Listed as one of the World’s Best Hotels in 2009 and 2011 by the influential Travel + Leisure magazine, the Singita Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania‘s very own Serengeti National Park is one of the World’s most amazing places to visit and stay. The area encompasses 400,000 acres of unrivalled wilderness and forms part of the famous migratory route, which is traversed by hundreds of thousands of animals every year. Situated on a rocky slope, basking in a dense habitat of abundant animal species and birdlife, Singita Grumeti Reserves lend a contemporary style signature to safari.

With six chalets overlooking the beautiful Grumeti River, and multiple swimming pools and beaches, the Singita Grumeti Reserves really has a lot to offer its’ guests and visitors.  The eclectic mix of classic European and eccentric African design adds plush opulence to ten spacious cottages, ranging in size from one to four bedrooms. Magnificently appointed as a luxury home-away-from-home, each air-conditioned cottage flaunts a secluded garden, heated infinity pool, separate living area and a Swarovski spotting scope.

Professionally guided activities include game drives in open vehicles, walks, night drives, horse riding and mountain biking. The spa features various therapy rooms for treatments. Many treatments can also be enjoyed in the privacy of your cottage. A heated infinity swimming pool and Jacuzzi are located alongside the Spa. The lodge also features two tennis courts. Honeymoon packages from 3350 USD per person for 2 nights include one couple Swedish massage, romantic turndown & a bottle of sparkling wine and dinner beneath the stars and a personalized gift.

The great mosque contained a total of 16 bays, supported by nine pillars, originally carved from coral but later replaced by timber. The structure, which was entirely roofed, was perhaps one of the first mosques to have been built without a courtyard. The mosque was reconstructed during the rule of Sultan Sulaiman ibn Muhammad, in the 15th century making it the largest covered mosque in East Africa. Today this island off the Tanzanian coast contains just a sleepy village of around 800 inhabitants engaged in fishing and rudimentary agriculture. But, as you walk the quiet paths, you come across the ruins of palaces, great houses, trading courtyards, forts, mosques and tombs.

Look out over Lake Tanganyika, the lodge was built on a hilltop on the 110-acre Lupita Island, Tanzania. The resort features 14 exquisitely villas designed to blend with the local environment and offer spectacular lake and mountain views.

The remote resort offers the finest amenities, beautiful furnishings, and top level of service. Each room is totally open to the lake, ensuring beautiful sunsets and balmy breezes. Hot waterfall showers cascading over stones, black granite sinks, large outside baths add to the Lupita experience.

Activities at Lupita are many and varied and include numerous different types of watersports like sailing and kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, wonderful bird watching and diving. A fully-equipped Spa combines holistic and traditional treatments to pamper the individual needs of each guest.

Overlooking the crystal waters of the ocean, this resort is currently rated as one of the most exclusive 5 star hotels in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Diamonds Star of the East Zanzibar has 11 exquisite private villas each with a private pool and a  tropical garden. Offers an ultimate comfort, privacy and luxury, this is a perfect choice for your romantic vacation.

The individual villas were built to match modern and contemporary African style architecture feature a welcoming atmosphere. Its panoramic windows create floods of light and reveal views of a crystal ocean framed by swaying palm fronds.

Opened in June 2009, Bilila Lodge Kempinski is sets in the centre of the Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) in the vicinity of the great annual migration. The Lodge offers spectacular views of wildlife roaming over miles of bush and a high level of international standard comforts styled to fit in with its safari environment.

As to design, the lodge is rather a stylish modern hotel fitted with African and safari style details in order to turn the atmosphere towards what you would expect in the bush. The lodge has 77 rooms decorated with handpicked local and regional artworks and richly textured materials collected from all over Africa. Most suites and villas feature private pools overlooking the Serengeti plains in a panoramic view. The rooms have elegant modern interiors, a savanna view, flat screen television, Internet, air conditioning, safe, and mini bar.

