A Taste Of Tribal Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Cuisine Style: African, Zimbabwe, Buffet
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Dined in December 2013
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Brighton Nekatambe
The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in the town named after Victoria Falls straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, where you have an adventure that is not a safari. This adventure has a full buffet, with game dishes and traditional dancing. A unique African experience that bombards the senses with the tastes, sights, sounds, and smells of Africa. What more could I ask for while visiting Victoria Falls, but a traditional Zimbabwean dinner. I had researched places to eat before my visit, and this restaurant came up as the top recommendation in the area. I was really looking forward to it, and I was not disappointed. Tucked into a four-course meal of mouth-watering starters from the kitchen, soup from the campfire, a substantial barbecue buffet served on cast iron plates, and a selection of salads, followed by a choice of delicious desserts, what was there not to like.
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| Lamb carcass on the fire pit |
On arrival you will be dressed in a chitenge (sarong), and after being seated, you take part in a traditional hand washing ceremony and sip on a mug of local beer, followed by a starter platter of traditional snacks, featuring skewered peppered impala, a corn ciabatta, ‘nyimo’(Bambara groundnut) bean fritters, and an Ingwenya Yasekhunjini Luka Zambezi, loosely translated as smoked crocodile tail. This is then followed by soup from the campfire.
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| Nebosh starter platter |
The main course buffet offers many popular African and Zimbabwe choices from the most popular warthog fillet, a grilled ostrich, buffalo curry, lamb on the spit, game stews and kudu steak just to name a few. There are also vegetarian options available, with a good size salad bar, as well to go along with local vegetarian dishes such as peanut butter spinach and sadza (a thick porridge made from ground maize that forms Zimbabwe’s staple diet).
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| The buffet |
The Boma arranged a tour company to pick me up at my hotel and I enjoyed a 15-minute drive to the location. As I arrived, a gentleman was by the entrance to check reservations, and he welcomed me with a traditional greeting in Shona and Ndebele, the local languages. The restaurant fills up almost one month in advance, so you better book the reservation when you book your hotel. To my right were local Zimbabweans performing a traditional tribal dance. After the hand wash ceremony and chitenges, you are escorted to the partially opened dining room looking up to the African skies yet your table is sheltered by the indigenous Gusu forest, which is styled in a traditional thatched manner. Boma has an open fire pit where a large carcass of lamb was being cooked and gives you a sense of what you will experience.
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| Picture courtesy of Boma |
The sampling of traditional maize beer is called Chibuku, and a local storyteller comes by to tell you tales of old. You can even have your fortune told by the witchdoctor for an extra cost. From there you may walk around to see the buffet area and the massive selection of game meats, sides, and desserts.
The second area close to the buffet was a game grill where you could choose from the assorted animals mentioned earlier plus a few others like antelope meatballs, guineafowl, sirloin steak, and chicken. You could also order UmZingeli “Hunters Stew,” Zambezi bream, kapenta or whitebait, plus plates of pasta, stir-fry, and other assorted starch or vegetables. We were then invited up to sample the assorted salad selections and a nice homemade sweet potato soup served in a small cast iron pot with lid, cooked directly over the open fire pit flame near the lamb on the spit.
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| Salad buffet |
Then came the most interesting dish that I had ever seen. At a separate stand, with a chef cooking them to order were Mopani Worms. This was, of course, optional, but being that I have an adventurous spirit, I thought I would try one. You even get a certificate to prove that you ate it, that way when you go back home and tell the story, you can back it up with the evidence in hand. It is a caterpillar that gets its name because it primarily feeds off of the mopane tree. I do have to say that it was a little mushy, charred flavor, similar to overcooked chicken, and yes to prove I’m not lying to you, my certificate is pictured below. On the bonus side, it is high in protein!
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| Worms and the certificate |
I then went up to the buffet to get the taste out of my mouth and ate more meat and vegetables. Next, as you were eating your entrée’s and going up for dessert came the entertainment with local dancers, and drum lessons which made for a very interesting meal overall. I really enjoyed the entire experience.
Local dancers - YouTube:
As you left, they also wanted to remind you for one last chance to enjoy the Mopani worms. Some people were brave and tried them like me, but others chickened out, but then again worms are not for everyone.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy African / Zimbabwe cuisine Articles and Restaurants:
Aubergine Restaurant Innovative East meets West in Cape Town, South Africa
Dunes Beach Restaurant & Bar Eclectic Cape Malay cuisine w/sushi in Hout Bay, South Africa
Fugitives Drift Lodge and Zulu Battlefields African Cuisine Buffet, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
La Colombe Country-style local ingredients w/French flair in Cape Town, South Africa
Leopard Hills Lodge Safari’s with contemporary African cuisine in Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa
Signal Restaurant Contemporary Cape Malay Cuisine at the Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
Signature Restaurant Contemporary & elegant eclectic eatery in Sandton, South Africa
Terroir Seasonal South African cuisine bistro in Stellenbosch, South Africa
The Five Flies Cape Malay cuisine in Cape Town, South Africa
The Jungle Junction Zimbabwe & European buffet at the Victoria Falls Hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français African-French tasting menu in Franschhoek, SA
The Test Kitchen Modern eclectic and Nouvelle Latin cuisine in Cape Town, South Africa
Tradewinds Restaurant Local and International cuisine in Sandton, South Africa
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Boma Restaurant a 5 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded all my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, but they surpassed outstanding and were absolutely extraordinary.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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9
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9
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0
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Food quality
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10
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10
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0
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Plate presentation
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8
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7
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1
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Customer service
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5
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4
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1
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Alcohol and other beverages
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7
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5
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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39
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35
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4
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.897435897435897
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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3
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0769230769230769
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.974358974358974
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
97% Rating with a 3 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Wine rating:
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4 of 10
New World selections:
South Africa
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Corkage fee’s:
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$5.00 per bottle for international wines, and $3.00 for local
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style:
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African, Wild Game, Zambezi, Zimbabwean
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Grass Fed, Local, Vegetarian options
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Reservations:
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Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
You will be given"chitenges"(traditional robes) to dress in
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Valet and Private lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium to Loud
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWD)
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Z$$$$$$$$$$$$
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRRRR
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Notice:
The Zimbabwe dollar has been suspended indefinitely due to runaway inflation.
This $45-60 USD meal is Z$ 70,140,476.00
Boma Restaurant:
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
471 Squire Cummings Road
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+263 213 2843211-20
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Online reservations
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
Zimbabwe Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC + 2:00)
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Dinner: Mon-Sun
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Creatively presented high-energy Mediterranean Fare
Denver, Colorado, USA
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A Parisian style bistro rendez-vous
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
|
Eclectic & innovative gastropub using molecular gastronomy
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Other Pictures:
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| Mopani worms |
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| Picture courtesy of Boma |
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| Picture courtesy of Boma |
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| Picture courtesy of Boma |
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| Picture courtesy of Boma |
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| Picture courtesy of Boma |
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
