Sanctuary Swala Camp — Hotel in Manyara Region

We booked our very first safari for an 8-day adventure in Tanzani with Gosheni Safaris in September 2023. The itinerary included the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Tarangire National Park. We chose two Sanctuary camps for some of our accommodations, Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater and Sanctuary Swala Camp in the Tarangire National Park. ||Unfortunately, we only reserved Sanctuary Swala for our last night. But they always say to save the best for last! Honestly, please be sure to book at least three nights at this beautiful resort.||From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Moses, Honest and Emmanuel. They escorted us to their incredible wood deck with a nice refreshing drink. The ambience of this resort is over the top! Besides the incredible layout of the camp, they have a special waterhole that they filter water to for the elephants. There were so many elephants around the property. In fact, two bull elephants were feeding on trees nearby so we needed to keep our distance. Besides elephants, there were buffalo, impalas, Thompson’s gazelles, zebras, wildebeest, etc…||After our orientation on the dining and bar facilities, we were escorted to our room (#6). OMG…a beautiful tented camp with views galore. We had a large deck with comfortable cushioned lounge chairs to sit on and enjoy our glass of wine. There were no bugs to speak of … anywhere! ||After relaxing and enjoying our room, we headed back to the bar area and sat at the wood deck watching all the animals. We were mesmerized. The staff were all so friendly, personable and genuine. We felt so at home here. When it was time for dinner, we were escorted away from the dining area and lead to a special intimate area of the resort set up just for us! The space was surrounded by dimly lit lanterns, casting a romantic ambience to our evening. We were so surprised! Gosheni Safari must have informed Sanctuary Swala that we were celebrating our 38th wedding anniversary. We were not in the very least expecting this. The special dinner they served was the very best we have had in a very long time! They have a very talented chef! To top it off, the entire staff serenaded us, circling us with song and dance and then presenting a special baked cake for us! I was in tears for how just how special they celebrated our anniversary for us!||We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and then it was time to depart. Too short of time to spend at this spectacular property and the most hospitable staff. Again, as we were about to load into our safari jeep, the entire staff came out again to sing the same lovely Hakuna Matata Swahili song, to wish us good-bye. Again, tears came once again. ||Sanctuary Swala Camp, you will always be dear to our hearts and I can only hope we will return someday! Please choose to stay here for your accommodation in the Tarangire...

Swala is something else! This was our first stop on our Tanzanian safari/honeymoon and it immediately blew us away. Beautiful tents, breathtaking location where you get to see the elephants up close and personal (like really close... we had to wait at the reception area to get into our car because 4 elephants were roaming the campgrounds and one was blocking our car! :-D). The staff was amazing, super friendly and so accomodating! Also, the food... so so so good!! I had the best red snapper of my life there! ||Tarangire is beautiful and our A&K driver for the week (Mr. Kimambo) was an absolute professional! He knew the park like the back of his hand and showed us so many animals. Also, he was just a really really nice person and we enjoyed spending the week with him so much! ||Would 100% recommend Swala Camp to everyone who wants to do a safari and we will definitely...

Under the incredibly able management of Devon Myers and fiancé, Tarry, this safari sanctuary lives up to and, indeed exceeds, the normal bounds of the word "sanctuary." It's nearly heaven on Earth to be resident there.

From the "front porch" view where one can daily gaze upon a family herd of elephants who frequent the water hole (just yards away), to the swanky well-appointed tent accommodations, to the dining and cocktail halls, to the Michelin-star quality of food that's served there throughout the day, one would be hard pressed to find a finer accommodation on safari.

Can't wait to get back and/or send friends and family there. Treat yourself to a wonderful surprise - Sanctuary Swala Camp in the lovely Tarangire area of Tanzania, when on safari in that...