The resort’ facilities include a bar, wine cellar, art gallery , conference facilities for up to 80 people, swimming pool, a health club with gym area, library, gift shop and medical clinic. The main restaurant offers Pan-African and International cuisine in a modern African setting with an open “Theatre Cooking” kitchen. The bar offers a rare selection of whiskeys, cognacs and cigars. The Bilila Lodge Kempinski also has a vast spa which offers a range of treatments by trained Thai therapists. There are 6 treatment rooms and treatments start at $135 for 90 minutes. For more photos click here

The Tembo House Hotel is situated in the heart of Stone Town of Zanzibar at the picturesque seafront. It is a splendid structure with the priceless Arab style carved door of the main entrance. The Tembo Hotel has a wide range of antique furniture and ornaments from all over the world. Sleep on a unique Swahili bed and enjoy wood carved furniture from India, Africa and different corners of the orient.

Most of the rooms have balconies overlooking the swimming pool courtyard, with a perfect view of the beautiful sunsets. There are 37 rooms in total. Each bedroom is self contained, air conditioned, equipped with fridge, telephone and satellite television. There is also a swimming pool, Bahari Restaurant and a laundry service and internet cafe.

The main highlight of a stay at Tembo House Hotel is its unique location right in the heart of Stone Town‘s narrow alleyways. While staying at the lovely beach hotel, you can swim at the beach or by the pool, sunbathing, and strolling the streets of Stone Town. Location: Tanzania. Getting there: 10 to 15 min drive from Zanzibar Airport.

]]> http://www.wayfaring.info/2010/05/26/tembo-house-hotel/feed/ 0 http://www.wayfaring.info/2010/05/25/nduara-loliondo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nduara-loliondo http://www.wayfaring.info/2010/05/25/nduara-loliondo/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 17:32:30 +0000 misha http://www.wayfaring.info/?p=18765

Nduara Loliondo was designed with Mongolian yurts to celebrate nomadic cultures around the world. The outcome is the most amazing camp you will ever see. The camp sited along Loliondo community area which borders the Serengeti National Park, spending 6 months in the south, and then 6 months in the north. The landscape and game viewing is spectacular, with lots of resident game and stunning private campsites which highlight the beauty and amazing diversity of this area.

There are 6 large yurts. Each accommodation yurt has its own en-suite bathroom attached to the back of the main sleeping area with traditional safari bucket showers and short drop toilets. The camp also feature a dining yurt and a separate lounge-library yurt.

Location: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Getting there: fly by private charter, or scheduled flights, or drive in 4WD vehicles. Nearest airstrips will vary according to the seasons.

Swala is sited in a coppice of majestic acacia trees at the edge of the Gurusi wetlands and the unfurling savannah beyond. The stands of ancient baobab trees, large family herds of elephants, prolific bird life and dry season concentrations of wildlife make Tarangire the classic of Africa. This picturesque hideaway is exclusive in the south western corner of Tarangire National Park, affording guests private game viewing, wilderness luxury, and a privileged glimpse of an Africa.

There is a low volume of traffic in the park, the game is ‘wild’, being unaccustomed to vehicles and this offers a truly unique experience. Game drives in the incredibly beautiful Tarangire with its gigantic baobab trees and become witnesses of huge herds of elephants swimming in the marshes.

You staying in the camp also features a dining area and a lounge and library overlooking a waterhole. Children of all ages are welcome at Swala. However, children from 5 to 9 years of age may go on game drives only at the discretion of management and children less than 5 years of age will not be permitted on game drives for safety reasons.

Location: Tarangire, Tanzania. Getting there: 182 Kms from Arusha taking anything from 2.5 to 4.5 hours game viewing en route. A half and hour’s drive from Kuro Airstrip and 15 min drive from the Mamire Airstrip servicing private charters.

Selous Safari Camp is a classic luxury tented camp located on the banks of Lake Nzerakera in the most prolific and thrilling game viewing area of the Selous. The 9-tent camp is spread along the lake shore and has its own sitting, dining area, and swimming pool, providing a very personal and intimate safari experience. The nearby Selous Private Camp is linked to Selous Safari Camp.

The 9 luxury tents raised onto wooden platforms with palm canopies & views. The spacious tents are luxuriously appointed, with en suite bathrooms and open air hot-water showers, 4 luxury tents are part of Selous Private Camp. On offer is also sitting and dining area, a swimming pool, a bar, and a viewing platform and wildlife reference library.

