Luxury Safari Experiences in Tanzania
By Lucille Sive
During my recent trip to Tanzania, I was fortunate to stay in some of the most luxurious lodges Africa has to offer. The great migration is synonymous with traveling to East Africa and many people think the only time to see animals is from July-August. My visit in November definitely proved otherwise. The Serengeti was teeming with animals and their adorable babies.
Here are a few of the accommodations I stayed in during my visit with images of the stunning wildlife we encountered.
Tarangire Treetops
Located in Tarangire National Park, staying at Tarangire Treetops is an experience like no other. Known for their large number of elephants, baobab trees (my favorite tree!) and tree climbing lions, I was amazed at the number of animals we saw. Tarangire Treetops is situated near its own water hole, so we saw a wealth of animals coming to have a drink without even having to leave the lodge. The food, people and accommodations were all outstanding.
My "tree" house accommodation at Tarangire Treetops
Tarangire Treetops comprises of 20 "up in the air" lodges each complete with a large, private balcony, a double shower ensuite bathroom and one of the largest bedrooms that can’t be found in any camp or lodge in East Africa.
A mother and her baby in Tarangire National Park
An icon of the African savannah and also my favorite tree – the baobab
Looking to stay at Tarangire Treetops? Check out our Platinum Tanzania itinerary.
Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Located in Grumeti in Northern Tanzania, Singita Faru Faru is one of the most luxurious and one of my favorite lodges I have stayed in. Contemporary, comfortable and playful, the lodge is located right on the edge of the Grumeti river, which presented exceptional game viewing opportunities from the comfort of the lodge during our stay. A playful monkey even made himself at home on one of our lounge chairs on the deck of our suite. On game drives, we saw herds of bearded wildebeest, a pride of lions and their cubs, zebra, monkeys, elephants and so much more.
A playful monkey making himself at home on our deck
Lion cubs waiting for their mother to return
A lion in a tree, a sight that is only found in East Africa
When talking about the great migration, many people think about vast numbers of wildebeest traversing the Serengeti in search of greener pastures in the Maasai Mara and crossing the river Is teeming with crocodiles, but the wildebeest migrate year-round and November was one of the best game-viewing experiences I have ever had even though it is considered low season.
Herds and herds of wildebeest traversing the Serengeti
One funny story about the migration our guide Edward told us was that he once saw a lone Zebra close to the river. A herd of wildebeest were quickly approaching and their intention was to cross the water. The zebra saw the wildebeest approaching and started running in the opposite direction of the river (presumably to get out of the way of the herd) and in an act where swarm intelligence failed, the wildebeest started following the zebra in the direction they just came from!
One of the leopards we saw relaxing in a tree
The moral of the story is, you never know what you’re going to see or experience and a stay at Singita Faru Faru means that you can expect the unexpected.
One Nature Nyaruswiga Serengeti
I also had the pleasure of staying at the newly opened Nyaruswiga Safari Camp situated in the heart of Central Serengeti and it was absolutely spectacular! From the service to the lodge to the safari experience was a dream. Nyaruswiga is an ultra-luxurious camp featuring 13 tented units with open savannah views of endless plains and the magnificent Nyaruswiga Hills. The accommodations at Nyaruswiga are exquisite! Each room features Wi-Fi, furnished patios, premium bedding (Egyptian cotton sheets) and even a pillow menu to ensure that you get the best rest in preparation for daily game drives.
Our luxurious room at Nyaruswiga
Game drives at Nyaruswiga were not only filled with plenty of game viewing, but the safari vehicles need a special mention because they are out of this world! Holding a maximum of four passengers, the vehicles are equipped with luxurious interiors, ergonomically designed seats, a mini fridge and handwashing station. If your phone runs low on battery while taking incredible photos, you can use the USB charging station and then share the photos with your family and friends back home because the vehicles also have Wi-Fi!
Our wonderful guide Peter at Nyaruswiga
An incredible balloon ride over the Serengeti
One of the most memorable experiences from this trip was the hot air balloon safari. Gently floating across the Serengeti and flying low enough so that we could get a bird’s eye view of the animals was a spectacular experience. After we stopped for a champagne toast and then enjoyed a full breakfast in the middle of the bush! It was the best way to end this truly luxurious experience.
A full breakfast in the middle of the bush!