Property Tags: Lodge

Lamai Serengeti

Location

Lamai occupies the Kogakuria kopje in the far northern reaches of Serengeti National Park, positioned strategically between the Mara River and the Kenyan border. This elevated position in the Lamai Wedge—that triangular wilderness sequestered by the river—places you 20 minutes from multiple crossing points where wildebeest brave crocodile-infested waters between July and October. The camp sits roughly 90 minutes’ drive north of Lobo, accessible via game-viewing roads that reveal increasing wildlife density as you approach this predator-rich corner of the ecosystem.

Your approach from Kogatende Airstrip takes 30 minutes through acacia woodland and open plains, often serving as an impromptu game drive with elephant, giraffe and sometimes wild dog sightings. The kopje itself rises dramatically from surrounding grasslands, its ancient granite boulders creating natural platforms that Nomad Tanzania has cleverly incorporated into the camp’s design. This far-northern position means you’re exploring areas where few other vehicles venture, the Kogakuria region and Lamai Wedge remain refreshingly uncrowded even during peak migration season.

During the migration months, your location puts you equidistant from the most dramatic crossing points where steep banks create spectacular leaping scenes. Outside migration season, this corner of the Serengeti maintains exceptional resident wildlife densities thanks to permanent water sources and varied habitat from riverine forest to open grassland.

Rooms

The architectural philosophy at Lamai treats massive granite boulders not as obstacles but as natural room dividers, creating eight distinct sanctuaries that blend into the kopje’s ancient geometry. Open-fronted designs with retractable canvas walls let you choose your level of exposure to the wilderness, while locally crafted furnishings from Maasai artisans add authentic character without sacrificing comfort.

Standard Rooms provide intimate escapes for couples, with king-sized beds that face directly out to endless views. The open-fronted design means you wake to sunrise painting the plains gold, while private verandas with daybeds become afternoon reading spots or sunset cocktail venues. En-suite bathrooms feature proper flush toilets, twin basins, and powerful hot showers remarkable given the remote location. Perfect for honeymooners or couples seeking romance with wilderness immersion.

Family Rooms brilliantly solve the safari-with-children challenge through interconnected spaces, each configuration maintaining privacy between bedrooms while allowing parents peace of mind. The shared bathrooms feature double facilities to prevent morning queues. Ideal for families with children 8+ or friends traveling together who want proximity without sacrificing personal space.

Communal Areas

The main mess area wraps around a massive boulder formation, creating distinct zones that flow naturally while maintaining intimate conversation spaces. The open-sided design frames panoramic views across the northern Serengeti to the Masai Mara beyond, binoculars on the bar often suffice for wildlife viewing without leaving your drink. Locally sourced décor includes shaggy lampshades and woven poufs created by Eliza, a Maasai artisan whose work with Nomad transformed her cottage industry into camp-wide installations.

A swimming pool carved into the rocks provides cooling afternoon relief, its infinity edge creating the illusion of spilling into the plains below. The adjacent massage pavilion offers post-drive relaxation, though many prefer the library’s collection of field guides and maps for planning tomorrow’s adventures. The bar stocks premium spirits and South African wines (Champagne and premium wines at additional cost).

Lamai Private, when booked exclusively, includes its own mess area, pool and dedicated staff, essentially a separate camp sharing the same extraordinary location. This clever division allows the intimacy of a private house with the backup of a full camp’s resources.

Activities

Game drives from Lamai adapt to seasonal wildlife patterns, with July through October focused on the Mara River’s crossing points just 20 minutes away. Your guides maintain radio contact with others positioned along the river, maximizing chances of witnessing crossings at key points where dramatic leaps make for spectacular viewing. Patience is essential—wildebeest can mill at the riverside for hours before one brave individual triggers the stampede.

Outside migration season, the northern Serengeti’s exceptional resident wildlife provides year-round excitement. The area supports one of Africa’s highest predator densities, part of the ecosystem’s 3,000-4,000 lions, with prides regularly seen on the Lamai Wedge’s kopjes. Cheetah hunt the open plains, while leopard favour the riverine forests. The Big Five are all present, though rhino sightings remain rare.

