” to alert staff of any of your allergies prior to sitting down (which was amazing to see there!). The menu also had key notes for allergies within different food options, but I did notice some inconsistencies in the menus! I was still very impressed with the staff and this hotel.”
@lfrost5, who manages celiac and a tree nut allergy
Kenya
Elephant Bedroom Camp
Location: Umoja, Kenya
“I was honestly nervous about staying somewhere so remote with severe food allergies, but this camp knew how to deal with food allergies! Before our trip, we sent photos of my allergy translation cards, and when we checked in, they already knew who I was—and the chef even had my cards printed in the kitchen.
We had the same waiter for every meal, so I always felt confident my allergies were understood (even though I still double-checked everything!). At breakfast, he walked me through every safe option since it was buffet-style, and I stuck to simple favorites like omelettes and fruit, where I know cross-contact wasn’t an issue.
The staff handled my allergies so well that I never felt like an inconvenience. On top of that, the resident elephant wandering through camp made this an unforgettable safari experience. I’d absolutely recommend staying here—just be sure to communicate your allergies before your trip!”
@lfrost5, who manages celiac and a tree nut allergy
Giraffe Manor
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
“INCREDIBLE. This was probably one of the most accommodating hotels I’ve ever stayed at for food allergies.
Every meal was a multi-course experience, and the food was honestly some of the best I’ve EVER had. As someone who is both gluten-free and tree nut-free, I was nervous my options would be limited—but it was the complete opposite. I had pancakes, pastries, chocolate lava cake, sorbets, steak, coffee, soups, salads, vegetables, pita bread, hummus, countless dips… the list goes on.
For extra peace of mind, there’s an excellent hospital just 10 minutes away if it’s ever needed. But the staff made me feel so safe from the moment I arrived. They knew exactly who I was and always had gluten-free alternatives prepared before I even had to ask. During afternoon tea, for example, while everyone enjoyed the pastry spread, they brought me my own beautiful selection of gluten-free treats.
The giraffes are what draw you here, but the hospitality and incredible food are what will stay with me. I’ll be thinking about this experience for a long time.”
@lfrost5, who manages celiac and a tree nut allergy
Naboisho Camp
Location: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
“If you’re allergic to tree nuts, make sure this camp is on your safari itinerary; the entire camp is completely nut-free! The chef is also allergic, and so there are absolutely no nuts on the premises! The food here was absolutely INCREDIBLE, some of the best gluten-free food I’ve ever had. And they keep you full! Mornings are spent on game drives where they pack a breakfast for you. This includes fruit, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, gluten-free banana bread, etc! Lunch was three courses and always started with a different gazpacho soup. It was so fun to have SO MANY desserts when I am used to not having desserts with a nut allergy. At tea time, they had different pastries out and had a separate gluten-free tray labeled just for me! At this camp, you also get the same waiter during your stay, so he was familiar with my allergies and always made sure I had gluten-free options (since the camp was nut-free, I felt so confident here! I don’t think I’ve ever felt this “normal” while on vacation!). On evening game drives, they packed some snacks for us to enjoy. My tins were all labeled and separate from the rest of the truck to make sure they were safe. The staff went above and beyond for me! The gluten-free food was some of the best I’ve ever had, and I always appreciate when a place “gets it” when it comes to allergies. They even had labeled some items as dairy-free and lactose-free, if those applied to you. Some of the food I ate included chocolates, pork chops, a custard dessert, ceviche, margaritas, pita bread with various assorted tapas-style foods, an Indian style dish, etc.!”
@lfrost5, who manages celiac and a tree nut allergy
Nomad Beach Resort
Location: Diani Beach, Kenya
“Once again I’m very impressed with how the staff handled my food allergies. Once I arrived, I informed the staff of my allergies and gave them my allergy translation cards. They took it very seriously and asked if they could take my cards to print and hand out to the staff. They printed multiple copies, labeled it with our room number so it was clear who had the allergies, brought them to the kitchen, and handed them out to the staff. When you sat down to eat, you had to tell the waiter your room number so they immediately knew who I was and what my restrictions are. Every time I ordered, the waiter told me he would talk to the chef to confirm it was safe. One time he did come back and ask me to order something else because the fish I wanted was marinated in soy sauce, so it would not be safe. This just confirmed for me that they were on top of it all! I will also add that some people choose to end their safari at more remote beach destinations, but Diani Beach has a great hospital nearby if you need it. I always like looking for that extra layer of protection!”
@lfrost5, who manages celiac and a tree nut allergy
South Africa
City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport
Location: Kempton Park, South Africa
“Excellent buffet and had no issue finding something to eat. I had an omelette, grilled tomatoes, yogurt, and pineapple safely.”