Most common activities available at the camp are game drives in open-sided 4-wheel drive vehicles, river safaris, walking safaris, fishing and fly camping. The river & lake systems around the camp attract a huge diversity of animals including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo and crocodile. The area is also home to one of the few remaining wild dog populations in the world and a birders’ paradise with more than 300 bird species.

Location: Lake Nzerakera, Tanzania. Getting there: 45 minute flight from Dar es Salaam, with airstrip Siwandu just 10 minutes from camp.

The Serengeti Sopa Lodge is sited on the edge of the escarpment overlooking the plains of the south-western Serengeti National Park. A wide range of activities can be done in close proximity to the lodge, thanks to the year-round water and surrounding acacia woodland.

There are 65 standard rooms plus 5 suites accommodating for 150 guests in total. All rooms have two double beds and mosquito nets. The lodge offers individual private balconies, a swimming pool, a bar and laundry, babysitting, a gift shop, a bureau de change, a TV room, telephone facilities and internet and gym.

An open dining area, spacious, airy and lots of light from the french windows. This allows a magnificent view of the plains as well. The furniture is wrought iron chairs and wooden tops, all artistically done. The walls are painted in a mud red colour with window like spaces holding artifacts found in the region. Behind the buffet area is a shimmering blue placement, like a glass mosaic, adding on to the theme.

Location: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Getting there: 315 km from Arusha, approximately 7.5 hours drive, and 50 minutes flight with 45 minutes drive from the nearest airstrip. The lodge is set in the Nyarboro Hills, in the South West overlooking the Serengeti Plains.

Matemwe Retreat is located on an amazing stretch of private land, just north of Matemwe‘s main lodge and right opposite the Mnemba Atoll. The Retreat consists of 3 fabulous, separate villas, full of atmosphere, inspiration and personal touches. The private service in the Retreat is the major highlight. Breakfast is served on the private veranda of your room. Lunch and dinner are served in the privacy of your garden or roof terrace or a dinner at Matemwe’s main lodge, where you can enjoy the company of other guests. Drinks are served in the room or on the beach and you can have massages and beauty treatments in the comfort of your roof terrace, overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The retreat also features a private swimming pool and roof top terrace. In the main lodge you can make use of the other facilities of the massage room, open air restaurant, gift shop, free internet, small water sports centre and ‘opium den’ (a shaded Moroccan style chill-out area).

The ground floor of each villa features a private cocktail bar, an air-conditioned bedroom, a bathroom with double basins, shower, and large romantic bathtub overlooking the ocean. The best part of each villa is the plunge pool on the private roof terrace, complete with sun and shade decks. And if this is not enough to make you want to stay there right now – each villa has its own small beach right in front of it.

Ocean trips with snorkeling equipment can be easily arranged for you. You can sail or motor out to the local reef and discover the little island of Mnemba Atoll- right opposite Matemwe. Diving trips can also be organized for you with a professional diving centre and you can discover the breathtaking underwater world of the Indian Ocean. You can also snorkel straight from the beach or during reef walks. Kayaks are available to explore the crystal clear sea.

Location: Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Getting there: Approximately 1 hour drive from Stone Town and the Airport.

Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel is situated on the northernmost peninsula of Zanzibar Island and overlooks a sparkling expanse of iridescent Indian Ocean. The lush gardens drop down onto one of the finest and most unspoiled beaches on the island, which in turn is fringed by a wide and thriving coral reef. Infused with the laid-back, exotic yet ultimately natural spirit of Zanzibar, this is the place to truly relax.

The surrounding reefs create one of the most exciting areas to dive and snorkel, and are home to flourishing populations of dolphin, turtles, and countless other marine species. The hotel features 32 rooms in total. All have en-suite facilities (including own shower, hand-basin & toilet), own balcony, mosquito nets, split-unit air-conditioning, electric fans and hair-dryer. There are 13 lodge rooms with a garden view, 12 superior chalet rooms with sea view, 6 superior deluxe chalet rooms and 1 Ocean Suite.

