Grill & Thrill: Best Nyama Choma Joints Overlooking African Wildlife in Kenya

Nyama Choma, definitely to any Kenyan, is not just food, but an exquisite delight. When one is matched with disturbing views of wild life in Africa, it is not an ordinary experience. Instead, for those who want to combine restaurant experience with the desire to feel the spirit of the African wildlife, Kenya is the place where some of the best nyama choma restaurants provide you with truly delicious grills while stargazing at the overview of African parks. Below are some favourite spots that will make you love the meals and try the wilderness.

1.Carnivore Restaurant – Nairobi’s Wild Gem

This restaurant is found in Nairobi right next to the prominence of the city and is the ideal place for a Nyama Choma. As it positioned itself as one of Kenya’s foremost destinations for food lovers to get their teeth into, what sets Carnivore apart is the experience of dining under the shadow of Nairobi National Park that forms the restaurant’s backdrop. When eating in the restaurant area you will see portions of the park; stretching your neck to see giraffes feeding in the background or zebra s running in the foreground or the sound of a lion in the background when looking at the park. This closeness to wildlife alongside the real African countryside nature gives Carnivore that wild state that is not common with most nyama choma joint.

However, apart from the excellent view the carnivore’s menu is a heaven for anyone with a passion for meats. The facility targets a buffet style of service with numerous courses of different types of meats, the usual steak, mutton, chicken as well as the more exotic crocodile, ostrich and camel. The meats are grilled using the traditional Maasai swords over…massive charcoal grill, thus giving each cut a smoky taste. As if the delicious meats were not enough, Carnivore every meal served usually comes with a selection of local sauces and mouth watering side dishes a testimony to the hospitality of the Kenyan people. Eating here gives you the excellent nyama choma fix while also giving you a taste of the country’s wild side without having to venture far from town.

2.The Big Five Restaurant – The Safari Culinary Experience

Located within Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Big Five Restaurant is a restaurant for food lovers located in Amboseli National Park. As any food lover would attest, nyama choma is best savoured with great scenery: lush grasslands home to the best of Africa’s wildlife like elephants lions, buffalo and cheetahs and, to cap it all, the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro horizon in the background. A lot of the eating is done on the terrace of the lodge, which affords excellent views of the bush, so even getting your meals feels like going on a little safari.

The nyama choma in The Big Five Restaurant is marinated perfectly, and there is a big concern with maintaining the traditions and flavors of Kenyan food. From beef to lamb, and every other type of meat you can imagine, right down to the game found in the region, is barbequed, and cooking is done on an open grill which gives it that unique charcoal flavor. The meats are seasoned carefully and are marinated in a mix of spices common to the region to bring out the best of them. Served with complementary freshly made dishes including Ugali, SukumaWiki, Kachumbari and many other dishes, it is indeed a feast for the Kenyan palate. You are not just served meals when you dine here; you are actually taken through a tour of Africa’s wildlife, that’s thrilling and rather relaxing.

3.Talisman – An Urban Escape with a Wild Heart

Talisman which is an interesting restaurant in Karen, a Nairobi’s suburb presents itself as an exclusive place to go to have a meal peacefully. Despite the fact it is not set in the middle of a savannah, even the busy city can try Talisman to taste an urban jungle. The restaurant is located in the middle of gardens with tall trees and flowers as clients dine, they can do so under shades. The ambience is rather elegant but, in fact, the main advantage of Talisman is its location close to Nairobi National Park. While you are dining, you can hear a call of the wild; lions or hyenas maybe in the background or perhaps you get to watch exotic birds fly across the tree tops, which brings a little of the wild into your meal.

Any scenic rynd of nyama choma preparation and delectation, the Talisman chefs embrace the means of tradition with an extent of deliberation. The meats are grilled to an even crispness, all the cuts juicy and are packed with incredible flavour. It is unlike many traditional nyama choma joints because Talisman spices up its foods with an international twist and gourmet finishes. Whether you are having a grilled beef skewer, a chicken thigh or a lamb chop the restaurant’s philosophy about the use of quality ingredients with well defined, vibrant and rich flavours makes every piece great to taste. Talisman could be termed as the leading restaurant in Nairobi for it offers an extravagance in the sense that the restaurant offers quality food in a rich but Kenyan setting.