@anka_not_anchor, who manages peanut, tree nut, wheat, and fruit allergies
Dulini Leadwood
Location: Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa
“I felt so safe staying here. There are only 4 rooms at this location, so your stay is super personalized, and they know every guest’s allergies and preferences by heart. They feed you every 2 hours so you never feel hungry, and the food is so amazing. Every meal is family-style and homemade by the chefs there, consisting of colorful salads, vegetables, and South African cuisine. They were able to modify most things for my dairy allergy and made sure I had my own dairy-free dessert at every meal. The staff were amazing at describing each dish and letting me know what was dairy-free (95% of it was, because they knew about my allergy ahead of time). For morning tea, they always brought me a dairy-free muffin. During afternoon tea, they would bring out the tray of sweets along with a separate tray of dairy-free sweets. It was here that I got to have my first key lime pie and my first panna cotta. I always felt included and accommodated, and I could not recommend this lodge more.”
@morganromo, who manages tree nut, milk, sunflower, and mustard allergies
Kapama River Lodge
Location: Kapama Private Game Reserve, South Africa
“The entire staff was exceptionally accommodating to my husband’s allergies. They took special consideration when prepping his meals and did a great job assuring us of what was safe! Highly recommend!”
@khaustin33, who manages celiac and tree nut and milk allergies
Leeu Estates
Location: Franschhoek, South Africa
“Room service was very careful about my allergies, and they even put oat milk in the fridge before we arrived.”
@morganromo, who manages tree nut, milk, sunflower, and mustard allergies
Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa
Location: Vaalwater, South Africa
“I cannot rave about this lodge and experience enough. Highly recommend for any person, couple, or family wanting to do a safari. The meals were gourmet, and they went above and beyond to cater to my allergy. The entire staff is so kind and helpful. I was blown away. The lodge is beautiful, and the whole experience was incredible.”
@passthetreats, who manages a wheat allergy
Simbambili Game Lodge
Location: Sabi Sands, South Africa
“We stayed at Simbambilli for 4 nights in July 2023. What an absolutely incredible and magical experience, especially for those with food allergies. They went above and beyond each and every meal to provide safe options for me of everything that was served. Other than Disney, I’ve truly never been to a place that took so much care in making sure I had a safe and delicious experience just like everyone else. On the night we had a Boma with all the guests at the lodge, they even made the entire meal safe for my allergies, so I did not have to worry about anything, which was incredibly generous considering none of the other guests had dietary restrictions. Each morning, they baked me safe muffins to match the ones that were served. Each afternoon, they baked me safe pastries to match the ones that were served as well. On our last night, they set up a beautiful private dinner on our terrace complete with a safe birthday cake to celebrate my 30th birthday. I am counting down the days till I’m back at Simbambilli!”
@tpgordon, who manages peanut, tree nut, and milk allergies
The Marly Boutique Hotel and Spa
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
“Gorgeous hotel that is really centrally located to a lot of cafes and restaurants. The rooftop cafe and pool has stunning views of the ocean and Lionshead Peak. The menu didn’t have a ton of options but was able to piece together some dishes with modifications. Always a great spot for a glass of rosé!”
@passthetreats, who manages a wheat allergy
The Table Bay hotel
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
“One of the nicest places we’ve stayed, and their service matched it! Super helpful with our meals; we ate at their incredible on-site options. We were always assured our food was safe and double-checked with the chefs.”
@khaustin33, who manages celiac and tree nut and milk allergies
Tanzania
Asilia Camps And Lodges
Location: Arusha, Tanzania
“Oliver’s camp in Tanzania is, aside from being one of the most beautiful places, extremely accommodating for special food requests and needs. It’s as if they’re waiting to focus on each patron’s requirements right when you walk in. This African luxury tented camp exceeded anything my imagination could conjure. The cocktails on the deck were so spectacular you feel like you are the only people on the planet right there in the African bush. Amazing.”
@ktfcohen, who manages peanut and tree nut allergies
Matemwe Lodge
Location: Matemwe, Tanzania
“The owner was so incredibly helpful. He was open to any and all feedback, instructions, suggestions and needs. He was always around and very involved to make sure special requests were tended to. Can’t say enough positive about him. So thank you for taking care of us!”
@ktfcohen, who manages peanut and tree nut allergies
Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Hotels
Location: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
“Staff was attentive whenever we ate at their onsite restaurant. They would always talk to the chef about our allergies and ensure we were taken care of with safe and delicious food!”
@khaustin33, who manages celiac and tree nut and milk allergies
