Tanzania Safari Lodges & Zanzibar Hotels

Mwiba lodge was simply fantastic. While it is very expensive, it is worth every penny. The rooms or should I say cottages were spacious and very private. The bed was comfortable and large making for sound sleeping. Large sitting area inside as well as a very large balcony with nice views of the stream and countryside added so much comfort and enjoyment.
 
The food was exceptional. The variety offered at each meal was impressive and the quality was worthy of a Michelin starred restaurant. Three or four entrees at each meal with many side dishes and starters, desserts and soups would satisfy the most discerning and demanding palate.
 
The game drives were the best. Zeke and Charles were focused on providing us with the best safari experience.  The first afternoon out they spotted a huge leopard napping in a tree. I was no more than 30 feet from the female capturing beautiful pictures. The MWIBA private game preserve is incredible. We saw no other vehicles in the bush over the three days there, and we covered a lot of terrain.  Also, we could remain in the bush well into the evening hours, when the predators become more active.  Also, we were near enough to travel well into the plains to view the great migration.  What a unique and awesome experience that was along with watching lions lying in wait for their next meal.
 
Most memorable was the morning they took us on a walking safari. We encountered a tribe of bushmen (and women) hunting and foraging. We spent several hours following them in their daily routine, shooting smaller animals (birds and bush babies) and cooking them on the spot and smoking bees out to retrieve their honeycombs. The bush people were so skilled, happy and gregarious, Joanne and I were astonished.  MWIBA topped off this experience with a breakfast in the bush that was fit for a king with the chef presenting omlettes and all the usual fixings of a full English breakfast.
 
I could go on and on, but I thinks this captures the essence of Mwiba.  An unforgettable experience. It should be a required visit for those seeking the ultimate in safari experiences.
- W. Sloneker

Our View

Nasikia’s migration camp is a no-frills, mobile camp that takes up two of the prime locations in order to catch the best of the wildebeest migration. Whilst the camp does not offer any opulence, it does what it says on the tin and offers a perfect base in which to explore the Serengeti’s best spots for catching the thundering herds of wildebeest as they run the gauntlet of crossing the Mara River, or whilst thousands of calves are born on the short, grassy plains.

Nduara Loliondo is run by Nomad Tanzania who have camps and lodges all over Tanzania.  This is one of their less commercial products; located outside the Serengeti Border in the Loliondo area, where you get game and also a cultural aspect - this is the land of the Masaai.  We love the style of ‘yurt’ tents and opportunity to take long walking safaris in the wilderness.
 

Still another suggestion by A. O. was to stay at Ngorongoro Crater 2 nights instead of the 3 we had initially scheduled.  Spot on!!  (We thoroughly enjoyed the Masai Village visit )

- R Nelson

Our View

Since there is not a wide variety of choice on the crater rim the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is an excellent option; good access into the crater whilst remaining quite affordable.  Being a large hotel it doesn’t have all the charm you would expect of a lodge in a world famous location.  But why should it when you are only here for only a night or two and the focus is the crater itself, not the lodge, its design and aesthetics.  This is a good choice of lodge for the rim but if you are looking for something with a bit more charm and slightly less expensive, then look at somewhere like Plantation Lodge in the highlands.  Or if you want one of Africa’s most sought after property and budget is no problem, the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.