Walking safaris operate when grass height permits, typically June through October, with armed rangers leading explorations of surrounding kopjes and plains. The elevated terrain around camp offers exceptional hiking with panoramic viewpoints. Bush picnics and sundowners are arranged at scenic spots, often timed to coincide with wildlife spectacles.

Hot air balloon safaris (at additional cost) launch from nearby sites, providing aerial perspectives of the migration rivers and plains.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge

Location

Situated high on an escarpment, Sasakwa Lodge has incredible views over the Grumeti private conservancy, which it shares with its sister properties, Sabora Tented Camp and Faru Faru. Sasakwa is the most eastern camp of the three, and its location in the heart of the migratory route (active June and July) allows for an exclusive safari experience.

 The great variety of vegetation here lends itself to exceptional game-viewing. The resident wildlife roam freely between the conservation area and the adjoining Serengeti National Park, where successful efforts have been made to re-stabilise the wildlife population.

Rooms

Sasakwa Lodge comprises nine cottages and a four-bedroom villa, all spacious and lavishly furnished. Every cottage contains a large lounge area complete with fireplace, a large bedroom with four-poster bed and a dressing room with ample storage space. Each cottage has a bathroom with walk-in shower and a freestanding bathtub with scenic views across the Grumeti.

French windows lead from the lounge to a private veranda, fitted with lounge and dining furniture and overlooking your own heated infinity pool. The self-contained nature of the accommodation will appeal to guests who want a greater degree of privacy, however Sasakwa does not deliver the true “wilderness” experience one would have in a tented camp.

 Communal Areas

The stately communal building at Sasakwa contains a large, chandeliered drawing room with a bar, lounge area and grand piano. A billiards room sits adjacent, complete with marble fireplace and a bridge table. Lavish dinners are taken in Sasakwa’s ornate dining room, with the open veranda reserved for afternoon tea – one of the many reasons why Sasakwa resembles more an English manor than a safari lodge! All food here meets exceptionally high standards, as is typical of Singita properties, and accompanying wines are expertly chosen.

As each Singita property brings its own distinctive features we would advise you to look at our reviews of their other properties in Tanzania Sabora to find the property that best suits you.

Activities

The Serengeti ecosystem is hard to beat, and guests to Sasakwa Lodge are largely attracted by the high standards of safari expeditions on offer. Guided bush walks and private game drives in open-sided Land Rovers are popular activities.

The impressive selection of facilities includes a well-equipped gym, spa, main swimming pool (in addition to the private pools), tennis court, children’s playroom, and an elegant boutique stocking arts, crafts and jewellery. The Singita Mini Rangers’ Course teaches children the basics of animal-tracking and bush survival techniques, and guests of all ages can even turn their hand at archery!

Singita Faru Faru

Location

Faru Faru shares the private Singita Grumeti Reserves with its sister properties, Sasakwa and Sabora Tented Camp, and is ideally located for game viewing. The lodge is surrounded by clusters of acacia trees, and overlooks a watering hole popular with passing wildlife. It is the perfect location to sit back with a G&T and watch nature unfold around you.

The great variety of vegetation here lends itself to exceptional game-viewing. The resident wildlife roam freely between the conservation area and the adjoining Serengeti National Park, where successful efforts have been made to re-stabilise the wildlife population. Between May and August, you can observe first-hand the spectacular phenomenon of the Great Migration as thousands of wildebeest, gazelles and zebra pass through the reserve.

Rooms

This most contemporary property of the Singita Grumeti collection has nine generously-sized suites, all elegantly styled with modern décor. Each is glass-fronted with huge panoramic windows that look onto the riverbed and surrounding vegetation, and wildlife can regularly be spotted from the comfort of your room. This glass window slides open at the touch of a button, which is a nice touch, however we did note a tendency of these windows to trap heat in the room. All suites come with an indoor and outdoor shower.

Communal Areas

The minimalist design continues through to the communal areas, which hold a central lounge, indoor dining areas and a number of swimming pools. The outdoor areas are shaded by trees and vegetation, giving them a cool, tropical feel. Clever design means that even in Faru Faru’s communal areas, there are plenty of quiet spaces in which to relax.

