Michael Cappetta
Wed, June 24, 2026 at 5:09 PM UTC
Travelers have a new culinary adventure awaiting in Africa.Luxury tour operator Roar Africa is launching a 5-night culinary-focused adventure in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, teaming up with Michelin starred French chef Francis Mallmann, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. As part of the Wild Heart, Open Flame itinerary, travelers will enjoy open-fire cooking, animal spotting, guided bush walks, and more
“At ROAR AFRICA, we create journeys that are not about excess, but essence,” Deborah Calmeyer, the founder and CEO of Roar Africa, said in a statement shared with T+L. “Francis and I share a belief that some of life’s most meaningful moments happen when people slow down enough to truly engage—with a place, with one another, and with themselves. Wild Heart, Open Flame brings together his philosophy of fire and gathering with my lifelong passion for Africa and transformative travel. Together, we’ve created an experience that invites guests to reconnect with the natural world through presence, beauty, and wonder.”
The journey starts in Johannesburg where travelers are transported by private charter to the Xigera Safari Lodge. From there, guests will enjoy a welcome dinner at the lodge hosted by both Calmeyer and Mallmann, relax during a sunset picnic dinner in the bush, cook alongside Mallmann, and attend a celebratory boma dinner around a sculptural iron fire installation. During the trip, there will also be plenty of time for game drives, boat excursions, and more.The itinerary, which starts at $39,950 per person, will take place from June 16 to 21, 2027. The trip is limited to just 20 guests.
First founded in 2005, Roar Africa operates luxury curated trips across the continent, including in Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and beyond. With a team that is 95 percent women, Calmeyer has also focused on organizing women’s empowerment retreats throughout Africa.
The company also offers custom private jet safaris aboard the Emirates Executive Private Jet, which sleeps 15 guests in what it describes as “hotel-like cabins with lie-flat beds, spa-style bathrooms and an elegant onboard lounge and dining area.”Africa’s tourism market has been growing in recent years. In fact, more than 74 million people visited the continent in 2024, representing a 7 percent spike compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic numbers in 2019 and a 12 percent increase compared to 2023, according to the United Nations’World Tourism Barometer. Of all regions, North Africa had the highest growth with a 22 percent increase in international arrivals compared to before the pandemic.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
