A safari party is one of those themes that can grow right along with the celebration. It can be playful enough for a child's safari birthday party, sweet enough for a first birthday, and sophisticated enough for a safari baby shower or sip & see. With friendly jungle animals, warm neutrals, soft greens and blues, and touches of animal print, the theme can be styled in so many different ways without feeling overly juvenile.

Our Safari Collection brings together lions, giraffes, elephants, and zebras with layered safari paper plates, animal print napkins, scalloped placemats, table runners, and coordinating party supplies. Add tropical greenery, flowers, and a few explorer-inspired details, and you have a safari tablescape that feels adventurous, cheerful, and easy to make your own.

Set the Scene for a Safari Adventure

A memorable safari party table starts with the feeling that guests are setting off on an adventure. Instead of filling the table with obvious jungle decorations, use a few carefully chosen explorer-inspired details to establish the theme.

Binoculars, a magnifying glass, compass, and safari hat instantly create the mood, while leafy greenery running through the center of the table adds a natural element. Orange flowers bring warmth and coordinate beautifully with the lions and giraffes without turning the table into a traditional green-and-brown jungle theme.

At each place setting, layer scalloped placemats and sage lattice plates with illustrated safari animal paper plates. Then mix zebra, giraffe, tiger-inspired, and leopard-print napkins around the table. Giving each guest a different animal makes the setting even more playful.

This is especially fun for a kids' safari birthday party, where children can choose their seat based on their favorite animal.

Create a Modern Jungle Party

Safari doesn't have to mean dark jungle green and brown. A softer palette of sage, warm yellow, muted blue, peach, cream, and natural kraft gives a jungle party a much fresher look.

Start with a green-and-white striped table runner and scatter oversized tropical leaves down the center. Layer patterned safari dinner plates with the lion, giraffe, elephant, and zebra dessert plates, then introduce animal-print napkins at each setting.

Natural wood flatware and kraft paper cups reinforce the safari feeling while keeping the table casual and easy for entertaining.

The explorer accessories are what really make this look fun. A safari hat, binoculars, magnifying glass, compass, or toy telescope can become part of the centerpiece and later double as props for children to play with during the party.

Mix & Match Your Safari Animals

One of the easiest ways to create a beautiful safari tablescape is to let each animal have its own place at the party. Instead of repeating one design at every seat, alternate lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras around the table.

Pair the zebra with blue and yellow zebra-print napkins, the giraffe with giraffe spots, the lion with warm yellow stripes, and the elephant with a softer neutral animal print. Sage green lattice plates underneath connect the different designs and keep the overall table coordinated.

This approach is particularly useful for safari party decorations and tableware because you don't need every piece to perfectly match. Repeating the same soft color palette allows several animal prints and patterns to live together naturally.

It also gives younger guests something fun to discover when they arrive: Which safari animal did I get?

Go on Safari for a Birthday Party

A safari birthday party gives you plenty of opportunities to carry the adventure beyond the table. Create a simple “Welcome to the Safari” entrance and give each child an explorer name tag or safari passport when they arrive.

Set up small activity stations around the party. Children can go on an animal scavenger hunt, decorate binoculars, color safari animals, or search the party space for hidden lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes. A safari photo area with explorer hats and binoculars gives everyone another activity and creates great birthday pictures.

For a first birthday, the theme works beautifully for a Wild One birthday party. Keep the table soft and sweet with sage, pale blue, cream, and warm yellow, then add a simple “Wild One” cake topper or sign rather than changing the entire aesthetic.

For older children, lean more heavily into the explorer theme with maps, compasses, scavenger hunts, and adventure games.

Plan a Safari Birthday Menu

The food can continue the safari adventure without requiring complicated themed recipes.

For a children's party, keep the menu easy with mini sandwiches, chicken bites, fruit, vegetables and dip, popcorn, crackers, and other kid-friendly finger foods. Give a few items playful safari names on small food cards to connect them to the theme.

Create a grazing area with bowls of snacks children can grab throughout the party, or pack individual safari snack boxes for each guest. Animal crackers are an obvious and adorable addition.

For dessert, serve a safari birthday cake surrounded by cupcakes, cookies, or small treats featuring lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, leaves, or animal prints. You can also create an “explorer snack station” with trail mix and let children build their own combinations.

A simple cake decorated with greenery and miniature safari animals can become part of the party decor rather than competing with the table.

