The Boma: A Carnivore’s Paradise
Rudy Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 01:00PM Warning: This post contains smoked crocodile, guinea fowl pâté, and grilled warthog—not for vegetarians!
It’s almost worth the trip to Zimbabwe just to experience a night at the Boma, located in Victoria Falls. This happens to be my favorite area on the globe, having visited twice before and bounced back and forth over the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders.
The Boma is not just a restaurant, it is an explosion of African culture. Exotic dishes, traditional clothing, tribal song and dance, native drumming, spirits (both alcohol and ethereal), artistic whittling, and indigenous face painting, all delivered in a traditional Zimbabwean manner. In a word, “wow." During your two-hour or so visit, you’ll have experienced more of Africa than you would have on a week-long safari.
Here is what you can expect. As soon as you arrive, before you even enter the restaurant, the festivities begin. You are greeted by a face painter, who renders traditional markings on your cheeks. Soon after, but still before entering the restaurant, a wrap called a chitenje is tied around you by one of the locals. The colorful chitenje is considered a noble garment, worn by local royalty.
When you enter, you pass a crafts table laden with carvings, and you are greeted with a genuine smile. Your senses are already heightened, but nothing prepares you for the onslaught of sounds, smells, and sights to come.
A lamb is being barbecued over a roaring, log-fueled campfire; a station with soup and stew pots is steaming on top of orange glowing coals; a buffet of grill-to-order domestic and exotic meats awaits your bravery and selection; a salad station overflowing with fresh, clean vegetables, smoked fish and crocodile, pâté, and warm baked bread beckon. And that’s just the food!
As you sit, you’re greeted with a traditional hand washing ceremony where a smiling staff member pours water from a dried and gouged out squash over your hands and into a wooden bowl. Then a tart indigenous beer called umqomboti, fermented from corn, is poured. In African tradition, males are served first.
Craftsmen whittle around the campfire as a troupe of drummers and singers enter an open area in the center of the restaurant (yes, I too briefly forgot that I was describing a restaurant). They sing and pound away on huge Kudu- and Springbok-skinned drums.
Smaller drums are then distributed to all guests and a drumming class commences, led by the chief drummer. The diners are divided into groups, each with their own beats to master and tap out. The group’s riffs are then rotated and merged by the maestro and his drum into a frenzy of beats, smiles, laughter, and raised glasses. What an absolute blast.
Since this is a restaurant review, I’ll not forget to address the menu. There is an extensive vegetarian selection and many varieties of local fish. The tiger fish is my favorite. But the Boma is really all about the exotic meats.
The smoked crocodile was so very tasty that I went back twice for more. The meat was white and tasted like a slightly more firm, smoked whitefish. There were sections of toughness resembling the grizzle found in steaks, but the flavor was so new and inviting that I savored every bite. I don’t usually go for pâté, but I tried the guinea fowl pâté and couldn’t put it down. It was at least as rich and delicious as any goose pâté I’ve sampled. I was curious to try this delicacy, as guinea fowl are to Africa what pigeons are to New York City. They’re all over the place and not regarded very highly.
Finally, I tried the grilled warthog as my entrée. I felt a bit guilty, as Pumba was one of my favorite characters is The Lion King, but I jumped in. The warthog was marinated and grilled in a zesty sauce. It was very much like pork in every way, so if you like pork, get the warthog.
All in all, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Put the Boma on your “bucket list,” and we’ll see you in Africa.
Rudy is a member of SkyMiles® Dining
Reader Comments (5)
looks like an amazing experience that has the bonus of great food too!! Manga!
Great Article Rudy! I envy the adventures you get to take. Second best is to live vicariously through you.
You know what I love most about these reviews? I feel like I'm there. I can hear the music, taste the food, feel the festive atmosphere. Awesome article, and I just hope I can make it there to experience it myself someday : )
Great article.... i think I would like the warthog and crocodile!
Nice review, Rudy! It makes me feel like I'm there.