Water Sports: Diving; snorkelling; dhow cruises; kayaking; wind-surfing; water-skiing and profession deep sea fishing.Games: pool table; darts; table tennis; board games and small library; mountain bikes available for hire. Live music two or three times a week. Visits to Nungwi village, Zanzibar‘s dhow-building capital and home to a turtle sanctuary. The nearby village has several bars and restaurants, popular with some guests.

Location: on the northern tip of Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Getting there: 60 – 75 minutes scenic drive from Zanzibar Stone Town / airport / seaport.

Arusha Coffee Lodge sited in the endless acres of Tanzania‘s largest coffee plantation. This exclusive, boutique hotel lodge has been designed around the farms’ original plantation homes, radiating the warmth and invitation of the old colonial plantation homes historically distinctive to the coffee plantations. Luxurious accommodation, fine cuisine, and roaring fires, beckon to the most seasoned traveler.

The lodge facilities include a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, coffee shop, patisserie, hair and beauty salon, and a wide range of boutique shops and galleries conference and meeting rooms. If you are safari enthusiast the lodge is sometimes used for one or two nights stays at the beginning or end of a safari to relax. However if you do wish to explore the town of Arusha you could take a taxi to the nearby curio emporiums.

Accommodation: 18 rooms including 12 twins and 6 doubles. Location: Tanzania. Geting there: 5 min drive from Arusha Airport and approximately a 90 min drive from Kilimanjaro Airport. It absolutely lovely being literally surrounded by the coffee plantation. The main areas are lavish with a colonial style. The food was of an exceptionally high standard.

Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge is perched on the edge of the Mto Wa Mbu escarpment with one of the greatest views over the Great Rift Valley and its soda lake. It is difficult to imagine a more spectacular setting. The lake is renowned among ornithologists for its birds of prey and the famous tree-climbing lions that inhabit the woodland that nestles between the lake and the Rift Valley. The lodge glows with tranquility and peace. Accommodation and public areas are housed in individual thatched circular buildings and are a tribute to local architectural traditions.

There is a swimming pool, full housekeeping services, babysitting on request, internet, board games and a library, forex facilities, beauty treatments and massage services and an Africana Gift Shop. The lodge also offers daily excursions to the Great Rift Valley and National Park, walking safaris, lake breakfasts, barbecue lunches, bush dinners and atmospheric sundowners; mountain bike and canoe safaris, mountain climbing, nature walks and traditional dance performances in the evenings.

The accommodation features 67 bedrooms including 1 executive suite, 41 twin rooms, 12 triple rooms and 13 single rooms. Location: Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania. Getting there: Approximately 2 hours drive from Arusha, and up to 3 hours drive from Kilimanjaro Airport. The Manyara airstrip is approximately 15 min drive away.

Animal lovers will be spellbound by Singita Faru Faru Lodge, in the heart of the sun-kissed Serengeti. The lodge is positioned on a rocky slope next to the Grumeti River and a watering hole, a region abundant with magnificent animal life all year-round.

The location – in a private concession on the western corridor of the Serengeti – is not the only thing Faru Faru Lodge has going for it. The place is totally intimate and classically elegant, going on safari has never felt so exclusive. Faru Faru Lodge has just six open-style, air-conditioned tented suites, each with huge picture windows, an outdoor shower or bath, and a deck with a state of the art telescope, from where visitors can enjoy spectacular sunsets and their own private game show. Not to mention the likely chance of seeing herd of elephants meander past, while you wallow in the tub.

The colonial, 1940s East Africa-style lodge also comes with a swahili-ispired ”beach”, two swimming pools and a spa. There is a dinning room and a barbecue area where delicious African cuisine is served.

When not on one of the twice-daily four-by-four safari drives, guests can relax in the lounge, although the game action outside is much more entertaining. The lodge can also arrange walking on horseback safaris for you to experience nature in the raw.

The word ” Serengeti” comes from the Maasai word ”Siringit” which means endless plains or the place where the land stretches to forever. It seems to sum up this natural beauty just perfectly. Location: Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania. Photos by: Singita Game Reserves