A Sweet Safari Baby Shower

The same theme becomes surprisingly sophisticated for a safari baby shower.

Instead of emphasizing the explorer accessories, focus on the softer elements of the collection. Sage green, dusty blue, pale yellow, peach, and cream create a beautiful gender-neutral baby shower palette, while the illustrated animals add just enough whimsy.

Use the elephant, giraffe, lion, and zebra plates with sage placemats, soft greenery, and simple flowers. Natural wood or gold accents can make the table feel more polished for an adult gathering.

For a baby shower luncheon, serve a seasonal salad, tea sandwiches, quiche, fruit, pastries, and a beautiful dessert. A mimosa or mocktail bar can be set up separately with coordinating napkins and cups.

The safari theme also lends itself naturally to baby shower games. Ask guests to write advice for the parents on animal-shaped cards, guess baby's arrival date, or create a keepsake book filled with wishes for the new little adventurer.

Welcome Baby with a Safari Sip & See

A safari sip and see is another beautiful way to use this collection. Because the event takes place after baby arrives, keep the atmosphere relaxed and focus on easy entertaining.

Set a pretty safari-inspired table with animal plates, greenery, and flowers, then serve a simple brunch or afternoon menu that guests can enjoy while visiting. Finger sandwiches, fruit, cheese, pastries, small desserts, and sparkling drinks are ideal because people can easily mingle.

Use softer safari styling rather than a children's birthday look. Sage, pale blue, peach, cream, and natural textures give the party a welcoming feel, while the animal designs provide a subtle connection to the new baby.

A small sign welcoming the newest little explorer can tie the entire celebration together.

Bring the Jungle to the Table with Greenery

You don't need an elaborate balloon installation to create a convincing jungle safari party. Greenery can do much of the decorating for you.

Lay tropical leaves down the center of the table or use branches of simple greenery between the place settings. Add a few round flowers in yellow or orange for color and keep arrangements low enough that guests can easily see across the table.

The combination of greenery and animal print creates the safari feeling, while the softer colors in the tableware prevent the look from becoming too literal.

If you're entertaining outdoors, the theme becomes even easier. Natural greenery already provides the backdrop—simply add the tableware, safari accessories, and a few decorations.

Create a Safari Dessert & Favor Station

A separate dessert and favor table is an easy way to carry the safari party theme beyond the dining table.

Display the cake on a raised stand and surround it with animal cookies, cupcakes, popcorn, and small sweets. Tropical leaves can be tucked around the serving pieces, while animal-print napkins reinforce the theme.

For favors, create little “Safari Survival Kits” or explorer bags. Fill them with binoculars, stickers, animal figures, coloring pages, treats, or another small surprise appropriate for the children's ages.

For a baby shower or sip & see, favors can be more grown-up: packaged cookies, small candles, chocolates, or a simple treat tied with ribbon and a “Thanks for joining our adventure” tag.

A Safari Style for Every Celebration

What makes a safari theme so versatile is how easily you can change its personality.

For a safari kids' birthday party, emphasize animal prints, explorer props, games, and colorful details. For a first birthday, keep the animals front and center and add a subtle Wild One element. For a baby shower or sip & see, soften the look with sage, blue, cream, greenery, and fresh flowers.

You can even change the entire feeling of the table simply by switching the placemat underneath the same safari plate. Sage green feels natural and modern, while soft blue creates a sweeter look and warm peach brings out the lions and giraffes.

The lion, giraffe, elephant, and zebra remain the common thread, allowing you to mix safari paper plates, animal print napkins, placemats, runners, cups, and party decorations in a way that feels coordinated without being overly matched.

Let the Adventure Begin

A safari celebration is ultimately about creating a sense of discovery. Whether you're celebrating a first birthday, welcoming a new baby, gathering friends for a sip & see, or throwing a jungle-inspired birthday party, the theme gives you endless opportunities to make the occasion feel special.

Start with a few favorite safari animals, layer in coordinating party plates, napkins, placemats, table runners, cups, and decorations, and bring the look to life with greenery and explorer-inspired details.

Then add the things guests will remember—the scavenger hunt, the safari hats, the animal treats, the first birthday cake, or simply the afternoon spent celebrating a new baby.

Find everything you need for your next adventure in our Safari Edit, from safari paper plates, animal print napkins, placemats and table decor to birthday party supplies, baby shower essentials, kids' activities, favors, and entertaining pieces for a celebration that's wildly fun.

Shop our Safari Collection