What on the menu?

Read what's on the MENU and take a look at some of the meals and Dining Hall:

Food and Health Safety

Safari Zoo Camp works closely with the Durham Region Health Department to ensure that we are compliant with all local, provinical and federal standards.

We take food safety seriously. Bacteria, viruses, parasites, mould and their toxins can live and/or grow in some foods, and as a result, when individuals consume these foods, they may become ill.

Though meals are prepared offsite at Kings Court Catering, we recognize the potential for contamination when campers handle the food they eat. Preventative measures, such as hand-washing and anti-bacterial lotions, is enforced and monitored by staff.

Any disease that is spread from animals to people, or more specifically, a disease that normally exists in animals but that can infect humans, is called a Zoonotic Disease.

Avoiding direct contact with animals, in particular wild animals, significantly reduces the risk of anyone becoming infected with a zoonotic disease. However, prohibiting hands-on activities with animals in zoological parks and aquariums would deprive the public of many valuable educational experiences and limit the extent of their relationship with nature.

While animal contact opportunities for the general public can present increased risks, these can be controlled with reasonable precautions. Transmission of zoonotic diseases can be prevented with appropriate animal care, monitoring, quarantine programs and proper hand washing and/or sanitizing techniques.

For more information, please read our Policy and Procedures for Zoonotic Diseases

What we choose to eat has a huge influence on the plants, animals and people around us. It is one of the most influential forces that shapes society and the environment. By eating responsibly, striving for ecological harmony, we are inadvertently securing our own health and welfare. Let's protect our soil, water and air by eating smart! Our menu is designed to be nutritious yet socially and environmentally responsible:

While at the zoo, all lunches and suppers are prepared and served by Kings Court Catering, an acclaimed full service professional catering company. Meals are prepared at their kitchen daily in nearby Bowmanville and delivered fresh. Safari Zoo Camp purchases extra Carbon Offsets to negate the CO² emitted from their short drive to and from our Dining Hall.

DELICIOUS vegetarian meals are available upon request and always available for others to try.

Though meat is offered daily, beef is available only once each week. Beef production requires a large amount of resources, such as water, fossil fuels and land. Roughly one-fifth of the world's land is used for grazing. Livestock waste has been known to pollute rivers, lakes and drinking water.

One study estimated that a basic North American meal travels 2,400 km from the field to our table. All this transportation releases pollutants and greenhouse gases. Our snack food and meals for our field trips are purchased locally, only a few kilometers away. Not only does this support the local economy, but reduces the waste, energy and materials required to move food over great distances. [Durham Farm Fresh]

Over 400 billion cups of coffee are drank each year around the world. Coffee production is one of the leading causes of rainforest destruction and one of the most heavily chemically sprayed food crops. The staff and adult campers enjoy only Organic/Fair Trade coffee. [Roses (formerly the "Coffee Table")]

Please note: Though we can't accomodate all special dietary needs, we do our best to do so. Please ask us before registering.