The Flying Chef

Axel Janssens

Meeting Chef Axel Janssens was a coincidence. Our friendship wasn’t. We are both attracted by the unknown, and triggered by a common sense of exploration. He would soon become my partner in crime, my fellow adventurer, my guide, and eventually my best friend. Axel is a Belgian chef who landed in Tanzania around 2005 when he joined his cousin Dirk, who was running Onsea House in Arusha.

Axel’s culinary talent transformed this small family guesthouse into a local hotspot and ultimately, a luxury resort. And so Axel’s gastronomic name and fame was made and he soon became one of the most sought-after chefs in Tanzania, flying around the country and even to neighbouring Kenya, bringing his enchanting cuisine to the most exotic locations and earning himself the nickname, “The Flying Chef”. Axel’s enthusiasm for Tanzania was contagious, and the passion we came to share for this ruggedly beautiful place eventually inspired the book we created together: “A Taste of Tanzania”.