7 Tips for an Epic Gluten-Free Safari in Kruger National Park- By a Celiac

Kruger National Park in South Africa is an incredible location for a safari. Planning a self-driving trip can be stressful without any diet concerns, but adding a gluten-free diet to the mix makes it harder.

Plus, there is very little information about how to go on a safari and still avoid gluten. I’ve been on several safaris. These are my tips for a gluten-free safari in Kruger.

Some of them are things I did, and some of them I wish I’d known.

Note—this is for someone who is going to self-drive through the park. If you want to go on a tour, there are options for that, too.

1- Go to the Grocery in Nelspruit

To have the best experience on a gluten-free safari in Kruger, go to the grocery in one of the cities outside of the park.

This was my original plan. Then, I saw there were markets in each camp, and a local told me they were well stocked. As usual, I should’ve gone with my gut.

There are markets in the camps, and they are quite well-stocked. But, the meat is mostly frozen and marinated. It’s hard to find something you can cook the same night since it’s frozen.

The ingredients in the marinades aren’t well listed, and I never felt confident enough to try them.

You can find produce and non-perishable items in every camp market.

I didn’t expect to find gluten-free items, so that was what I expected.

There were a few gluten-free candies.

I wish I’d brought more food into the park with me. I got by, but I could have made it easier for myself.

If I were doing it again, I would go to the grocery in Nelspruit before driving into the park. I’d get a cooler and a few things I could bring with me to cook when I was in the park.

There is a Woolworth’s and a Food Lovers in Nelspruit. Since I’ve had great luck at every Woolworths I’ve been to in the past, that was my original plan (that I should’ve stuck with).

I recommend having a grocery list and a meal plan of a few simple meals that you can cook. You may need to eat the same thing a few times, but it’s better than the alternative and worth the extra effort.

2- Book Early to Get Bungalows with Kitchens

The lodging in Kruger is easy to book. It’s a popular vacation, so they do book out early.

Plan your itinerary and be ready to book your lodging well in advance. I booked mine as soon as the calendar opened because I wanted prime locations and kitchens.

Use the SANParks website to book your lodging. Look for bungalows with kitchenettes. Camps also have common kitchens.

If you’re getting hung up on what your itinerary should be, here is one option.

3-Stay at Lower Sabie for Mug and Bean

Mug and Bean is a chain restaurant in South Africa. It’s also one of the only major restaurants with a gluten-free menu.

As with anywhere, you still need to ask questions. But there were options on the menu that felt safe to me. I love an omelet, but there were several options.

Mug and Bean is only located at the Lower Sabie rest camp, so it’s nice to stay here so you can grab dinner. But even if Lower Sabie isn’t on your lodging itinerary, you can stop in for lunch one day.

It’s simple, but it’s refreshing to see a gluten-free menu at a restaurant after being in Kruger for several days.

4-Take a Dining Card

I planned to cook all my meals in my bungalow, so I did not take a dining card. That was a mistake. I recommend taking copies of gluten-free dining cards with you when you go.

Even if you plan your food better than I did, you may still end up at the restaurants in the park.

There isn’t much gluten on the menus since there is a lot of meat and potatoes. I ate several steaks with baked potatoes.

I asked a lot of questions.

But it would’ve been much easier to communicate what I needed with a dining card.

5- Pack Snacks With you Just in Case

As with anywhere, bring snacks. This would be a good idea even if you don’t have dietary restrictions.

When driving around Kruger, there are very few places you can get out of your car. You’re in the car for long stretches, so keep some snacks handy.

I wasn’t able to eat large meals in the camps. That was partly due to the options but also because I was eating at times that weren’t normal for me.

I found myself needing snacks more than I normally do at home.

There are some candies and chips in the rest camps that you can bring with you on your drives. It was nice to have some extras from home to supplement.

These are some of my favorites to pack with me.

6- Prepare and Be Flexible

Travel always requires some preparation and flexibility, and this is no different. Things may not go as you planned.

On a safari, your focus is on seeing animals, and they are unpredictable. You may watch a pride of lions for a while or get stuck in a traffic jam because a herd of buffalo has claimed the road.

It’s an incredible experience, but the day may not go as planned. Set yourself up well with plans for your food, snacks, and drinks.

If you aren’t sick or hungry, you can enjoy the animals and all the beauty and spontaneity they bring.

7-If you aren’t confident- Go with a Tour Company

Planning a gluten-free safari in Kruger can be challenging. Planning a self-driving safari requires great attention to detail, even if you aren’t considering your diet!

If this all feels like too much for you, consider going with a tour company. Companies do this every day, and several can offer a gluten-free safari in Kruger with little to no stress.

The establishments most familiar with allergies and celiac are usually more expensive.

Ask the right questions.

These are some of my favorite gluten-free safari experiences, including an affordable option with a tour group. It isn’t in Kruger, but it was incredible!

Enjoy a Gluten-Free Safari in Kruger

As with most things, you’ll need to do extra planning and preparation to have a safe, gluten-free safari.

But you can do it! Kruger is an incredible place to visit. Even if it’s not Kruger, you won’t regret a safari.

They are some of my favorite experiences of my life!