As each property in the Grumeti Reserves brings its own distinctive features, we would advise you to look at our reviews of neighbouring Sabora and Sasakwa to find the property that best suits you.

Activities

The Serengeti ecosystem is hard to beat, and guests to Faru Faru are largely attracted by the high standards of safari expeditions on offer. Guided bush walks and private game drives in open-sided Land Rovers are popular activities. The Singita Mini Rangers’ Course teaches children the basics of animal-tracking and bush survival techniques, perfect for preparing the next generation of David Attenboroughs.

Sand Rivers

Location

Sand Rivers sits on the northern bank of the mighty Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park, approximately 230 kilometres southwest of Dar es Salaam in a particularly remote section where you rarely encounter other camps or vehicles. The location offers both seclusion and exceptional game viewing as animals are drawn to this permanent water source year-round. From Dar es Salaam, scheduled light aircraft flights take 45 minutes to reach Kiba airstrip, followed by a 15-minute game drive transfer that serves as your introduction to the surrounding wilderness. The camp’s position near the confluence of several seasonal sand rivers creates diverse habitats from riverine forest to open grasslands, while proximity to lakes Tagalala, Manze, and Nzerakera opens up varied ecosystems for exploration. During the dry season, this becomes a wildlife magnet as elephants, buffalo, and plains game congregate along the only permanent water for miles. The remoteness that once made this area challenging to access now ensures the exclusive safari experience that draws those seeking authentic wilderness rather than crowded game drives.

Operated by Nomad Tanzania, a pioneering safari company that channels tourism revenue into creating opportunities in remote areas where talent exists but chances remain scarce, Sand Rivers represents their southern flagship alongside an impressive portfolio spanning Tanzania’s wildest corners. Within Nyerere, sister property Kiba Point lies just 4 kilometres downstream, offering exclusive-use accommodation for families or groups seeking complete privacy with their own dedicated staff and vehicles.

Rooms

Sand Rivers’ accommodation philosophy embraces the wilderness rather than shutting it out, with eight spacious stone and thatch cottages raised on high platforms that transform river views into theatre. Each room stands completely open to the bush at the front, protected only by subtle design that keeps wildlife at respectful distances whilst allowing the sounds, scents, and sights of Africa to flow freely through your living space.

The five Standard Riverside Rooms deliver everything essential for safari comfort without unnecessary frills — beds draped in mosquito nets, writing desks for journaling the day’s sightings, and open-air bathrooms where powerful hot showers come with river views. These rooms work perfectly for couples or friends who appreciate authentic bush living where waking to find elephant tracks outside your door counts as room service.

The three Hillside Suites elevate the experience with additional living areas that sprawl into the landscape and private plunge pools set into wooden decks. Here you can cool off during the heat of the day whilst watching hippos do the same in the river below, or simply collapse into oversized chairs with binoculars at hand for impromptu game viewing. The suites’ bathrooms feature both indoor and outdoor showers plus soaking tubs positioned for sunset contemplation.

All rooms rely on solar power with battery backup, providing reliable lighting and charging stations without generator noise disturbing the natural symphony. The open-fronted design means you’re essentially sleeping in nature’s bedroom — expect to hear hippos grunting, lions calling across the river, and the dawn chorus of hundreds of bird species.

Communal Areas

The heart of Sand Rivers beats in its open-sided main area where massive thatch roofs shelter spaces designed for doing absolutely nothing in particular with great dedication. The lounge sprawls with overstuffed sofas and chairs arranged for river gazing, a small library heavy on African natural history and light on bestsellers, and carved wooden furniture that speaks of local craftsmanship rather than imported luxury. The bar is stocked with premium spirits and South African wines.

The dining area centres around a magnificent wooden table where meals become social occasions rather than refuelling stops. Breakfast and lunch run as buffets allowing flexibility for different activity schedules, whilst dinners present three courses of surprisingly sophisticated cuisine considering the nearest supermarket lies hundreds of kilometres away. Private dining can be arranged anywhere — your deck, a sandbank, under baobabs — because romance shouldn’t require reservations.

Between the main building and the river, a large swimming pool provides relief from afternoon heat with sun loungers positioned for optimal hippo watching. The pool area becomes a social hub during the traditional siesta hours when even predators seek shade. The fire pit, just meters from the water’s edge, hosts evening gatherings where safari stories grow more impressive with each sundowner.

