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House of Waine | Nairobi
HOUSE of WAINE has 11 bedrooms and a 2-bedroom cottage set on 2.5 acres that blends the elegance of gracious living with The Spirit of Modern Africa in an exclusive and serene setting. Our aim is to provide our guests with an experience that exceeds all their expectations of city hotels and is punctuated by personalized, friendly and excellent service and cuisine in beautiful surroundings.
Located in the peace and quiet of Karen, House of Waine still retains much of the charm of a family home. Guests are assured of a relaxed and informal atmosphere where they can be free to do as much or as little as they like. Upon entering the gates one is transported to another place, one with a gentler, quieter pace, a private retreat where the only noise one will usually hear will the be the sound of the local birdlife.
Our 10 Standard rooms are all individually styled and then named to reflect their different themes ensuring that no two are exactly alike.
•4 of our bedrooms can be single, double or twin rooms with 6 of which can be triples as well.
•Each bedroom features a large marble bathroom with plenty of natural light through the large windows.
•Most bathrooms have a separate shower and bath (with the exception of 1 which feature only a shower) and all have a complete range of toiletries, hairdryers and bathroom telephone.
Our guests can be assured that they will enjoy the same standard of facilities in their room as they would in a larger city hotel. These include:
•Free Wi-Fi
•Televisions in each room with local and satellite channels
•Direct dial telephones
•Complimentary non-alcoholic mini bar
•Mini safe
•Tea and coffee making facilities with fresh milk and freshly ground coffee delivered daily
•Complimentary pastries daily
•Air conditioning in all rooms
•Hair dryer
“Malaika” is a Swahili word for an angel which explains why this suite is associated with perfection. This suite is also known as the Superior suite, with the fact that it is extremely spacious, with two lounge areas, a separate dressing room, an overly spacious bathroom ensuite with a unique spherical shaped bath tub and balcony with a view of the swimming pool and the utterly landscaped beautiful gardens.
The cosy Cottage sleeps 3, a double in the master room complete with a fireplace and a single. The Cottage has an open plan lounge (with a fireplace), Dining room, Kitchen and private garden.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Conference Centre, Eco Friendly, Gym (nearby), Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Available), Meal on Request, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Private Vehicle Available, Restaurant, Secure Parking
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Clothes Press, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, En-Suite, Fridge, Hair Dryer, Internet Access (Complimentary), Iron / Ironing Board, Laundry Service (Available), Lounge Area, Mini Bar, Mini Bar (Complimentary), Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Satellite / Cable Television, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Television, Wheelchair Friendly
Services
Airport Shuttle (Available), Babysitting Service, Credit Card, Room Service, Room Service (24 hours)
It is located at Langata, approximately 3 kilometers from House of Waine. It is the creation of a Kenyan
conservation organization, the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW). It was established in order to protect the endangered Rothschild giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi, that is found only in the grasslands of East Africa.
The main attraction for visitors is feeding giraffes from a raised observation platform. The centre is also
home to several warthogs which freely roam the area along with the giraffes.
They have three types of Giraffes: Reticulated Giraffe, Masai Giraffe and the Rothschild Giraffe.
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm 7 days a week.
Sheldrick is a Kenyan wildlife conservation charity founded in 1977 in memory of David Sheldrick by his widow Daphne Sheldrick. It assists and advises the Kenya Wildlife Service and manages an orphanage for elephants and rhinos.
One can also adopt an Elephant at a cost of USD 50 per year upon prior booking.
It is located approximately 20 minutes from House of Waine and is open daily from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. At this time you watch them being fed with the normal human children formulae milk.
Charges are Kshs. 500 per person both local and international.
Kazuri Bead Factory is situated 1 km and is approximately a 15 minutes walk from House of Waine – “a stones-throw away” from Karen Blixen Museum.
Originally founded by the late Lady Susan Wood in 1975, she created employment for struggling single mothers in the community. Kazuri is still located in its’ original setting in Karen, so far the workshop has now employed over 300 local women. Kazuri Beads specialize on Hand Made Ceramic Beads, Pottery and Genuine Leather Bags.
Kazuri Beads Shop opening hours are as follows: Sundays 9:00am to 4:00pm, Mondays to Saturdays from 8:30am am to 6:00pm. Karen Workshop closes Mon to Sat at 6.00pm and Sundays at 5.00pm.
Utamaduni Crafts Centre is located on Bogani East Road between Ostrich Park and Giraffe Centre in Langata open from 10am to 6pm daily. Utamaduni Crafts Centre is situated 5 Minutes from House of Waine. There are about eighteen individual Craft Shops in one large house offering a wealth of Kenyan Culture.
