Flights to Africa should not low cost proper now. The animals might not be the identical, however at the least San Antonians could make a brief drive to a really comfy safari tent for special-occasion jaunts into the wilderness.
“Why does it seem like you are in Africa once more?” questioned one among this reporter’s buddies through Instagram DM. It is true, we might been in a virtually equivalent panorama in South Africa final winter. However this was solely an hour’s drive away. And make no mistake — it is nonetheless costly, however no more so than a upscale resort room or Airbnb at $450 an evening.
Amani, the only real safari tent overlooking an unlimited expanse at Marble Falls’ Shaffer Bend Recreation Space, might pose a philosophical query about what tenting entails. If it is being in a distant space, it actually suits the invoice. The tent is located on the finish of a dust street, off a dust street. There’s virtually no likelihood of seeing even the odd hiker, until they’ve taken the extremely steep path up the again manner and particularly sought out the tent.
The tougher query, is does tenting embody a generator? How a few bathe, air con, mini-fridge, plush rug, and king-sized mattress? Most likely not, nevertheless it actually makes it straightforward to pack up and hit the woods in any climate. And if it is about having fun with nature, it would not actually get higher than being comfy whereas doing so — though the noise from the generator, which powers the operating water, is a essential trade-off.
Photograph courtesy of LCRA
A novel concept for honeymoons, ladies journeys, seniors, or condominium dwellers with out a lot room for storing tenting gear — and verified by CultureMap on an invite by the park — that is hotel-style journey with the good thing about having completely no different guests in sight. Or earshot. And though the sensible inside design offers a glamper something they’d have to make, serve, and retailer their very own meals (utilizing substances from the Marble Falls H-E-B, about 10 miles away), those that wish to lean into the luxurious might e book some connoisseur choices.
Dwelling cooks who like the thought of remaining separate from the remainder of civilization can order a meal prep equipment ($55-75 per individual, vegan choices accessible) to be delivered to the tent, the place they’ll prepare dinner on the grill. The kitchenette, designed with enter from a neighborhood chef who beloved visiting the park earlier than Amani existed, has loads of grilling instruments and dish ware — sufficient for 4 folks to make use of although the house solely sleeps two.
Extra extravagant vacationers ought to severely contemplate essentially the most luxurious choice: welcoming in a personal chef ($300). Chef Cindy Crowe grilled up Amani’s first-ever personal eating expertise on September 16, representing the beginning of a brand new partnership between Crowe’s firm, Bay Kitchens Catering, and the Decrease Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the federal government company that managers the park and rents out Amani.
In truth, it was Bay Kitchens company chef, Jay Hunter, who made suggestions on the kitchenette design. And the park isn’t any stranger to luxurious eating outdoor; At one fundraising dinner, a part of its “Savor the Outside” collection, park supporters gathered at lengthy picnic tables alongside the river at Pedernales Falls State Park to take pleasure in native meals ready on cool live-fire rigs. The meals was scrumptious, however the pleasant breaking of bread between outdoorsy foodies was the spotlight of the night.
The spirit was related at Amani, though, in fact, a lot smaller in scale. Chef Crowe arrange on the outside grill and peacefully, effectively set to work getting ready a meal that appeared prefer it got here out of an elite, bustling kitchen. But, regardless of all its sophistication, this meal retained the soul of any campsite meal: a easy grilled trout, a summery salad, and a no-bake dessert.
Photograph by Brianna Caleri
Extra particularly, the three-course meal — referred to as the “Serengeti Menu” — included a really tender child greens salad with toasted pecans and feta, candy strawberries, completely smooth orange supreme (basically bare orange segments), and a refreshing peach-pecan French dressing. The very lemony trout was served with crispy pores and skin, a wholesome sprinkling of chives, and an almost-rustic facet of roasted Yukon gold potatoes and Chardonnay and honey-spiked child carrots. Chef Crowe rounded out the menu together with her Key lime cheesecake, which she dressed with a berry compote and torched Italian meringue, for a low-maintenance, high-payoff end.
Different menus embody bourbon and honey-glazed Atlantic Salmon with marble potatoes and broccolini, or a selection of steak cuts with asparagus and a twice-baked potato. Crowe factors out that though the menu is not very restricted, she did have to consider what could possibly be cooked with out an open flame. (It would be arduous to prepare dinner on one thing aside from propane throughout a burn ban.) Issues like twice-baked potatoes and mini cheesecakes are straightforward to arrange forward and hit with a of entirety on the campground.
“It is easy meals, nonetheless performed nicely,” says Crowe. “Though I am out right here with these stunning views cooking on a grill you could possibly purchase at Lowe’s, I nonetheless wish to put my stamp on the dishes.”
Amani is an experiment for the LCRA, in accordance with Crowe and Cheyrice Brumfield, the park ranger and Cherokee grandmother who appeared at my tent in full glam make-up at 10:20 am to get the water turned again on after a restore earlier than I arrived. If Amani — which formally opened its reservations in June in accordance with a publicist — is as profitable because the glamping pattern of the previous few years would recommend, the LCRA plans to deliver related tents to different parks.
Crowe, throughout her first run-through of this specific catering expertise, was unsure how many individuals could be take part, however she guesses she may accommodate 4 folks. Bay Kitchen Catering additionally does bridal brunches and even bulk prep for different eating places, so the scope relies upon extra on what LCRA is prepared to host than the quantity the catering firm is able to reaching.
Photograph by Brianna Caleri
A non-public chef expertise is clearly not required to take pleasure in a keep at Amani, nevertheless it actually elevates the event, and could possibly be a pleasant method to mark a special day past simply staying in a pleasant room. Amani additionally affords a chilly cowboy pool (principally a big trough for seated dip) {that a} glamper can select to warmth as a scorching tub, an electrical bike rental for conquering the very hilly roads and exploring Shaffer Bend’s 508 acres, and naturally, spectacular views throughout the park.
It is as straightforward to scoff on the excessive luxurious as it’s to fantasize about it (for those who, like most of us, comprise multitudes), however what is de facto particular about Amani is that folks like Crowe and Brumfield are making it occur. It is not one among a dozen new purchases by a world resort chain; It immediately advantages Texas parks, and it is taken care of by heat, relatable Texans.
Amani and the park’s different campgrounds may be reserved at reserveamerica.com. The safari tent has a two-night minimal, bringing the minimal rental value to $900 earlier than tax and costs. Culinary reservations should be made at the least 72 hours earlier than the keep. Extra details about Shaffer Bend Recreation Space is out there at lcra.org.
