safari baby shower ideas:
decorations, cakes, and more

• Storybook: Channel childhood classics like The Jungle Book in your invitation by going for a design that looks like it could come from the pages of a storybook. Look for invitations with illustrations of safari animals that are full of personality — and remember to select a design that matches either your Savannah or Jungle theme!

• Watercolor: For an unexpected twist on the safari theme, go for a monochrome watercolor invitation. The soft colors and whimsical watercolor animals are sure to catch guests' eyes, and they elevate the invitation into a true keepsake.

• Bold: For a more modern take on baby shower invitations, go for a design that swaps out cute cartoon-style illustrations for bold artwork and typography. Go wild with color and large-scale text for an invitation design that is as cool as you are.

• Boho: Safari-themed baby showers are perfect for parents-to-be that will be welcoming their baby into a home full of bohemian decor. Channel that aesthetic by looking for an invitation design that features hallmarks of bohemian interior design — like the illustrations of rattan shelves and houseplants that frame this invitation.

• Sweet and Simple: A safari theme can also lend itself to a more minimal aesthetic. If that is the vibe you’re going for, look for a design that keeps things simple by featuring just one illustration of a classic safari animal.

• Foil-Pressed: Though metallics aren’t often the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a safari, your invitation can be a great way to add a bit of glamor to the nature-focused theme. Look for an invitation that features animal illustrations pressed in foil for a high-design touch.

If you are going to be DIYing the decor of your safari-themed baby shower, go for something simple and striking like this centerpiece. Simply fill glass vases (or mason jars) with rocks to anchor leaf clippings that look like they could’ve come straight from the jungle. Accenting a simple white tablecloth with a burlap runner reminiscent of classic safari tents is another great way to further nod to the theme.

To give your safari theme a sophisticated feel, go for gilded accents like these golden giraffes. This is another budget-friendly DIY, as you can simply spray paint animal toys in gold, rose gold, or silver. Placing them inside a large vase like this adds a bit of interest to a simple floral arrangement, or you can use them as stand-alone centerpiece decor.

For an unexpected and on-trend take on balloons, go for a half balloon arch in neutral colors. Then, tie in the theme by weaving in large faux leaves and accenting the arch with oversized safari stuffed animals.

To have a bit of fun with a more neutral color palette, go for gold balloons that spell out phrases like “Oh Baby” or even “Wild Child” for something on-theme. You could keep things simple and have these balloons stand on their own, or pair them with a balloon arch like the one shown here.

If you don’t have the budget for a balloon arch, go for smaller bouquets of balloons. Pick clusters of balloons in colors that nod to safaris — think neutrals like the ones shown here for a Savannah-themed shower, or deeper greens and browns for a jungle safari look.

For a glamorous safari-themed photo backdrop, go big and bold with your balloon choice. The mix of cascading neutral-colored balloons and pampas grass offers a bit of sophistication that will look great in photos, as will a sign with the new baby’s name!

• Sweet Illustrations: If you went for a storybook-inspired invitation, keep the whimsical vibe going with a welcome sign that features sweet illustrations of elephants, giraffes, and crocodiles.

• Abstract: You can still capture the safari spirit without going over the top on animal iconography. This abstract design calls to mind the colors of a safari and the shapes of nature. Just be sure to pick a colorway that matches your decor!

• Jungle Greens: If you’re inspired by the lush ferns and trees of jungle safaris, pick a sign that puts them front and center. This particular style is a nice way to highlight vibrant foliage, while still keeping a minimal and clean look.

• Cute & Playful: For another take on an abstract style, look for a sign design that features a playful take on the shapes of safari animals. This particular one is super fun — and calls to mind some of the toys the new baby is sure to receive.

• Vibrant Floral Menu: If you’re looking to add a bit of variety to your day-of signs, go for a menu that calls to mind the bright flowers found in jungles and other tropical climates. Safaris aren’t all grasses and ferns, after all!

• Classic Safari: Or, you can keep things cohesive and classic with this sweet take on the sights of a safari. This particular design is available across a range of different signs, and is a great option for a more elegant safari theme.

• Dino Deserts: You don’t have to stick to the Big 5 family of animals if you are hosting a safari-themed baby shower! Channel a safari that is more along the lines of Jurassic Park with this cute dinosaur-themed dessert table card.

• Abstract Watercolor: Going for a simpler sign to mark the cards and gift table is a great way to let the pile of presents the parents-to-be are sure to receive shine. The turtle colorway of this sign calls to mind the colors of the African Savannah with sweeps of khaki green, dusty earth, and sky blue.