The centre offers antiques, wood carvings, bronze items, and jewellery of the highest quality. Utamaduni means “cultural heritage” and is a converted house containing (about 18) arts and crafts shops including:
cKisii Soapstone
- African Fabrics
- Men's Boutique
- Beaded Glassware
- An African coffee table book shop
- Antique African silver & gold jewelry
- Crafts made by ex-Nairobi street children
- A variety of beautiful Kenyan Kiondos (Baskets)
Utamaduni Craft Centre in Nairobi is the best place to buy souvenirs.
The museum is situated in the upscale Nairobi suburb of "Karen," a town that was created by the parceling out of the coffee farm's land after Blixen's return to Denmark. Itis also the former African home of Danish author Karen Blixen, famous for her book Out of Africa which chronicles life at the estate.
The Karen Blixen Museum is located 1km from House of Waine and is open every day between 9:30am and 6:00pm, including on weekends and public holidays.
Visitors have the opportunity to take part in continuously offered guided tours of the house, which features rooms designed in both the original decor and with props from the 1985 film. The grounds, which feature original equipment from the coffee farm, are also available for touring. There is also a gift shop. The grounds of the museum are available to rent for weddings, corporate functions, and other events.
Charges :100 Kshs per person-Residents & USD 10 Per Person Non-Residents.
The Museum is open from 9:30am to 6:00pm
With a beautiful view of our heated swimming pool, it is ideal for lunches and cocktail parties.
The Dining room offers a varied menu that reflects the diversity to be found in Nairobi today ensuring that guests find something they enjoy from the various options.
With beautiful view of the garden, the terrace offers an opportunity to view the bird life as they enjoy their breakfast as well.
Right by the fire place
Right in the middle of our beautifully landscaped gardens
The Main Bar
Your Stay
1 Night
Bed and Breakfast
Your Rooms
1x Standard Double
Fast Facts
5 Star
Guest House
Spoken Languages: English, Swahili
No. Rooms: 12
Special Interests: Big 5, Flora, Golf, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Shopping, Wildlife
Mara Bushtops Camp | Masai Mara
The words “exclusive” and “luxurious” are often exaggerations: at Mara Bushtops they fit like a glove. Watching from your own 110 square metre private deck as an abundance of wildlife congregates around the adjacent salt lick is, literally, unforgettable. Having your butler draw your hot tub after a game drive is heavenly. Delving into the well-stocked wine cellar and enjoying superb cooking simply adds to the magic. Together, these experiences create an oasis of five-star luxury, blending peace with adventure
The award-winning Spa Village at Mara Bushtops takes Wild Luxury to new heights. It adds luxurious pampering, peace and tranquility to the excitement of game watching, culinary excellence and the comforts of the Camp.
Mara Bushtops boats a sensational location in front of the largest natural salt lick in the Mara and perched on the side of a hill, with a scenic valley to one side. Set amid the Bushtops private Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara, Activities such as walking safaris, night game drives, a visit to our historic Masai cave, off road game drives, sun downers, bush breakfasts are part of the experience. Game drives are conducted in open converted 4x4’s and accompanied by a Ranger and Masai spotter.
We spared no expense turning each of Mara Bushtops' spacious and fabulously appointed luxury tents into a perfect haven of comfort. Each opens on three sides to create a unique view of distant plains and the Siana hills, with nothing to spoil perfect panoramic views. Every tent at Mara Bushtops is bounded by a private wooden deck of more than a hundred square metres. This provides ample room to wander at leisure, sink into a deck lounger, soak in your private hot tub or use the telescope provided to spot distant wildlife.
It has two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. By adding an extra children's bed to each bedroom, Leopard can accommodate a family of six. Its sunken lounge is the perfect location for an afternoon siesta, while the hot tub on the deck is perfectly placed to view the salt lick and visiting wildlife. The suite also has a private fire place, wine wall and mini bar.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Gym, Internet Access, Library, Meal on Request, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, En-Suite, Hair Dryer, Internet, Lounge Area, Outside Shower, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Verandah
Services
Credit Card, Laundry Service, Room Service, Room Service (24 hours)
Every day in the Masai Mara is different. Each of our game drives is an adventure into the unknown. We recommend staying with us for at least four days (three nights) to ensure you absorb as much game viewing as you can, balanced with relaxation in camp. This activity is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops.
We’d love to guarantee you’ll see the big five. We’re confident you will spot lions, buffalo and elephants, often in great numbers. Leopards and rhino can be shy, but we do all in our power to seek them out. The secret is to make sure you take part in at least one early morning game drive, one full day game drive and an evening game drive (a night drive is a bonus!). The knowledge of our rangers and the sharp eyes of Masai spotters will do the rest.
