Cooking Class with Zanzibar Mamas
Step into the heart of Zanzibari culture by cooking with the island’s true culinary experts — the local mamas. This unique, hands-on class offers more than just recipes; it’s a chance to connect with women from the community, learn traditional techniques, and share unforgettable moments around food.
Your journey begins with a visit to a nearby local market, where the mamas will guide you in selecting fresh ingredients — tropical fruits, hand-picked herbs, local spices, and produce that shape everyday Swahili meals. It’s an authentic start that grounds the experience in daily island life.
Back at the cooking site (often a traditional outdoor or village kitchen), you’ll learn how to prepare family-style recipes like coconut curry, chapati, pilau rice, and fried plantains. These are the same dishes passed down through generations — cooked the way Zanzibari families do at home.
This is not a chef-led demo — you’ll be cooking right alongside the mamas: peeling, chopping, grinding, and stirring while learning through doing. There’s laughter, storytelling, and cultural exchange in every step.
Share a Homemade Meal
Once the cooking is done, everyone sits together to enjoy the meal. It’s a communal moment that goes beyond food — one of togetherness, conversation, and connection with the women who keep Zanzibar’s food traditions alive.
Whether you’re a foodie or simply curious about local life, this cooking class with Zanzibar Mamas near Kiwengwa is one of the most authentic and heartwarming experiences the island has to offer.