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Safaris are run on a food kitty system - each person contributes about $10 per day. Our first stop is usually the supermarket where we all help with buying food for the next few days. Everybody is involved with the preparation and cooking of meals: barbecues, salads, pancakes, stews, pasta, dampers, hangi...Vegetarian meals are no problem. When we are on overnight hikes we tend to eat pasta and rice meals. We usually take lots of hiking food - chocolate, peanuts, raisins, biscuits. The vehicles carry a full range of cooking equipment including gas burners, woks, frying pans and billies. When we go on an overnight hike we carry a portable stove.

Hangi - This is a way of cooking food that was used by the Māori people of New Zealand. On one of the nights of your safari your guide will show you how to put down a hangi - usually on a beach. To prepare a hangi you dig a hole in the sand, light a fire in the hole and heat up rocks. When the wood has burnt down you put in the food (chicken, meat, potatoes, kumara, pumpkin, onions, sweet corn...), cover it with sacks and then sand. You leave it to cook for 2 hours and uncover. Eat with your fingers (knives and forks are optional).

Transport - We travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. We also carry a range of natural history reference books. We average 2-3 hours driving per day and we drive on a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. We often stop the vehicle for you to take photos.On some of the nights you will be camping by the vehicle

Your involvement - Everyone is fully involved with the running of the safari, from collecting firewood, to setting up camp and cooking meals. You are expected to do your share of work. If you are not a great cook, don't worry - your guide and other people in the group will help you.
The safaris are strong on group activities and participation (max. group size 12) including playing outdoor games, going for swims, helping one another to cross rivers and explore caves, and overcoming obstacles and challenges. We encourage you to participate in activities, but if it's not your thing that is also OK. We allow time for people to be by themselves on safari if they need it.