Explore our Conservancy on foot
One of the many advantages of being located in our own private lands is being able to run walking safaris directly from the camp. All you need is good walking shoes and a sense of adventure.
Our walks are always accompanied by an armed KWS Ranger and your Naturalist.
One of the unusual aspects of Mara Bushtops and owning our own conservancy is being able to arrange night game drives, which is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops. When the sun sets, nature shuffles its deck, revealing new players and dramas under the moonlit skies of the Masai Mara.
The lights of our 4x4s may pick out the eyes of a spring hare bounding like a kangaroo, or the loping figure of a hunter bearing down on a herd of impala. A night game drive is a wonderful opportunity to spot the best of Kenya’s wildlife – perhaps a lion, leopard or buffalo, a silver backed jackal, hyena or banded mongoose.
Masai spotters and unique night game drive technology
Masai spotters know where to look and seem able to see in the dark, aided by night torches. Our specially converted car is equipped with a heat-seeking night-vision camera, known as a ‘flir’, whose infra-red images are relayed to screens on the seatbacks ahead of you. This adds a new, unexpected dimension to game viewing – and another way in which we aim to surprise and delight our guests.
It’s an astonishing image: a balloon, framed against the rising sun, overlooking the herds of Masai Mara plains. You could be in that balloon’s basket, creating a memory that will last a lifetime. But you will have to get up early!
If you want to add a balloon safari to your itinerary, it’s best to let us know in advance. This lies outside your stay at Mara Bushtops and bookings are outside our control: the sooner you let us know, the more likely we can confirm availability (and the additional costs involved: you should allow US$450-$500 per person).
Having booked your flight, you will be picked up from Mara Bushtops in the early hours of the morning, ready to take flight as dawn breaks (weather permitting). As you level out over the Bush, you gain a bird’s eye view of the herds and an awe-inspiring panoramic overview of the wide horizons. After about an hour, your experienced pilot brings the balloon safely to earth. You celebrate the amazing experience with a Bush champagne breakfast. You then have the option to continue the adventure, adding a full day game drive, or return to camp for a leisurely morning or nap.
If you are bringing younger members of the family with you, there's something new and exciting awaiting them at Bushtops. Our Bushcraft Challenge, which is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops. This introduces youngsters to basic survival skills, local culture, the importance of conservation and (of course) local flora and fauna.
Activities include learning to make fire without matches or a lighter; completing animal spotting checklists (assisted by our rangers); identifying animal tracks and making a memento plaster cast of their favourites; learning about animal bones; listening to anthropology stories; practicing archery; trying out bead making skills; baking Swahili cookies and more!
Completing the challenge leads to a Bushtops Bushcraft Certificate, authenticating unique skills and a sense of real achievement.
During a full-day game drive your ranger will find a nice spot under a tree to set up a picnic lunch. Dining in the middle of nowhere with nobody to disturb you except for the noises of animals nearby also enjoying their lunch is an experience one cannot easily forget. This carries no additional cost.
Our award-winning safari spa at Mara Bushtops takes Wild Luxury to new heights. It adds luxurious pampering, peace and tranquillity to the excitement of game watching, culinary excellence and the comforts of the camp. Use of the spa facilities is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops but treatments and massages carry an additional cost.
Within the soothing confines of the safari spa, rejuvenating massages, hydrotherapy and a range of holistic skin and body treatments are complemented by a fitness facility, complete with high-tech cardiovascular and weight training equipment.
A sauna, Rasul steam room (featuring multi-sensory Arabian mud cleansing treatments) and hot tub vie for attention with a solar heated infinity pool – with beds inside the pool complete with water jets! There is also a cold plunge pool to take the edge of the heat. And to wind down, there is the simple glory of our wooden relaxation deck, providing uninterrupted views of the camp’s salt lick and the majestic African bush.
This is where the ‘luxury’ part of our promise to you comes to glorious life. We offer a range of delights, embracing Amani signature spa treatments, luxurious body treatments, sensational journeys, a massage collection, deluxe facials and hand and foot rituals.
The best ending to any day. Watching a fiery red orb of light slowly sink beneath the horizon in the middle of the bush, all while chatting about the sightings of the day and enjoying some drinks with canapés. This activity is included in the price when staying at Mara Bushtops.
A simply fantastic place to view the sunset and talk about the events of the day and the plan for tomorrow. The pool was designed with stars in the bottom that emit light through the water in the shape of the Orion constellation. This activity has no additional cost.
