At Hatari.Travel, we connect deep immersion in untouched nature with cuisine drawn from the same source - for a journey that slows you down, moves you and renews you.
Hatari Lodge: an immersive return to the romance and adventure of a classic African safari. Located on the northern edge of the biodiverse Arusha National Park, Hatari offers a unique experience situated strategically between the majestic slopes of Mount Meru and the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Shu'mata Camp: an exclusive tented camp set on the slopes of the Maasai Steppe with sweeping views of Kilimanjaro, known for authentic cultural experiences, walking safaris, and exceptional elephant sightings.
Wondergarden: an extraordinary enterprise dedicated to redefining the connection between culture, nature, and food in East Africa. We take pride in supporting around 1,500 individual farmers, providing them with a vital market and essential support. We creatively rediscover and process approximately 100 indigenous food products through seasonal variations into about 200 exceptional items featured on the Hatari Lodge and Shumata Camp menus. This has empowered us to source 90% of our ingredients locally, strengthening our community by reducing reliance on imports and fostering local economic growth.
The African Wondergarden is a groundbreaking, holistic conservation philosophy woven into the operations of Hatari Lodge and Shu'mata Camp in Northern Tanzania. This initiative transcends conventional sustainability by recognizing the intrinsic link between the health of the land, the vitality of the food system, and the survival of keystone species like the African elephant. By focusing on the revival of heritage crops, supporting small-scale local farmers, and enriching depleted soils, Wondergarden works to regenerate the landscape.
The African Wondergarden project was started by the custodians and owners of Hatari Lodge and Shu'mata Camp. The driving force and visionary behind the initiative are Marlies and Joerg Gabriel, who own both properties and developed the philosophy connecting conservation, food systems, and luxury travel in Northern Tanzania.
Wondergarden operates as a pioneering regenerative ecosystem, designed to safeguard local biodiversity and directly uplift human and environmental well-being across East Africa. Its core work centers on culinary conservation, revitalizing underutilized indigenous crops and creating a stable, fair economy for the communities—primarily smallholder farmers—who grow them. Through its Heritage Food Africa (HFA) unit, Wondergarden provides a high-value market link for these farmers, ensuring they receive fair compensation by meeting the "free, fair & good" criteria of the Slow Food model. This system provides critical economic upliftment and supports the continued biodiversity of the land, as farmers are incentivized to use regenerative, eco-conscious methods rather than industrial monocropping. Furthermore, by educating chefs and the public through the African People's Culinary Center (APCC), Wondergarden elevates local food traditions, making the entire operation a powerful, circular model that nurtures the land, empowers livelihoods, and connects people back to their heritage.