Activities

Sand Rivers treats activities not as scheduled tours but as daily adventures shaped by weather, wildlife movements, and whims. Game drives in open vehicles explore areas where you might not see another car all morning, following a network of tracks that lead through diverse habitats from thick riverine bush to open grasslands dotted with termite mounds. The freedom to go off-road when following predators or interesting behaviour means drives here feel more like explorations than routes.

Walking safaris reveal the smaller dramas invisible from vehicles — the geometric perfection of spider webs, the highway systems of harvester ants, the subtle signs that betray last night’s leopard passage. Armed scouts accompany all walks not for dramatics but genuine safety in an environment where buffalo and elephant encounters require respect and experience. Walks typically last 2-4 hours in the cooler morning hours, though afternoon strolls to sundowner spots have their own magic.

Boat safaris along the Rufiji open entirely different perspectives as you drift past bathing elephants, fishing eagles, and basking crocodiles. The boats navigate channels and lakes inaccessible by vehicle, reaching spots where vast flocks of pelicans gather and carmine bee-eaters nest in the riverbanks. Full-day boat excursions to Stiegler’s Gorge include breakfast on the rocks where the Rufiji narrows dramatically between 100-meter canyon walls, whilst trips to the hot springs offer the surreal experience of soaking in naturally heated pools surrounded by palm forests.

Fishing for tiger fish and catfish provides contemplative afternoons though catch-and-release policies mean dinner still comes from the kitchen. The most immersive experience remains fly camping (additional cost applies), where you walk to remote spots and spend nights under mosquito net tents with just canvas between you and the wild — simplified to essentials but lacking nothing important.

 

 

Beho Beho

Location

Secluded in the hills above the Kipalala Valley, the charming stone cottages of Beho Beho occupy a privileged spot overlooking the Selous Game Reserve. Deriving its name from the Swahili for “cool breeze,” the camp is every bit as tranquil as the name suggests. A private airstrip is located just 5 minutes away, making this an easily accessible retreat.

Experience

Activities here include a boat trip across Lake Tagalala, where hippos and crocodiles can be spotted along the shore, as well as swims in the thermal waters of the Maji Moto hot springs. At the Selous Game Reserve, the exceptionally knowledgeable guides will make you feel you have David Attenborough as your guide! A daily treat is the evening meal, which is a delicious feast enjoyed in a friendly atmosphere amongst guests and hosts alike. Affectionately known as the Beho Beho “family”, the staff truly do take pride in providing warm and personal service, making you feel at home no matter how far you’ve travelled.

The Lodge

Although a two-hour journey from the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes synonymous with Selous, the lodge nonetheless has superb views over Kipalala’s lush green plains. A watering hole below the lodge means the resident wildlife is never far away: don’t be surprised if you hear hippos munching on grass outside your room at night!

The airy verandas provide plenty of shaded places to unwind with a glass of wine and a good book, while the outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place to cool off and take in the spectacular views of the Kipalala Valley. The camp offers a spacious private villa for travellers desiring luxury, while the more adventurous can opt to stay in the more rustic but nonetheless enchanting “Treehouse.” Here, you’ll be treated to cocktails and a campfire dinner under the stars, as well as a gourmet breakfast amongst the morning birdsong. Certainly, Beho Beho offers all you need for that much-needed escape from city life.

Ikuka Safari Camp

Location

The Ikuka Safari Camp is named after the region of Ruaha where it is located. The camp has a remarkable location on the Mwagusi escarpment, where it overlooks the Ruaha valley and the Mwagusi river. Just a 20-minute drive takes you to the park’s premier game-viewing area, where wildlife gathers at the riverbed.

Rooms

Designed by Neil Rocher, the architect behind Chongwe River House and Luangwa Safari House in Zambia, the camp is furnished with natural materials that combine traditional safari style with modern taste. The cozy tented rooms include a super king-sized bed, lounge area, and private balcony with panoramic views. Each en-suite bathroom incorporates a rainfall shower and twin stone washbasins as well as complimentary toiletries provided by Inaya Zanzibar.