The camp fire is a great place to have drinks and wind down after a day well spent. You will be treated with a traditional Masai dance for entertainment. The jumping dance is likely what you will be familiar with. In the Masai language this dancing competition is called the "adumu". Though the jumping dance is the most well known, there are plenty of other traditional dances that the Masai perform. This carries no additional cost.
Our guests call is "the best view in the Maasai Mara"
Our private conservancy is a haven for wildlife – and the best bit is just yards from the camp. Directly in front of the restaurant and spa lies a salt lick. Animals love it, arriving primarily at noon but also throughout the day and night to absorb the minerals needed for healthy bones and growth.
This creates a constantly shifting nature show, as gazelle jostle with warthogs, zebra and impala, topi and buffalo. It is not unusual to have a herd of elephant join them – and we have hosted more than 40 giraffe at a time. Naturally, the predators take an interest, with leopard and lion visitors. We like to think Mara Bushtops is unique: as the only camp in the Mara with a natural salt lick this size! This has no additional cost.
We’re used to surprises in the Bush, but sometimes we get left open-mouthed. Finding an historic Masai cave in our conservancy was just such an occasion. As a result, our excursions have just become even more exciting!
We’d heard rumours of the cave’s existence, but after 10 years at Mara Bushtops, had no idea that within a 15 minute drive (and 10 minute hike) lay a centre of worship, sacrifice and communal gathering.
It’s called the Kakiya cave and it is truly incredible. Kakiya means the place of eating and drinking, giving us a pretty solid clue as to its central role in Masai life!
A walking safari through a scenic valley takes you into a hidden world. Here you can learn how to create a fire (without matches) before your Masai spotter explains the cave’s history, role and continued relevance to the Masai. This includes an explanation of the cave art, which uses red ochre to depict wild animals and warriors, usually created to celebrate a kill. It is hard to know when the cave was first used. We know some of the paintings are from the 1950s, but many may be much older. This activity has no additional cost.
Picture this: an early morning wake-up call, followed by a mysterious drive into the wilderness. Then, as the sun rises and light floods the landscape, you find yourself in an oasis of tranquility.
You hop from the truck to survey this wonderland. Moments later, your table awaits you. This is your Private Bush breakfast.
It’s highly unlikely that you have ever started the day in such a glorious location, or in such splendid isolation. No fellow diners: just you, our chef and your ranger, serving a hot meal and an array of delicious buffet delicacies. A glorious day in the Bush has begun… This activity is included in the price for honeymooners but carries an additional cost for other guests.
Masai tribal villages are dotted around East Africa’s national parks. At Bushtops we highly recommend a visit to a Masai manyatta (village), to gain a rare insight into one of Africa best-known traditional cultures. Our relationship with local tribal elders has built trust and an agreement to allow us privileged access to authentic living history, perpetuated in the villages which border our private conservancy. This activity carries an additional cost.
Education is the greatest gift – and helping out local schools is very much part of the Bushtops way. It’s fundamental to our belief that luxury safaris must go hand in hand with care for the land, its wildlife and the communities who were there long before us.
Our local schools are proud of what we achieve together, so the headmaster or a teacher is always happy to give our guests a tour. In around 45 minutes you get to meet the students, see them in class and note some of the projects we’ve funded, built or worked on.
A visit always creates an unforgettable impression: it’s a captivating experience, seeing how children in less fortunate communities take every chance they can get to learn – creating new opportunities for their future.
To take part in a school visit, just let us know before you arrive. If not, we may still be able to arrange things once you join us. There is no cost.
Mara Bushtops Restaurant
Being presented with a choice of sumptuous a la carte dishes may seem extraordinary in the heart of the wilderness, yet our amazing chefs and trained, friendly service staff make it a daily pleasure. Eat whenever and wherever suits you, selecting from continental, vegetarian, vegan and local cuisine menus, or options reflecting any special dietary needs.
To taste our haute cuisine for yourself, book a visit!
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Your Rooms
1x Standard Double
Fast Facts
5 Star
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 13
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Gourmet, Hiking, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
Governors' Il Moran Camp | Masai Mara National Reserve
Governors' Il Moran Camp is widely regarded as one of the premier camps in the Masai Mara, with the best game viewing right on your doorstep.
