A Night Safari Dinner Party

Why not plan a dinner party around a safari theme?  I had been to a wedding shower in an event space at a zoo and they did not tie the theme to the zoo at all, despite the fact that we could view the elephants from our location.  I thought how fun it would have been if they had themed the shower as “Suzy is wild about Bob”.  The following year I was asked to plan a thank you event for clients of my husband.  I immediately thought of “we are wild about our clients”.  Unfortunately that event never came to fruition.  

Finally the time came when I was planning to host a dinner party for some special friends and I really wanted to do something out of the ordinary.  I don’t really have enough room at my inside dining table for six, so this would be a dinner party out on the lanai.  I decided to set the whole party around a safari theme and spend our entire evening outdoors. 

A Night Safari Party

This would be a great place for a few friends to relax together and enjoy the company and the food.  To get inspired I took a trek around Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.  Disney, of course did such an incredible job not just building, but creating what appears to be a little bit of Africa and Asia right out of the swampy lands of Florida.

Why not plan a dinner party around a safari theme?  I had been to a wedding shower in an event space at a zoo and they did not tie the theme to the zoo at all, despite the fact that we could view the elephants from our location.  I thought how fun it would have been if they had themed the shower as “Suzy is wild about Bob”.  The following year I was asked to plan a thank you event for clients of my husband.  I immediately thought of “we are wild about our clients”.  Unfortunately that event never came to fruition.  Finally the time came when I was planning to host a dinner party for some special friends and I really wanted to do something out of the ordinary.  I don’t really have enough room at my inside dining table for six, so this would be a dinner party out on the lanai.  I decided to set the whole party around a safari theme and spend our entire evening outdoors.  This would be a great place for a few friends to relax together and enjoy the company and the food.  To get inspired I took a trek around Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.  Disney, of course did such an incredible job not just building, but creating what appears to be a little bit of Africa and Asia right out of the swampy lands of Florida.

A Night Safari Dinner Party at home

I had a basic space that served us well, but I wanted to give it the feeling of one of the exotic African safari resorts you see where guests fall asleep to the sounds of the animals in the jungle.  I looked around my house and began to find elements that I could move outside to give the space more of a feeling of an indoor dining room.  I brought out this bookshelf (yes, I had to hide all the books in a closet for the evening) and began dressing it with appropriate knick knacks.  I arranged this in the corner by the seating area.  This is where we would gather for drinks and appetizers.

An amazing Safari-themed Dinner Party

At the other end of the lanai I brought out this piece of furniture we use as a bar and created this large, showy arrangement to be a focal point.  I mixed in a few artificial leaves and flowers I had on hand with ferns and palmettos cut in the wilds of Florida and added some of the feathers I have used in Fall arrangements.  

Safari Party Decor

I picked up the elephant painting from World Market and hung it on the wall with Command Strips for outdoor use between my piece of furniture and my outdoor lamp which I elevated on a outdoor end table.  Hanging a piece of art really made the outdoors seem like a room within my home.  

Safari Party Table View

A piece of a palmetto was also stuck up on the wall with outdoor Command Strips for a little more interest. 

Palmetto on Wall decoration for a Night Safari Party

For the table centerpiece I used these four black and leopard placemats which I laid out on the table like a runner.  I placed river rocks down the center as if they were a river flowing down the table.  Next, I took five variegated Liriope plants, tied Spanish moss around the pots with raffia and sat them down the center of my table.  I additionally dressed them up with bamboo.  Next I nestled some stately giraffes, an elephant and zebra wooden animals and finished with lots of votive candles.  

Night Safari Dinner Party Tablescape
Elephant and Giraffe in Safari Dinner Party Centerpiece
A Safari Party Tablesetting

My table setting was easy to put together with these plates I found at Home Goods.  I saw these and thought they looked very much like the pattern of giraffe fur.  I used chargers which were a nice burlap texture.  The green textured glasses also came from Home Goods.  Black napkins were an easy choice, but I kind of skimped on my napkin rings, using a paper towel tube cut into pieces and covered with animal print duct tape.

Night Safari Dinner Party by candlelight

When dusk set in, the whole feeling I wanted really enveloped us all as we settled in at the dinner table by candlelight.  I have shared the incredibly easy, yet very delicious Chicken Curry and Rice dish I prepared for my guests this evening.  Click on that link for the recipe.

Supplies for styling your own safari party:

Wooden chargers
Safari Grasslands Giraffe Mother and Calf appetizer plates
Animal print tablecloth
Artificial palm plants
Antelope statues








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37 Comments

  1. I absolutely love the safari decor in your photos. My living room use to be decorated in a safari theme and I really miss it… I wish I never changed it! lol Thank you for linking up with us on the Oh My Heartsie Girls Wordless Wednesday Link Party!

    Wishing you an amazing week!

    xx
    Lysa
    Co-Host

  2. Your tablescape is wonderful, I especially like it after dark, it takes on a whole different feeling!!!
    Thanks for sharing on the Oh My Heartsie Girl WW this week!!!
    Karren

  3. This is fantastic! I would love to go to a party like this and maybe I will host one someday! I love how you found a lot of it at your own house. Thanks for sharing this on Oh My Heartsie Girl Link Up.

    1. I want to be invited to a party like this too, but I have to say, I loved hosting it! I am still holding out for hosting a “Bride is WILD about Groom” bridal shower at the zoo!

  4. Wow! I hope your guests appreciated all of your efforts and the details that went into your party. Your floral arrangement is stunning. Did you used to be a florist? I’m in love with those plates. I have to stay out of HomeGoods because I always find something I want.

    1. Dawn, My guests enjoyed it all! Yes, my secret is out, my husband owned a flower shop when I married him and I went to work with him! I haven’t done it professional for years (and years)! Yes, Home Goods can be dangerous!

  5. I love those plates! They are so cute! Thank you for linking up to Party Time and we hope to see you again next week!

  6. Chloe, I’m a new admirer of your safari setting. Kudos!!! Love it! I have been searching and searching for inspiration to do a safari setting, comfy and cozy in a home and not in a themed wedding space. “Your entire atmosphere is right on” I know yours was for a dinner party but it does not look “planned,” it gives the feeling of everyday living. I love this. Hope you don’t mind but I’ll have to adopt your ideas with credit to you of course. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Linda, I am so honored by your kind compliments. I appreciate that you want to adopt my ideas into your own party! Have fun and make sure you share the pictures with me! Hugs! Chloe

  7. Hi I really love this decor I’m looking for similar plates where can I get the same or similar plates thanks

    1. Thanks for stopping b y Chanel. I have had these for several years. I think I bought them at Home Goods, but I could be wrong about that. Good luck for your search!

  8. I’m hearing jungle drums as I write. Chloe, WOW I really felt in the jungle. Just beautiful and so creative. You thought of everything.

  9. What fun Chloe! You really went all out and really created a safari feeling experience! Love the focal point arrangement, beautiful! I know you’re guests were completely charmed, and that you all had a wonderful time!

  10. Wow, Chloe, your creativity never ceases to amaze me. The entire scene looks authentically safari-like. The details are crazy good, and relatively simple as you described them. I’d feel pretty special if that atmosphere had been created for a dinner party for me!

  11. Hi Chloe

    Usually I am always appreciating the talent that goes into executing a beautiful tablescape. However, this time I was taken mostly by the decor. The details that went into turning the place into an indoor/outdoor exotic setting. I particularly loved the evening pictures. When I saw the final product all I could think up was: ” At what time is dinner.” I know that your guests must have gain an enjoyable experience. It was a fantastic job .

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