African Safari-Inspired Dinner Table Setting
I love to find ways to bring new travel experiences into our daily lives. To me, it creates little moments of happiness around our home. But more importantly, it also tells our life story through decor. If you are new to Heirloom Explorer, finding ways to capture stories through family heirlooms is my jam. This was the idea behind this African safari-inspired dinner table setting after our trip to Tanzania, Africa.
It Started With Napkin Rings
When I spied these napkin rings in the tiny store at our lodge, I knew they would look perfect on our dining table. My decor design style is a bit eclectic. I’m not very good at following design rules. However, I recently heard a phrase that I’m willing to call my decor style (for now). It’s Traditional Boho. With its mixing of old and new, this design style marries the legacy keeper in me, who loves antiques and traditional decor, with my stubborn inclination to break design rules.
Anyway, these striking batik bone napkin rings were what kicked off this basic dinner table setting. My understanding is the local Maasai tribe carved and dyed these. They are irregular in shape, and each one is slightly different. It was love at first sight!
Adding the Zanzibar Spiced Coffee Ritual
Next, I spied a sweet ebony bowl and cover. I figured it would be perfect for holding the sugar crystals for all the Zanzibar spiced coffee we would be making. You are missing out if you haven’t tried this African coffee treat. Forget pumpkin spice coffee. This slow coffee is where it’s at. (Sign up for my blog so you don’t miss my recipe for this slow coffee treat! I’ll be posting about it next.)
I paired these new things with my old white dishes and linen napkins. Adding this vintage silverware that belonged to my grandmother creates a bit of flair to my African safari dinner table setting, don’t you think?
One of the experiences I loved when we were in Tanzania was the coffee service. Instead of afternoon tea, we drank glorious, bold cups of local coffee. We learned that agriculture is an important economic activity in Africa. We passed several small coffee farms on our way to the Ngorongoro region. So, I pulled out our old french press and whipped up a cup of Zanzibar spiced coffee to help recreate the experience of our afternoon slow coffee treat.
I’ve shared a video of how I made my coffee on Instagram reels. If you’re not already following @heirloomexplorer on that platform, do pop over and give it a follow. There you’ll see more heirloom decor details at home and find them in my travels.
And Finally, the Family Heirloom Touch
Finally, I had to add a bit of the unexpected. I remembered this heirloom glass elephant I found in my godmother’s things. She was a traveler, teacher, and collector of trinkets and “what nots.” When she passed away nearly 30 years ago, all her treasures were boxed up. These family heirlooms were kept hidden in a basement until I spent some time last summer sorting through them. I wonder if she also traveled to Africa, and this was a momento she collected along her journey. Or maybe she just liked elephants. Sadly, I’m not sure I’ll ever know. But it makes me smile to see these moments mingled as if we were sharing stories around the table.
What do you think about this African Safari Dinner Table Setting for a traditional boho decor vibe?