Tanzania/Kenya/Rwanda
Jan 5, 2020, 3:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 225
Tanzania/Kenya/Rwanda
Thinking about heading back to Africa for my mom's 70th with some friends next May or June. I have done Boulders and Lembombo in SA a couple years ago and we did Duba, Vumbura and Zarafa in Botswana last year. I have not really done the big houses/private lodge thing, but was leaning towards the following:
4 Nights Serengeti House
2 Nights at Sabora and 2 at Mara River Camp OR try Alex Walker's Serian North
3 Nights at Singita Rwanda at their house or the resort
3 Nights in Zanzibar - maybe Zuri
Was hoping some might have more recent experiences with these properties. We have loved the communal nature of safari lodges on previous stays, but with a group of 6 people though Seregenti House may be a better choice over Sasakwa - though not sure if we would lose some of the Singita magic.
4 Nights Serengeti House
2 Nights at Sabora and 2 at Mara River Camp OR try Alex Walker's Serian North
3 Nights at Singita Rwanda at their house or the resort
3 Nights in Zanzibar - maybe Zuri
Was hoping some might have more recent experiences with these properties. We have loved the communal nature of safari lodges on previous stays, but with a group of 6 people though Seregenti House may be a better choice over Sasakwa - though not sure if we would lose some of the Singita magic.
Jan 6, 2020, 12:27 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,265
Not visited yet but heard very good feedback re Zuri. Especially the beach should be one of the nicest in Zanzibar. Mnemba?
Since you will be 6 and celebrating a special occasion, also have a look at:
- Thanda Private Island
- Sirai House.
Both very highly recommended and very special. May/June could still work out. Starting July many lodges are already fully booked. I just checked for a family of 5 and can not even find a single night at Singita Tanzania.
Since you will be 6 and celebrating a special occasion, also have a look at:
- Thanda Private Island
- Sirai House.
Both very highly recommended and very special. May/June could still work out. Starting July many lodges are already fully booked. I just checked for a family of 5 and can not even find a single night at Singita Tanzania.
Jan 6, 2020, 1:36 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
We stayed in Singita Sasakwa, Sabora and Mara River Tented Camp in 2018 - pics below. Sasakwa was my clear favourite and is a hugely impressive, luxurious property, but I thought the negative was it being up in the hills, which is not really akin to being near nature (except monkeys), like Sabora is. However, Serengeti House is at the bottom of said hill. It's absolutely beautiful and less than a 5 minute drive from the main property, so if you want to enjoy all your meals and facilities there with the other guests you can. It's got a watering hole right in front of it that elephants regularly come to, so you can watch them from the pool.
As for Sabora, I assume you know it's only a 40ish minute drive from Sasakwa? So it's all the same, just a different camp. Still, I really liked it. With Mara, it's the only Singita we've been to where we felt the hard product was very basic. It's a short flight away, so will offer something different and hopefully you get an opportunity to see some river crossings, but I don't think I'd return there, especially as it's not a private reserve and the crowds can be immense.
Lastly, I only have experience of Singita Kwitonda from the sheer difficulty my wife has had in trying to book people in there due to the popularity. With the demand and limited rooms, some of these lodges are sold out over a year in advance, so if you're talking about "next" May/June being 2021, you're all good, yet this year and you might struggle a bit and need to consider Bistate or One&Only. We've stayed in Bisate Lodge and loved it.
Lastly, you may want to check out Arijiju, a safari lodge in Kenya, which is private use. I appreciate the website is terrible, but I've only heard good things and will be staying this September.
If I were you I'd aim for June time, as the migration should have started by then. I prefer going on safari in June or September, as you avoid the crowds and don't have to share any of the vehicles - although that wouldn't be an issue for yourselves as you'd have a private one anyway. I was just in Singita Boulders/Ebony, arriving 5th September, and the lodges were half empty, whilst getting a room in late August was impossible.
Sabora
As for Sabora, I assume you know it's only a 40ish minute drive from Sasakwa? So it's all the same, just a different camp. Still, I really liked it. With Mara, it's the only Singita we've been to where we felt the hard product was very basic. It's a short flight away, so will offer something different and hopefully you get an opportunity to see some river crossings, but I don't think I'd return there, especially as it's not a private reserve and the crowds can be immense.
Lastly, I only have experience of Singita Kwitonda from the sheer difficulty my wife has had in trying to book people in there due to the popularity. With the demand and limited rooms, some of these lodges are sold out over a year in advance, so if you're talking about "next" May/June being 2021, you're all good, yet this year and you might struggle a bit and need to consider Bistate or One&Only. We've stayed in Bisate Lodge and loved it.
Lastly, you may want to check out Arijiju, a safari lodge in Kenya, which is private use. I appreciate the website is terrible, but I've only heard good things and will be staying this September.
If I were you I'd aim for June time, as the migration should have started by then. I prefer going on safari in June or September, as you avoid the crowds and don't have to share any of the vehicles - although that wouldn't be an issue for yourselves as you'd have a private one anyway. I was just in Singita Boulders/Ebony, arriving 5th September, and the lodges were half empty, whilst getting a room in late August was impossible.
Sabora
Sasakwa
Mara River Tented Camp
