Top Luxury Safari Lodges for Christmas and New Year
A safari is a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Think of large volumes of newborn wildlife in Ndutu or green backgrounds of the Ngorongoro Crater highlands. And there’s another reason why Tanzania should be your next escape for the festive season: weather. While it’s freezing cold in Europe, Tanzania bursts out with green scenery and warm weather, peaking in December.
However, choosing the right place to stay is very crucial for your safari. A luxury lodge, or camp? All are perfect to elevate your festive safari experience. We’ve carefully picked six luxury safari lodges (and camps) where spending your Christmas is a spectacular experience. And they do cater for all: singles, couples, and families. Let’s explore.
Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Grumeti Game Reserve.
Simply, this is the ultimate gateway to African luxury. The lodge features colonial-style camps that remind us of the 1920s explorer camps. The tents are perfectly designed to fit into the surroundings, and the interiors are one of a kind. Features 10 exclusive cottages, three of which are larger private villas, while the rest are small.
Sasakwa Lodge owns open-sided vehicles designed to offer private game drives. Add to this peaceful horse gallops, mountain biking, and expert-led bush walks. Since it’s located in the 350,000-acre Singita Grumeti Reserve, rules are less strict. So, you can go off-road and drive after sunset. The lodge offers unique experiences during the festive season, including dedicated dinners.
Jabali Ridge, Ruaha National Park.
The fact that Jabali is within Ruaha means peace is with it. Ruaha is still virgin even during the peak season. The camp features 8 luxurious suites, each offering privacy and intimacy in the wilderness of Ruaha. You won’t only watch large prides of lions alone, but see 300-strong herds traversing the savannahs and woodlands.
Want a private villa? Jabali Private House is within easy reach of this camp. During downtime, you can swim in an infinity pool or indulge in wellness treatments. Jabali offers private experiences, such as guided game drives in open vehicles, bush walks, boat rides, and fascinating night safaris.
Mwiba Lodge, Southern Serengeti.
The Legendary Mwiba Lodge is set within Mwiba Wildlife Reserve, a 130,000-acre private concession bordering the Serengeti to the south. That means there’s much to do and more to explore. The lodge is perched on stone boulders and overlooks a rocky gorge near the Arugusinyai River. This location offers it frequent visits from elephants and lions coming to drink in the freshwater springs.
You can stay in one of its 10 suites, each with a private deck, swimming pool, and neutral, nature-fitting interiors. Staying there entitles you to exclusive activities, such as private game drives, guided bush walks, and night adventures. Add the cultural interaction with the Datoga or Maasai (you choose). Visit it during the festive season and witness migrating herds arriving in the fertile plains of the Serengeti.
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara.
This is one of &Beyond’s finest lodges. Not only is it located in a small, lesser-crowded park, but this lodge also offers an exclusive safari experience. And during the festive period, luxury and comfort are elevated, making your trip stick in your memory. The lodge features 10 treehouse suites and is one of the few camps situated within the park.
Guests usually enjoy exclusive game drives to find the rare tree-climbing lions, elephants, giraffes, and buffalo. Add comfortable canoe rides on Lake Manyara with striking views of lesser flamingos on the shoreline. Then, a peaceful canopy walks, an airwalk in the dense forests, before finalizing your day with a sundowner. Night drives to look out for porcupines, genets, and leopards are also available.
Entamanu Ngorongoro Camp.
While no lodge is available inside the crater, Entamanu can give you the feel of watching the floor with enhanced binoculars. The camp is owned and run by Nomad Tanzania, one of the best collections. It’s remotely located in the north of the crater, and features only six rooms. That means privacy and intimacy are a given.
And from there, you’ll be taken down the crater to see animals based on what you love. Want to tick the Big Five in this festive moment? Then speak to your private guide. Or do you want to interact with the Maasai? They’re just a few miles from this unbroken caldera.
You can enjoy candlelit dinners prepared to leave a mark in your memory or an immersive bush walk on the rim designed to explore minute creatures. Stargazing in the highlands is something to consider while on safari.
Beho Beho Camp, Nyerere National Park.
Beho Beho brings luxury and comfort in the vast wilderness of Nyerere, Tanzania’s largest national park. Owned and run by Bailey’s family, Beho Beho is Nyerere’s (formerly Selous) oldest camp. With its own airstrip, accessibility isn’t a problem. The flight from Dar es Salaam to Beho Beho takes only 45 minutes.
The camp features 9 bandas and one private villa (Bailey’s banda). Each banda offers private pools and king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms, and a one-of-a-kind spa. Here, you can enjoy private game drives, guided bush walks, and boat rides on Lake Tagalala or along the Rufiji River. You can add a unique experience of sleeping under the stars.
Bottom line.
That’s our take. There are countless lodges and camps in Tanzania that are worth it. We are here to help. Let us know what you want to be included in your itinerary, and we’ll carefully match you with the lodge of your dream. Call our experts to start planning.
