A platter of canapés is a show-stopping opener at Jamala. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Visiting Jamala Wildlife Lodge at the National Zoo and Aquarium is a luxurious experience, and the team have just made that luxury a little more accessible by opening up the opportunity for people to visit just for dinner.
Every Monday in May, you can experience a gourmet meal up close to some magnificent animals, in the African Lodge-inspired surroundings of the Jamala Wildlife Lodge ‘cave’.
I was recently lucky enough to be invited to have this experience myself. Arriving after the zoo has closed, Jamala staff open up the gate when you pull up outside. I was escorted through the lodge, glimpsing exotic fish swimming in the aquarium tanks along the way, as I was shown through to the rainforest terrace for pre-dinner drinks. Although it was becoming dark, I spotted a few leopards slinking around their enclosure and heard the roar of a lion echoing across the park. The bar featured a range of drinks, and I settled on Moet champagne (it was a special evening, after all!)
The other guests filtered through and I chatted to several visitors from out of town who were loving their stay at Jamala. I began to feel a bit jealous that I wasn’t sleeping metres away from lions, tigers and … giraffes, oh my!
Then we were introduced to brother and sister white lions, Jake and Mischka. Tempted up to their ‘penthouse’ with a snack, the pair were very imposing to see up close. Jake put on a bit of a show in the outside enclosure with his impressive growls before retiring to have a nap on the heated floors inside. The pair have access to their full enclosure during this time, so they are free to leave whenever they like.
White lions Jake and Mischka love to hang out in their ‘penthouse’ up close to where diners enjoy their meal. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The indoor enclosure has a large window facing onto the dining room so you can appreciate the majesty of these beasts up close while you eat! I’ll admit I felt a little bit like a Bond villain in my lair, swirling a glass of South African red wine in an underground cave, admiring rare animals just metres from my seat! Occasionally, a hyena would appear suddenly at a second window: spooky but very cool.
The meal ticket includes three courses plus drinks. The Jamala team previously started with roving canapés on the terrace, but in colder weather, they have created individual canapé platters to enjoy at your table. I particularly enjoyed the baked oyster with Mombasa butter and crispy soft shell crab served with a green papaya salad, avocado, and wasabi puree.
The room is decorated to evoke an African safari lodge, and one of the canapé dishes was also African-inspired: beef bobotie. Spiced mince is baked with a creamy topping and served with a fruity mango chutney.
The Jamala Dining room’s ‘cave’ feels a little Bond-villainesque (but in a fun way!) Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Guests choose what they will eat ahead of time, and I had selected the grilled South Coast snapper, which came with a generous side salad of radicchio and fennel, potato and pumpkin gratin and a miso bearnaise sauce with grilled asparagus. The fish was flaky and moist, and I enjoyed the pops of finger lime scattered over the salad.
For dessert, I chose a creamy pannacotta topped with fluffy Persian fairy floss, which comes with passionfruit puree, a berry sorbet and fresh fruit. It’s a lovely way to end the meal (although I sadly couldn’t finish the whole plate). The guests staying overnight lingered over tea, coffee and nightcaps while I made my way out through the aquarium to my car. Maybe I imagined it, but I thought I heard a lion’s roar following me across the lake as I drove home.
A lot of effort has been put into the meals at Jamala. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The dinner was a wonderful way to get a glimpse of the Jamala magic – and the profits from Jamala go towards supporting conservation efforts at the zoo!
Dining at Jamala Wildlife Lodge is available on Mondays during May (with select availability on other evenings). To book, call Jamala reception on 02 6287 8444. The meal is $295 per person, including drinks.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge is located at the National Zoo and Aquarium Canberra, Scrivener Dam, Yarralumla. Find out more about Jamala Wildlife Lodge and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