Communal Areas

The main communal area provides comfortable seating, a well-stocked bar overlooking the national park, a library with Wi-Fi, and a pleasant dining area. Outside, there is a stunning infinity pool with shaded sun loungers. The airy central area is open-sided, making the most of the site’s outstanding views over the Ruaha plains below.

Activities

Ikuka offers 4×4 game drives in the game-rich area surrounding the Mwagusi River. For an additional charge, you can take a guided walk led by Ikuka’s owner and highly experienced guide, Mark Sheridan Johnson. This includes a full breakfast out in the bush. Other expeditions on offer include community project visits and photography lessons.

Although new to Ruaha, Ikuka has already established itself as one of the top properties in southern Tanzania. It is an incredible property run by people passionate about Ruaha. With its experienced guides, stunning location, stylish and intimate accommodation, and warm, hospitable service, and reasonable price, Ikuka’s only issue is with availability –  it is very much in demand!

The Manor at Ngorongoro

Location

The Manor’s huge estate covers 6km2 of the Ngorongoro Highlands. It is located on the Shangri-La Coffee Estate near the Ngorongoro Crater and Highlands. A short drive takes you to Lake Manyara, making The Manor a great base for safaris to Lake Manyara National Park or the Ngorongoro Crater.

Rooms

The Manor’s ten cottages look onto the green pastures of the surrounding coffee plantation. Each comes with private courtyard, fireplace and period furniture matching the manor house’s elegant Cape Dutch style.

Communal Areas

The attractive manor house is sumptuously fitted with dark wood, Persian rugs, and even a grand piano. There is a small bar adjoining the lounge, a spa with two massage rooms, a shop, outdoor patio, billiards room, cinema room, and a room dedicated to wine tastings. Outside, there is a nice swimming pool with great views.

Activities

A huge number of activities are available here, from mountain-biking through the nearby hills and villages, to horse-riding through the coffee plantations, where it’s also possible to take a tour followed by a coffee tasting session. The Manor also supplies safari guides and vehicles for visits to Ngorongoro Crater or Lake Manyara National Park.

Gibbs Farm

Location

Gibbs Farm is situated near Karatu and close to the Highlands and Ngorongoro Crater. The farm is just a short drive from Lake Manyara, and could be used as a base for safaris to Lake Manyara National Park or the Ngorongoro Crater.

Rooms

The timber and stone guest cottages total 17, and include one family suite. Each contains handmade furniture and is decorated to a particular theme by Gibbs’ artist-in-residence. You can expect a seating area, focal-point fireplace, private veranda, and a large bathtub from which you can view the gardens.

Communal Areas

The old farmhouse, built in 1929, hosts a bar, two dining rooms with garden views, and a boutique. A separate spa is scheduled to open this year. The restaurants offer great, organic food sourced from the farm’s own gardens and served at buffet breakfasts and lunches as well as formal three-course dinners. The farm’s coffee can be purchased in the boutique.

Activities

Guests can spend time exploring the beautiful grounds (including herb, rose and vegetable gardens), the coffee fields, and the Ngorongoro forest – where walks guided by a naturalist explore traditional Maasai medicine. Gibbs Farm also makes a great base for safaris, particularly in Lake Manyara National Park or the Ngorongoro Crater.

 

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Location

The camp is perched directly on the rim of the crater overlooking the crater floor. This very special location offers an incredible vista across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where zebra and buffalo are regularly sighted.

Rooms

Crater Lodge contains 30 suites divided across three camps; 12 in the North and South camps, and six in Tree Camp. Tree Camp sits closest to the crater rim, however its woodland seclusion means the north and south camps guarantee better views. The three distinct sections prevent the camp from feeling oversized or impersonal.

Crater Lodge’s design is popularly described as ‘Maasai meets Versailles,’ owing to its luxurious, European interpretation of the traditional Masaai timber, stone and thatch construction. Rooms are furnished with rich Persian rugs, cushioned leather armchairs and a wood-burning stove, while the en-suite’s focal point is a freestanding bathtub overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater through floor-to-ceiling windows. All suites have a veranda and a private butler on call. A family suite (consisting of two interleading units) is available at each camp.