Luxury tent
Governors’ Il Moran Camp has ten vast, luxurious tents that feature super ‘king size’ beds fashioned from ancient fallen olive trees and Victorian style baths. Il Moran is an ideal camp for honeymooners and couples who are looking for a very special safari experience.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Kiddies Club, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Malaria Free, Meal on Request, Mobile Connectivity, Private Vehicle Available, Restaurant
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Bath, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Mini Bar, Mini Bar (Complimentary), Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah, Wheelchair Friendly
Services
Airport Shuttle (Available), Credit Card, Room Service
Governors’ Camp Collection properties combine the best locations in the Masai Mara with the best-designed vehicles and exceptionally highly trained and experienced guides to give our clients un-matched game-viewing and photographic opportunities in the world’s prime wildlife area.
We are in the heart of the best game viewing area of the Masai Mara; we take you out twice a day into the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve and surrounding areas. Our driver-guides are hand-picked and nurtured by us. They undergo a continuous guide training scheme mentored by experts in the field. Having operated in the Masai Mara for 50 years, our driver-guides have an un-paralleled knowledge of the reserve combined with a deep understanding and respect for the importance of this wilderness area, its flora and its fauna.
Game drives are included in the accommodation rate.
For those looking for an adventure of a different kind, we suggest a magical hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara.
The adventure begins just before dawn. Departure is from a launch site just 15 minutes drive away. Guests assemble at the launch site for a briefing as the flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. As the dawn breaks, the hot air balloon fills and then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective.
What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness – the silence as you float above the plains, the forest and the rivers of the Masai Mara.
After about an hour or so, your balloon safari finishes with a flourish. In the time-honoured tradition of balloon flights the world over, toast your return to earth with sparkling wine and enjoy a delicious breakfast that is set up and served at a very special spot. The experience ends with a game drive back to your camp.
There is an extra cost for a hot air balloon safari and the price depends on the time of year.
For a very unique experience, enjoy the excitement of a bush dinner in the wild. You will arrive at a special secluded location on the banks of the Mara river. A welcoming drink awaits by the warming campfire, followed by a delicious meal prepared by our Bush chefs, served under the stars, with the soft lights of safari lanterns and accompanied by the sounds of the African night and the grunting Mara river hippos.
Bush breakfasts and bush lunches are also available. Please try to book bush meals in advance. Costs: bush breakfasts and lunches USD $75 per person, bush dinners USD $92 per person
The Masai people of East Africa are a striking image, synonymous with safari. A proud people with many traditional practices still very much alive in their culture. Visit a local Masai village and learn about who they are in their own words.
Entry to the Maasai village is currently USD $40 per person and is paid directly to the community.
Visits to our responsible tourism projects can be organised from camp. Mara Rianda Primary School and Mara Rianda Medical Centre are two inspirational projects supported by Governors’ Camps.
There is no extra charge for this activity but donations to any of the projects are welcome.
Since the beginning of the 20th Century the cheetah population has fallen dramatically from 100'000 individuals to 7'500 individuals with human activity a major cause. It is therefore important to understand the cheetah-human interface, which is one of the key works of the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project, led by Dr. Elena Chelyseva.
Our Governors' Guides play a critical role in the data collection for Dr. Elena and her team, reporting through sightings and behaviour observations of cheetah spotted. Dr Elena enjoys sharing her expertise on the cheetahs in the area with our guests through talks or by accompanying guests game drives.
Please let us know if you would like to pre-book a talk or a guided game drive with Elena when booking your safari. There is a minimum donation requirement of USD $500 for a presentation in camp.
Governors’ hosts a wildlife photographer in the Mara who is available to be booked by our guests for accompanied photo safaris and in-depth tutorials on all elements of photography, including editing. Do let us know if you would like to guarantee a full day with them capturing the very best of this incredible wildlife reserve. Please note that guests will need to secure an exclusive use vehicle at a daily rate, on top of the photographer's daily fee.
Governors' also has 3 'photo safari' vehicles. Listening to the specific needs and recommendations of the photographers we've hosted over the years, we've modified three Landrover vehicles to include same level seating throughout, cut-out side panels in the middle row to get those much desired low angle shots, high roofs, fully folding windscreens and wide side panelling to offer the perfect place for resting a beanbag and long lens. The cars are available on an exclusive use basis and can be requested for and reserved while making your Governors' booking. They are available at all our camps in the Masai Mara.
Please see https://www.governorscamp.com/travel-planning/resident-photographers/ for full details and costs.
After your late afternoon game drive, end the day with a 'sundowner' at our very special spot on the banks of the Mara River. Our team will have set up a traditional 'safari bar' ahead of your arrival.
Sundowners are included in the nightly rate but premium drinks are extra.
