If I’m being completely honest, I’ve always preferred air-conditioned rooms and plush seating. You couldn’t pay me to be outdoors, especially not in winter.
But Cresta Hotels’ Bush Dinner Experience changed that entirely. I might just be on my way to becoming a certified sunset chaser.
Somewhere between the glow of lanterns and the DJ’s earthy, cinematic beats—straight out of The Lion King—my usual fear of the wild melted away. To my surprise, I felt completely at ease. Peaceful. Present.
There’s something deeply grounding about sitting around a bonfire in the wilderness. The vast, open sky above and the hush of the surroundings don’t lull you—they wake you up. You start to see, hear, and feel with more intention.
The invitation was simple: a bush dinner under the stars. But what we got was far more than a four-course meal. It was an experience that unfolded slowly, like a quiet adventure.
Earlier that afternoon, a shuttle full of journalists left behind the hum of Gaborone and headed west in search of tranquility. There was music, easy conversation, and that unspoken excitement that comes from escaping the newsroom for a bit of pampering and a change of pace.
Our destination: Cresta Grande Jwaneng. It was my first time there, and honestly, the praise I’d heard didn’t come close to what I found. The hotel was stunning—polished, yet warm, with an inviting design that struck the perfect balance between elegance and comfort.
My Deluxe room? Dreamy. Spacious. Totally content-creator friendly. I may or may not have nearly been left behind, caught up in trying to photograph every detail.
As the sun began its slow descent, we set off again—just ten minutes out of town—onto a gravel path winding quietly through Kalahari dust. Then it appeared: a glowing table under rows of lanterns, nestled gently in the wilderness.
The sky shifted from gold to deep blue as the DJ’s steady drums and soulful vocals filled the air. The music felt ancestral—a sonic thread connecting us to the land. Children of the soil, indeed.
We were welcomed by Cresta’s management, who shared the vision behind the Bush Dinner. “This isn’t just a tourism product,” they said, “but a statement—a commitment to celebrating Botswana’s beauty beyond four walls. A chance to see Jwaneng differently, and eventually, to experience all of Botswana in a new way, one moment at a time.”
Then came the food course after a carefully curated course. I began with a velvety mushroom and butternut soup, served with crisp crostini—comforting and smooth. But the hors d’oeuvre platter stole the show. Smoked salmon rosettes and a Melrose prawn cocktail? Absolutely divine.
For the main course, I enjoyed marinated Kalahari lamb chops and chicken lollipops, served over mustard mash and a medley of fresh vegetables. Each bite was flavourful, tender, and deeply satisfying.
I skipped dessert—those generous cocktails had already done their job—but I didn’t skip games night. What started as light competition quickly turned into a chaotic, hilarious memory. (Yes, I won both rounds. Bragging rights secured.)
Still, the real reward wasn’t the win—it was that rare, fleeting feeling of being completely present. Sitting beneath Botswana’s endless sky, surrounded by fire, food, and fellowship, everything felt exactly right.
Final verdict? A solid ten out of ten. Cresta’s Bush Dinner delivered atmosphere, flavour, and that elusive sense of escape I didn’t even know I needed. No passports, no tents, no survival skills—just magic.
