Glatt Safaris Guides Families to Affordable Kosher Safaris

Seeing lions in the wild is a long-held dream for many Torah observant families, but it has often seemed out of financial reach. Remote destinations make Glatt Kosher food, minyanim and Shabbat arrangements more expensive, and most mainstream tour operators make no provision for them. This November, as many households start working out next year's travel budget, Glatt Safaris is setting out how a trip can be planned at different price points without any compromise on kashrut. The Johannesburg based company runs Glatt Kosher gourmet safari and holiday tours in South Africa and East Africa.

Chanan Green, a frum Israeli-South African, started the business in 2013. The idea came after he organised a safari for relatives visiting from Israel and saw how hard it was for religious travellers. Mainstream tours had no Kosher food at all. The Glatt Kosher tours that did exist were not always focused on gourmet dining, and they could be very costly. Glatt Safaris was set up to fill that gap, and keeping prices within reach of ordinary frum families is still part of its stated mission.

Group tracks with everything spelled out

Families who want the most predictable budget for a Kosher Safari can join one of the company's public group tours, which take between 20 and 40 guests. There are two options. The Silver Track stays in South Africa, covering Kruger National Park, the Cape Winelands, whale watching in Hermanus, Table Mountain, African penguins and the Cape of Good Hope. The Gold Track runs for 11 days in five-star hotels and adds East Africa, with Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe and Zambia border and Chobe National Park in Botswana.

The price of each track already covers the costs that tend to surprise travellers. It includes three Kosher LeMehadrin meals a day under the supervision of the Cape Town Beth Din, two domestic flights within South Africa, luxury hotel accommodation, air-conditioned tour buses with mineral water on board, and entrance fees to every reserve. That means families can see most of what the trip will cost in one figure before they sign up.

The exclusions are listed just as clearly. The price does not cover international flights to and from Johannesburg, medical and luggage insurance, optional activities outside the itinerary such as Robben Island, or personal spending on laundry, souvenirs and extra drinks. Gold Track travellers also pay for an entry visa on arrival in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The company advises guests to buy insurance when they register in case a medical reason forces them to cancel.

The published 2027 dates are in February and August, so families have plenty of time to plan. The Silver Track runs from 15 to 22 February 2027 or from 16 to 23 August 2027. The Gold Track runs from 15 to 25 February 2027 or from 16 to 26 August 2027.

Private tours built around what families spend

A private tour suits families who want to travel at their own pace, and it also works well for honeymoons, anniversaries and trips with several generations. Glatt Safaris starts these itineraries with the budget. Travellers decide how much they want to spend, pick an accommodation level and say which foods and interests matter most to them. The company then plans a route around those choices.

This is where the biggest savings can come from. A family could choose simpler accommodation and Kosher pre-packaged meals, which leaves more money for extra destinations, sightseeing and attractions. Or they could visit fewer places and stay at a private reserve or VIP retreat where a personal chef cooks their favourite dishes. Options run from three, four and five-star hotels through to private reserves and VIP retreats, so every Kosher Tour can be set at a level that fits the household.

Private itineraries can include Cape Town and Table Mountain, the Garden Route, Kruger National Park, a private Big Five reserve, Victoria Falls and Chobe. Madikwe is also available. The company describes it as a malaria-free reserve, which some families with young children prefer.

How prices stay competitive

Glatt Safaris calls itself a lean boutique company with strong supplier relationships. It says this is how it keeps prices low without cutting corners on kashrut or quality. In remote areas it flies in its own food, chefs and mashgichim and sets up temporary Kosher kitchens with imported Kosher ingredients, which travellers are welcome to inspect. In Cape Town and Johannesburg, guests can also eat at Kosher restaurants.

Religious requirements are part of the service. The company arranges minyanim, a Sefer Torah, mikveh access, facilities for netilat yadayim, Kiddush wine and Shabbat candles, so travellers do not have to find these on the road. The head chef has 25 years of experience in Kosher restaurants and kitchens in Johannesburg, and the kitchen team caters for vegan, vegetarian and other special diets.

Why early booking helps

Group tracks and private tours both rely on flights, reserves and hotels, so families who book well ahead get the widest choice. Travellers who already know their dates can reserve a place on a group track. Those leaning towards a private tour can start talking through budget and priorities early. Glatt Safaris has phone numbers in New York, London, Jerusalem and South Africa, so families can reach the team from wherever they live.

The company's message to families who have postponed Kosher Safaris because of the cost is that the trip can work in more than one way. They can choose an all-inclusive group track or a private route built around their own priorities.

Full itineraries, dates and contact details can be found at https://www.glattsafaris.com/.

About Glatt Safaris

Glatt Safaris (PTY) LTD is a tour operator based in Johannesburg, founded by Chanan Green in 2013. It runs Glatt Kosher gourmet safari and holiday tours in South Africa and East Africa, including Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana, through its Silver and Gold group tracks and fully customised private tours. All meals are Kosher LeMehadrin under the supervision of the Cape Town Beth Din, and the company arranges minyanim and Shabbat requirements on every trip.