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Your Rooms
1x Standard Double
Fast Facts
5 Star
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: English, Swahili
No. Rooms: 10
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Nature, Relaxation, Wildlife
Serengeti Bushtops Camp | Northern Serengeti
Serengeti Bushtops is a unique five star safari experience within Tanzania’s glorious Serengeti. Imagine returning from safari and watching the sun set from the comfort of your tent’s private hot tub. Consider the thrill of watching the annual migration thunder across the mighty Mara river. Or simply revel in the thought of being pampered by your butler, before enjoying our fabulous cuisine in the comfort of our restaurant.. This combination of safari adventure and first class facilities has delivered Serengeti Bushtops’ unwavering promise of Wild Luxury. Game drives are conducted in open converted 4x4's and are accompanied by a professional ranger and a local spotter. Facilities include an infinity pool, a bar and a lounge with fireplace.
Bushtops tents are simply extraordinary. Each boasts a hundred and twenty square metres of luxurious living space, providing ample room to wander at leisure, sink into a deck lounger, soak in your private hot tub or gaze out at passing wildlife. Spacious and beautifully furnished, each offers true five star luxury within a canvas canopy -- but with space and views no hotel could hope to match.
This is your personal realm, ideally suited to restful sleep, taking an open-air shower beneath the warm African sun, unwinding as you await drinks from your private butler, or perhaps purring under your masseuse's strong fingers, after an exhilarating day on safari. Solar power and a generator back up ensure constant electricity is on tap within your tent and across the camp. Due to our location, cellphone and wifi signals come and go, but you can always stay connected. Many prefer not to -- and we ask all our guests to keep their phones on silent, to keep the world at bay!
Our two family tents are perfect for bigger families, especially since they are linked by a bridge to create a private family suite.
("Jackal 1" & "Jackal 2", pictured here, are linked with a very short bridge while "Fox" and "Giraffe" are linked with a longer bridge)
Everyone over the age of seven is most welcome at Serengeti Bushtops, so we can add two children's beds to any tent. This means we can accommodate four adults and four children within the combined family suites. We can also add a single bed for a sharing adult, accommodating three people in any of our tents.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Eco Friendly, Library, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Spa
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, En-Suite, Hair Dryer, Lounge Area, Outside Shower, Private Pool / Jacuzzi, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Verandah
Services
Credit Card, Room Service, Room Service (24 hours)
There are no better game viewing locations on earth than the Masai Mara and Serengeti.
We believe our converted 4×4 vehicles, expert guides and eagle-eyed spotters are without peer or parallel.
The combination makes any Bushtops safari simply unforgettable. This activity is included in the price for the ground package rate and is not included in the price for those who are paying for the full board package.
You leave Camp at around 6 am for a game drive en route to the walking venue at Wayo near Mara river. The walk takes around one hour and is accompanied by your Ranger and an armed Tanapa (Tanzania National Parks) Ranger, who’s expertise means you can safely approach herds of impala, zebra and giraffe. They will also spot and interpret the animals tracks left from the night before and identify the flora and fauna. All you need is a pair of good walking shoes and a sense of adventure!
After the walk you head back to Camp for breakfast or continue with your game drive.
(Please note that an indemnity form has to be signed before the walk)
Minimum age requirement for children on a walking safari is 16 yrs and above
Charge Per Person is USD 50
It’s a classic moment, immortalized in films, fantasies and a million great safari adventures: watching the sun set over the African bush. There’s simply nothing like it.
You may see a burnished disk slip gracefully from view. If not, the clouds will diffuse an amazing palette of colour, flooding the horizon.
Either way, you’ll be part of an incredible experience which will live on in your mind’s eye, for ever.
Serengeti Bushtops isn’t just the perfect place for a safari: it includes the ideal spot for a sundowner. We call it Simba’s rock. The reason is simple. Simba means lion and our favoured sundowner location is theirs too!
Needless to say, if they are there first, our advance team swiftly detours to prepare one of several alternative options. Usually, though, we’re able to look across the Serengeti plains from Simba’s Rock, watching the sun set on paradise.
Sundowners are private at Serengeti Bushtops, meaning they are exclusive to you as an individual, couple, family or group. The charge is 50 USD per person.
Sundowners can also be enjoyed for free in the privacy of your own luxury tent. Each tent has a sunken lounge or you could enjoy the sunset from your hot tub.
What a way to end the day!
There is nothing quite like soaring high above the herds in a hot air balloon, as the sun rises over Serengeti. If this prospect appeals, and you decide to add a balloon safari to your itinerary, do let us know in advance, so we can arrange a booking with our local hot air balloon operator, based near Kogatende.
You will be picked up from Serengeti Bushtops before dawn, ready to take off as the sun makes its appearance. The flight lasts an unforgettable hour, before your balloon is brought gracefully back to earth – and a celebratory Bush champagne breakfast.