Communal Areas

Each camp has its own lounge and dining areas. The North and South camps are furnished to a high standard, with antiques, wood panelling and chandeliers, while Tree Camp is less ornate. At all camps, you can expect amazing food and wine as well as first-rate service. Breakfast and lunch are generous buffets, while dinner is a three- or even five-course meal. Additional amenities include a safari shop, gym equipment, and in-room massages.

Activities

Game drives to the Ngorongoro Crater floor are provided by great guides with shared vehicles.

 

Greystoke Mahale

Location

Mahale Mountains National Park occupies a mountainous peninsula on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, roughly 130 kilometres south of Kigoma, the nearest town of any size. The park shares its waters with the Democratic Republic of Congo, visible as a hazy outline on clear evenings across the 50-kilometre width of the lake. This is the wild canvas that captivated Roland and Zoe Purcell in 1988, convincing them to create a permanent home here.
Greystoke sits directly on Kangwena Beach within the park boundaries, where tropical forest descends to meet a crescent of powder-white sand. Behind the camp, Mount Nkungwe rises to 2,462 metres, the highest of six peaks in the Mahale range. The terrain shifts dramatically from lakeshore to alpine bamboo within a few kilometres of vertical gain, a compression of habitats that explains why chimpanzees and lions both call this park home, though they occupy opposite sides of the mountain spine.

The remoteness is absolute and deliberate: no roads for 60 kilometres in any direction, no vehicles within the 1,613 square kilometre park. The nearest road ends at Kigoma, and the only access is by water. After flying into Mahale airstrip, a traditional wooden dhow carries you 90 minutes down the coastline to camp. Operated by Nomad Tanzania, a pioneering safari company with over 30 years in Tanzania’s wildest corners.

Rooms

When Roland Purcell built the original camp in 1989, he understood that architecture here should surrender completely to the wild. The bandas emerge from the forest edge almost invisibly, constructed from timbers salvaged from retired dhows that once plied these waters, old fishing canoes became ladders, palm thatch gathered outside the park forms the roofs. Borrowing its name from Tarzan’s ancestral title, Lord Greystoke, the aesthetic is Robinson Crusoe refined, where materials tell stories of their former lives at sea and the luxury lies not in marble but in immersion: no glass windows, no air conditioning, just elemental connection to lake breezes and forest sounds.

Standard Bandas: Each two-storey structure opens completely to the lake view, with heavy canvas drapes that can close against rare storms. Ground-floor sleeping areas hold double or twin beds beneath essential mosquito nets, with dressing areas leading via boardwalks to semi-open bathrooms featuring hot-water showers (heated on request via kerosene boilers, requiring advance notice), flush toilets, and forest views through the foliage. The open-sided construction means excellent ventilation but occasional insect visitors. Upstairs, a chill-out deck furnished with day beds and cushions offers a private retreat for afternoon reading or watching storms build over the Congo. Most bandas have winding paths to private beach bandas—simple shaded platforms for lakeside lounging. These rooms suit couples and solo travellers seeking full immersion. Power for charging devices and Wi-Fi are available, though bandwidth is limited to essential communication only, not streaming or video calls.

Family Bandas (with mezzanine): Three bandas offer mezzanine levels that accommodate a third bed, making them suitable for families with older children or close-travelling friends. The larger dressing rooms in these units provide additional space, and they share all the same practical features as standard bandas: on-request hot water, open-air design with mosquito nets, and limited Wi-Fi connectivity.

Hillside Banda: One banda sits higher on the slope, trading direct beach access for elevated views across the forest canopy toward both lake and mountains. The perspective here differs markedly, you look down into the treetops rather than out from among them—and some guests prefer this vantage point for its sense of overview and complete privacy. This elevated position enjoys the same amenities as all bandas, including power and limited Wi-Fi, though the open-air experience and need for insect protection remain identical.

Communal Areas

The main mess building stands alone on the beach, the only structure between forest edge and waterline. Two storeys of thatch and salvaged timber house the communal heart of camp: ground-floor dining around a long campaign table where all guests eat together, sharing the day’s chimp encounters over meals that belie the remote location; curries with homemade naan, whole fish wrapped in banana leaves, soup served in hollowed pumpkins. The view from every seat showcases Lake Tanganyika’s crystalline water and, on clear evenings, the Congo rainforest on the distant horizon. During rainy periods, meals move indoors to this dining area; in drier months, they frequently alternate to tables set on sand beneath torches and stars.