4.Oloika Country Lodge – A hidden gem in Kajiado

Anytime one wants the peaceful environment accompanied by delicious nyama choma, Oloika Country Lodge in Kajiado County is more appropriate. This little known park is only about an hour’s drive from Nairobi and is set in rolling country side of the Maasailand. So when you sit down for the meal, no hectoring waiters will interfere with the breath taking view of the wilderness, which features zebras, gazelles, or even wildebeest. This means that the lodge has close association with the natural environment making it perfect for a lonely meal in the company of nature. 

Nyama choma at Oloika is prepared with traditional Maasai style, using charcoal as source of heat to slow cook the meat over a direct flame. It must also be noted that the chefs here don’t overcomplicate things like the seasoning; one can only taste the meat without thinking of it as a block of charcoal because the equipment used here trumps all that. This makes the nyama choma juicy and dwarf flavored smoking sensation without losing its tenderness accompanied by side dishes such as roasted potatoes, fresh vegetables, and Maasai fry bread. Many of the foods served in Oloika can be sourced within the petite Maasai farms, so everything you take is fresh when it gets to the table. This is.Utilsed off the map holiday destination will be of interest to independent travellers and those who are interested in getting to know the real Kenya but outside the package tourism circuits.

5.Maji Moto Eco Camp – Dining with a Wildlife Symphony

Maji Moto Eco Camp in close proximity of Maasai Mara is concerned to visitors with an extraordinary ecological and cultural dining menu. Located in the background of most popular and visited wildlife area of Kenya, Maji Moto offers a unique experience of leaving your soul behind the material world and eat delicious food. When you dine al fresco in the cantina area you will be attended to directly by the compound sounds, the falling grass, birds chirping in the distance and the lion roaring on the horizon. Such a serene yet adventurous environment makes Maji Moto to be ideal for everyone who wishes to enjoy their nyama choma while in the middle of Africa’s natural environment.

This informs their conservationary and responsible watering of fires on nyama choma at the camp. The meats are bought from local producers meaning that the camp is credible to the local growers. Slow cooked over an authentic Kenyan fire using eco-charcoal the meat is juicy with hints of traditional Kenyan spices. Every meal is served with fresh vegetables and Kenyan garnishes, the meals are quite filling and nutritious as well due to the different vegetables that are used in Kenyan cuisine. Eating at Maji Moto Eco Camp means much more than eating – it means engaging with the land, the people and the animals that make this country unique.

6.Safari Park Hotel – Nyama Choma Extravaganza

Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi tries to explain what lavish nyama choma feast means and it can be done best at this place. Nyama Choma Ranch is where guests at Hotel reap off what is considered by many as the biggest buffet of grilled meats; Guests get their choice of cuts ranging from succulent beef steaks, Lamb chops, grilled chicken, and other types of meat including exotic. The two primary distinguishing factors in Safari Park, however, include the garden like environment of the park. When eating your meal, you can look into the spacious gardens, full of high trees and exotic colorful flowers, which makes you to feel like you are at the jungle despite the hotel is in the central business area.

The nyama choma at Safari Park is as much a show as any musician that is to perform in a concert. The specialist chefs at the restaurant are excellent performers as far as barbecuing is concerned the meats are cooked on the large open pits. Every cut is marinated in a combination of spices and herds that are common in the region to as to compliment the meat and slow grilling makes it tender and succulent. Self-service is combined with exquisite cuisine, where, in addition to meat dishes, there is a choice of traditional Kenyan side dishes: ugali, chapati, kachumbari. From celebratory meals to a simple desire for some quality grilling, Safari Park’s Nyama Choma Ranch will offer clients an experience they will never forget.

Conclusion

In conclusion therefore one is able to conclude that Kenya boasts of Nyama choma joints that blend delicious cuisines and arresting sceneries. These dining serving stations are not merely steakhouses for the tender juicy well charred meat but such places would transport a person to the core of Africa. And while Carnivore is located in the city, and Oloika Country Lodge is in a serene environment surrounded by natural elements of nature, both spots are great places with modes of presenting nature and food. Why then cannot you upscale your nyama choma experience to the next level? Experience one of these amazing areas or enjoy yummy grills next to Africa incredible wildlife. Your next meal may be one of the tastiest meals you’ll ever have!