You can then head off on a full day’s day game drive, or return to camp for a more leisurely morning and even a return to bed, to catch up on lost sleep.
Please note that a balloon safari lies outside your Serengeti Bushtops booking and our direct control: you should allow around US$550 per person for the flight.
If you are bringing younger members of the family with you, there's something new and exciting awaiting them at Bushtops. Our Bushcraft Challenge. This introduces youngsters to basic survival skills, local culture, the importance of conservation and (of course) local flora and fauna.
Activities include learning to make fire without matches or a lighter; completing animal spotting checklists (assisted by our rangers); identifying animal tracks and making a memento plaster cast of their favourites (we can even arrange to have a Bronze made out of your cast. This will be sent to you via courier); learning about animal bones; practicing archery; trying out bead making skills; baking Swahili cookies and more!
Completing the challenge leads to a Bushtops Bushcraft Certificate, authenticating unique skills and a sense of real achievement. This activity carries no additional cost.
Education is the greatest gift – and helping out local schools is very much part of the Bushtops way. It’s fundamental to our belief that luxury safaris must go hand in hand with care for the land, its wildlife and the communities who were there long before us.
Our local schools are proud of what we achieve together, so the headmaster or a teacher is always happy to give our guests a tour. In around 45 minutes you get to meet the students, see them in class and note some of the projects we’ve funded, built or worked on.
A visit always creates an unforgettable impression: it’s a captivating experience, seeing how children in less fortunate communities take every chance they can get to learn – creating new opportunities for their future.
To take part in a school visit, just let us know before you arrive. If not, we may still be able to arrange things once you join us. There is no cost.
Picture this: an early morning wake-up call, followed a mysterious drive into the wilderness. Then, as the sun rises and light
floods the landscape, you find yourself in an oasis of tranquility.
You hop from the truck to survey this wonderland. Moments later, your table awaits you. This is your Private Bush breakfast.
It’s highly unlikely that you have ever started the day in such a glorious location, or in such splendid isolation. No fellow diners: just you, our chef and your driver, serving a hot meal and an array of delicious buffet delicacies. A glorious day in the Bush has begun …
We recommend you pre-book your private bush breakfast with us before you arrive. The cost is 50USD per person – but the experience is priceless.
The perfect end to the perfect day: total privacy in your own illuminated corner of the darkening Serengeti. That’s what our Klipspringer dining experience delivers, within a setting of charm and intimacy.
The surrounding rocks, of the sort favoured by local Klipspringer antelope, form a natural amphitheatre, adding intimacy for honeymooners or families (the 130USD cost covers up to six people).
Within this magical haven, lanterns and a bonfire turn beauty into wonder, creating the ideal spot for a sumptuous meal, prepared by our executive chef.
As day turns to night in the Serengeti, has life ever been this good?!
When you visit us, we want you to be exhilarated by the wildlife, but relaxed by everything else. You can book an Aromatherapy or Deep Tissue massage with products from Terres d’Afrique.
As you contemplate the delights of the safari you have just completed or the dinner about to be enjoyed, what better way to let the cares of the world slip from your shoulders? These treatments and massages carry an additional cost.
During a full-day game drive your ranger will find a nice spot under a tree to set up a picnic lunch. Dining in the middle of nowhere with nobody to disturb you except for the noises of animals nearby also enjoying their lunch is an experience one cannot easily forget. This carries no additional cost.
mess tent at Serengeti Bushtops
It’s hard to imagine a better conclusion to an exhilarating day’s game viewing than being invited to a gastronomic experience, enjoyed within the harmonious comfort of our restaurant. With a campfire glowing outside, this is life in the bush at its most refined: the perfect place to end a perfect day, as the hot sun sinks slowly out of sight.
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Your Rooms
1x Standard Double
Fast Facts
5 Star
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: English, Swahili
No. Rooms: 13
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Gourmet, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
The Plantation Lodge | Karatu
The Plantation Lodge’s location offers maximum safari enjoyment to visitors. It is situated close to the entrance of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Lake Manyara National Park, and just a short journey away from the Tarangire National Park and the Serengeti. The lodge features individually furnished rooms and suites with modern amenities for a comfortable stay. Dining options include a restaurant serving fine multi-course meals. Guests can unwind with a drink at the bar, relax in the garden and enjoy a dip in the pool.
Your Stay
2 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Your Rooms
1x Standard Double
Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge | Arusha
Located in the middle of a verdant coffee plantation, Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge is a sanctuary of aromatic tranquility and a welcome retreat after a long international flight, or the dust and excitement of a thrilling bush safari.