• Monochrome: If you’re going big and bold with your shower decor, keep the chair signs simple. Opt for a style that is inspired by the colors of a safari to ensure it doesn’t compete with more eye-catching centerpieces.

• Starry Sky: If “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” is one of mama’s favorite songs, go for a sweet night sky-themed chair sign as a subtle way to nod to the safari theme.

• Elegant Script: This is another great option if you’re looking for a sign that won’t compete with the themed decor. If you’re going to use gold animal figurines or accents in your decor, go for the Snow colorway of this sign to tie it all together.

• Gingham: Though gingham isn’t the first print you think of when imagining a safari theme, we think it is a sweet way to nod to the great outdoors. This works best for showers with a Savannah safari theme, and in muted colors.

This is one of the most straightforward games in the book. Hang a calendar featuring the birth month up for guests, and provide stickers for them to use to guess when the baby will finally arrive. If you’re comfortable, you can mark the due date on the sign, but you don’t have to. We’d also suggest buying some safari-themed stickers for guests to use as a fun additional nod to the theme.

Holding a diaper raffle is a fun way to say thank you to the guests who brought what a new parent needs most: diapers, diapers, and more diapers! Simply hand out raffle tickets when guests drop off their package of diapers at the beginning of the shower. Then, when you’re ready to play games, pull a winning ticket or two out of a safari hat. Bonus points if you keep your raffle prize on theme by giving the winning guest something like a potted plant that looks like it could’ve come out of the jungle.

If the parents-to-be haven’t revealed the sex of the baby (or if you are hosting a safari-themed reveal party), let guests compete to see who can guess it. If you already know the sex and the couple is comfortable sharing it at the shower, you can give any guest who guesses correctly a small favor. Again, bonus points for keeping the prizes on theme!

Use a classic three-tier cake as another opportunity to display sweet gilded animal figurines. You can keep things minimal by featuring just the figurines, or add a bit more visual interest with fondant foliage and flowers.

If you are hosting a safari baby shower with a more bohemian flair, go for a cake that is perfectly imperfect. The two-tone effect of this one is a nice way to mimic the look of a traditional tiered cake, and helps balance out a wild topper of animal figurines and leaves.

Picking up a pack of safari animal cake toppers is a great way to make simple layered cakes or cupcakes on theme for the shower. These toppers can go with nearly any safari-shower style, but we love how they look when paired with funfetti cupcakes.

If cake isn’t your thing, opt for cookies instead! Go for a mix of sugar cookies in the shape of safari animals, jungle leaves, onesies and more for a sweet eclectic look.

For a snack table centerpiece that is easy to DIY, go for a pineapple palm tree. Simply cut the tops off a few similarly-sized pineapples and thread them onto a dowel with a platform at the bottom. Then, top with a few faux fern leaves and a sweet safari-animal figurine!

Serve a mixed drink like a virgin mojito or even water infused with fruit in a vintage-looking glass jug for a safari-inspired look. Adding natural decorations like a wooden pedestal and grass-like texture around the top of the jug will help bring the safari theme to life, as will clever puns like “Jungle Juice” or “Mirage Mimosas”

If you are hosting a more intimate shower, say thank you to your nearest and dearest by giving them a pouch personalized with their name. Minted offers pouches in a huge range of prints created by independent artists, but look for one that features safari-inspired colors or textures.

Create safari-themed mason jars by spray painting the lids and small animal figurines in silver or gold. Then, hot glue the figurines to the tops of the jars and fill them with treats to send your guests something sweet to snack on for days to come.

A general rule of thumb is that thank you cards should go out no later than two months after the baby is born. That said, if the shower is before your due date, it’s never a bad idea to write your thank you cards before the baby arrives. That way, you can be sure you don’t let thanking anyone fall through the cracks.

You should send a thank you card to anyone who attended the shower. It is also a nice gesture to send thank you cards to guests that couldn’t attend the shower but still sent your new arrival a gift.

Writing the perfect thank you card is all about being thoughtful. Ask a trusted friend to take notes of who gave you what while you open gifts, and then be sure to mention how much you appreciated the specific gift a guest gave you.

Here’s a formula for getting it just right:

• Include a general thanks for coming to the shower or sending a gift.
• Share a specific reaction to their gift or to a memory you made together at the shower.
• Wrap things up with a closing statement of appreciation.

When put all together, this could look like: “Thank you so much for attending my shower, having you celebrate this adventure with us means so much to me. I can’t wait for you to meet our new addition, I’m sure they will look so sweet in the onesie you gave us. I am so thankful to have you in my life!”