We love animals, so naturally we’ve always dreamed of going on an African safari in Serengeti National Park. It was an adventure that was as exotic as it was extraordinary. As our dreams started to become reality, we realized how remote the park is. It’s hours away from the nearest town so the only reasonable logistic options are to stay in a lodge, tented camp, or take a flying safari.
We chose to stay in a Serengeti luxury tented camp and want to share seven reasons why we loved it.
Unparalleled Access
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Choosing to stay in the park vs flying in and flying out gave us unparalleled access to the Serengeti. Early mornings are a magical time when the herd animals begin their daily migration and balloon trips launch in the cool, still morning air. We loved waking up to massive herds of wildebeest gnuing loudly and driving through the migration as we left the camp in the morning. Likewise, evenings feature stunning sunsets and the nocturnal animals waking for a night of work. We passed lions lurking in the tall grass and watched hippos leaving their ponds to start the night buffet.
We didn’t partake in this option, but having a basecamp in the Serengeti allows you to return for a hot lunch and afternoon of pool time, or maybe scheduling a spa treatment to recover from the bumpiness of the dirt roads (humourously known as the African Massage). Due to our love of animals and massive FOMO, we opted for the boxed lunch and more time on safari.
The Luxury is Real
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Luxury and tent seem like an oxymoron, so let us set the record straight. The luxury is real. Our room was enormous with a comfortable oversized bed, hardwood floors, indoor seating area, and sprawling balcony. There was even air conditioning and overhead lighting. The only way we can tell it was a tent at all were the canvas walls and outdoor shower.
Modern Amenities
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
We had all the amenities of home even though we were only a few steps away from the savanna. We had fast internet, fresh water, and plenty of plugs to charge all our devices. The shower was hot with great water pressure and quality products. We even had an electric kettle with hot tea and coffee. It was as if a four-star hotel room was plucked from a building and placed in the heart of Africa.
Fabulous Food
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The only town in Seregenti is Seronera which has a few food stalls, but you’re generally counting on your lodge for three meals a day, even if they’re just packing a boxed lunch. The lodges’ restaurants were excellent for every meal. Every meal featured European and African choices with plenty of vegetables and desserts and several house wines available.
We learned a couple of tricks during the stay. The coffee was delicious and available to go. Don’t forget to put some bacon on your sandwich and pack some fresh fruit on your boxed lunches. Finally, be sure to sample the African food. It’s prepared with the staff and guides in mind so it’s the most authentic you’ll find anywhere. Given that, if you tend to have delicate taste buds, be careful when they say something is “African hot.”
Attentive Staff
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
We have spent many years working in luxury properties and the staff hit all the service points we look for. Our porters made sure that we never had to carry bags and we were always greeted at the front desk even though there were only a handful of guests on the property. One of the truly unique features were Masai tribesmen who served as the night watch. They kept a fire burning to keep wild animals away and were just a phone call away to escort you anywhere you may need to go after the sun sets.
Total Immersion
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Chances are everybody has seen African animals at a zoo. They’re big, clean, and healthy, but definitely not wild. It’s the wilderness and wildness that makes safaris special for us. We visited Ngorogoro Crater and Tarangire on our travels through the Tanzanian countryside, but they felt different. Staying in the luxury tented camps of TWC Kubu Kubu Lodge and TWC Lahia Lodge was an immersive experience.
From dusk to dawn and all day long we were in the animals’ home. During the day, we felt the heat of the equatorial sun and tasted the dry dust of the savannah in your mouth. You could sense the ominous rustling of nightfall and the promise of a new day with sunrise. It felt like we weren’t just in Africa, but a living, breathing part of it.
Adventure of a Lifetime
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
We often find ourselves in a linguistic trap where we conflate adrenaline and fear with adventure. We’ll say for the record that our African safari was an adventure of a lifetime without those elements. The staff at the tented camps and our driver and jeep from Altezza took great care of us. Sure, we had to be escorted by the Masaai at night and couldn’t leave the jeep near high grass for fear of lions, but we always felt safe.
True adventure is an experience that takes you out of your comfort zone and into your growth zone. It’s hard to quantify every lesson provided by watching wild animals being wild, and if that were possible then you could just read a book instead of booking a safari. Seeing the pure joy of a baby elephant taking a mud bath or the ardent care of a mother leopard caring for her cub confirms the innate beauty and wonder of the natural world. After three days in the Serengeti, we realized how vast yet connected everything in nature is and that we’re just a part of this beautiful and diverse world.
Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.
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