Take residence in one of 30 luxury wooden chalets - 12 Plantation Suites and 18 Plantation Rooms - nestled amongst the surrounding gardens and sea of coffee trees.
Turning off the road, a tree-lined drive guides you to the warm and inviting main area with its quiet understated aura of luxury. Vibrant gardens, a spa, and a swimming pool await, and a restaurant, Bacchus, and café bistro, 3° South, boast menus to satisfy the most discerning of palates, successfully fusing international culinary prowess with locally-sourced ingredients.
Visitors are also welcome to enjoy convenient gift shopping at the Traders Walk Boutiques, located on site. Browse through a collection of five boutiques offering arts and crafts, jewellery, clothing, gourmet coffee and cakes and traditional Swahili food.
The 12 Plantation Suites are spacious, modern yet homely retreats among the coffee trees. With a soothing rainfall shower and generous bathtub, a private outside terrace with log fire, a 32” TV with satellite service and attractive décor reflecting the omnipresent theme of coffee, a Plantation Suite invites guests to relax and unwind.
The 18 Plantation Rooms are cosy and comfortably furnished rooms nestled among the aromatic coffee trees. A welcoming atmosphere greets guests, who enjoy an inviting in-room log fire, en suite bathroom with shower and bath, and a verandah overlooking the surrounding green coffee garden.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Conference Centre, Laundry Service (Available), Malaria Free, Meal on Request, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Private Vehicle Available, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Bath, Clothes Press, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Fan, Fireplace, Fridge, Hair Dryer, Heater, Iron / Ironing Board, Laundry Service (Available), Lounge Area, Mini Bar, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Satellite / Cable Television, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Television, Verandah
Services
Airport Shuttle (Available), Babysitting Service, Chauffer Service, Credit Card, Foreign Exchange, Room Service, Room Service (24 hours), Travel Desk
Take a guided walk around the workings of the coffee plantation to see how the coffee is grown, harvested, dried, and produced into the aromatic coffee that we drink every day, culminating in that all-important coffee tasting!
Tours are an additional cost to accommodation.
The Trader's Walk is a collection of 5 boutique shops and gourmet food places within the ground of Arusha Coffee Lodge showcasing some of the best creativity and ingenuity of Tanzania.
Shanga - A workshop creating gift arts and crafts.
Watch beautiful jewellery, arts and crafts being created out of recycled materials.
Soko - The gift shop
From safari clothing to wonderful keepsakes and gifts.
Jikoni - The authentic African kitchen
An open-to-air restaurant with traditional Swahili food on offer.
The Tanzanite Experience - The jewellery store
Tanzanite Experience specialises in authentic, ethically-mined Tanzanite gemstones and jewellery. Tanzanite, a beautiful blue stone, is said to be a 1000 times rarer than diamonds.
Kahawa - The cafe
A delightful gourmet cafe selling freshly ground coffee and fresh-baked cakes either 'to go' or served on Kahawa's shaded terrace.
Take a picnic lunch and enjoy an excursion to the slopes of Mt Meru where Arusha National Park is located. The park enjoys an abundance of birdlife, and quite a variety of wildlife. The landscape within its relatively small 137km2 is impressively varied and offers some spectacular views.
A day excursion to Arusha National Park is an additional cost to accommodation.
Arusha is a bustling town with one of the fastest growing populations in Africa. Shopping and cultural experiences are on offer, including Masai Markets, the Tanzanite Museum, Museum of Natural History and Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, plus a variety of boutique gift shops, cafes and restaurants.
City tour of Arusha is at an additional cost to accommodation.
Indulge in a pampering and relaxing treatment at Peaberries. Select from bouquet of treatments, including massages, pedicures, manicures, waxes and facials.
Spa treatments are not included in accommodation price.
Taking its name from the Roman god of food and wine, Bacchus is located within the main house at Arusha Coffee Lodge.
This a la carte menu, created and devised by our Executive Chef, pays homage to international gourmet and culinary techniques whilst featuring the very finest in fresh, locally sourced produce that in turn enhances each dish with that all-important local flavoring, all complimented an extensive wine list.
With indoor and garden terrace seating available, and serviced by its very own bar, coffee station and wood fired pizza oven, ‘3 Degrees South’ cafe bistro serves a rich variety of goumet dishes all prepared using the very best of fresh, locally sourced produce.
Every day an extravagant buffet luncheon is served in the cool, manicured gardens.
Your Stay
1 Night
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Your Rooms
1x Standard Double
Fast Facts
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English, Swahili
No. Rooms: 30
Special Interests: Adventure, Gourmet, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Shopping, Wine