Upstairs, a library and lounging area occupies the peak of the thatch, furnished with beanbags and board games, offering wide views across the lake. A small but well-curated shop sells local crafts and Nomad branded items, with proceeds supporting community projects.

The Sunset Bar perches on rocks at the beach’s northern headland, stepped decks leading down to the water’s edge. This is where each evening begins, drinks served as the light softens over the mountains, guests comparing trek routes and chimp sightings while the staff prepare for dinner service. On special occasions, dinner moves to the camp’s 50-foot mahogany dhow, drifting on the lake with freshly caught fish served sashimi-style.

Activities

The defining experience begins each morning after breakfast, once trackers radio the M-Group’s location. These 60-70 individuals have been habituated by Japanese researchers since 1965, allowing extraordinary proximity. Walks range from 20 minutes (when chimps are in the forest immediately behind camp) to 5-7 hours of strenuous climbing (when they have climbed high onto the mountain slopes). Trek difficulty varies dramatically by season: June-August typically requires the most challenging ascents; November-March offers generally easier access; April-May brings slippery trails and occasional camp closure. The terrain varies from flat forest trails to steep, muddy scrambles requiring reasonable fitness.

Upon locating the chimps, you spend one hour observing at close range, typically within metres, as they groom, play, forage, and navigate their intricate social dynamics. Breathing masks are provided and required, protecting the chimps from human respiratory diseases. Groups are limited to six guests plus guides and rangers. While most guests see chimps at least once during a 3-4 day stay, sightings are never guaranteed, the M-Group covers 15 square miles and may be anywhere within it. The experience is profound: these are clearly intelligent beings, aware of your presence yet utterly indifferent to it.

Forest Walks: Beyond chimp trekking, guided walks explore the forest for other wildlife: nine primate species share these slopes, including red colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and yellow baboons. Bushbuck, bushpig, and an extraordinary diversity of butterflies and birds reward those who walk with attention.

Lake Activities: Kayaks are available for independent exploration along the shoreline, paddling past the fishing village of Katumbi and into quiet coves. Swimming happens from the dhow in deep water offshore—the shore itself is occasionally visited by crocodiles and hippos. Snorkelling reveals the lake’s 250 endemic cichlid fish, flashing through water so clear you can count them while swimming.
Dhow Cruises: Afternoon and sunset sails on the traditional wooden dhow provide perspective on the mountains from the water, opportunities for deep-water swimming, and the possibility of spotting hippos along the shoreline.

Fishing (catch and release only): Hand-line fishing for various tilapia species from the dhow. Conservation rules require all fish be released.
Village Visits: Visits to Katumbi village, approximately 90 minutes by boat, offer insight into local life and the community projects supported by Nomad Trust, including the primary school and medical outreach programmes.

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

Location

Set deep in the Southern regions of Lake Manyara National Park, well away from the main gate, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is embedded in the forest canopy south-west of the lake. This secluded location away from mainstream safari traffic assures a quieter, more private experience, while the forest provides vital shade during the hot afternoons. Due to its remote location and the additional journey time, we wouldn’t recommend single-night stays here.

Rooms

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge offers nine large, beautifully designed suites elevated on platforms into the trees. These stilted suites are sumptuously decorated in neutral tones, with outdoor showers and separate bathrooms.

Communal Areas

The lodge hosts a spa and massage house, as well as a small but pleasant swimming pool. An open kitchen allows guests to watch their meals being prepared, while the outdoor dining decks have fantastic views over the forest.

Activities

Activities on offer revolve around the location’s renowned game reserves, which include elephant and buffalo herds, giraffe and flamingos, as well as an unrivalled 600 species of birdlife. Even outside the safari trips, the lodge’s elevated vantage point and treetop walkways are perfect for remote game viewing. You might even be lucky enough to see some of the region’s prized tree-climbing lions!

Run by the renowned &Beyond company, this is undoubtedly the best lodge in Lake Manyara, and so distinctive that a stay here is sure to impress.