Singita Sasakwa — Local services in Mara Region

Located in the northeast of Tanzania on the border of the Serengeti National Park, through which more than a million Wildebeest, Zebra and Thompson’s Gazelle migrate annually. The lodge itself is on a hill, with spectacular views over the grasslands, with a private airstrip for plane access (otherwise it’s a seven-hour drive to Arusha).

Come for the amazing Game Drives, but enjoy so much more. This small all-inclusive hotel has it all and if you stay here you will be made to feel very special.

We are well travelled 5* only bods and a bit fussy. This holiday was one of the best ever….

We came in early June and it was perfect, great weather, low occupancy (6 guests at one point) and a ton of animals to see and photograph. Sure it wasn’t migration season but there was no shortage of Lions, Leopards, Buffalo, Elephants, and tons of other small to large animals… But no Rhino here except a couple in a special no-access local reserve you probably won’t get to glimpse. The Grumeti reserve is very large and you often end up tens of miles from any other humans. The driver has a radio though and a good animal spot is shared with the other cars so it is possible for a couple of other vehicles to turn up to watch a kill for example. We had a car to the two of us and found the safari side to be better than we could ever have imagined with an amazing driver (Nico) and so many animals in “real” wild situations in such vast wilderness…. Wow! Stopping for a G&T with ice! plus a selection of nibbles or Coffee and cake at sundown, amazing memories.

We loved every minute of our time at Sasakwa and wished we had stayed for longer. 3-4 days is ideal if you are going out on two 3 hour game drives each day, but you won’t get enough time to enjoy the lodge and it’s facilities properly. I would stay 4-5 days and miss some game drives to focus on relaxing in the amazing surroundings, drinking cocktails. We changed the timings of some drives to give us a lie in (They are flexible in all matters at Sasakwa and nothing seems too much bother)

Surroundings: The lodge is a sprawling old house with so much character and far larger than it needs to be for so few occupants with all the facilities you could need. Two tennis courts and three shops though.. really ! It is a stunning place in a truly beautiful setting and very romantic indeed. We loved the bush babies at dinner time, the troops of Monkeys and also Baboons that hang around the lodge

Food: you get to choose from a selection at each meal time and they easily accommodate dietary oddities. We found all the food to be of very high standard apart from the goats cheese… which was just odd and not like any I had had before. Not a problem though as there was tons of other stuff to eat and you could ask for more of anything. The puddings were amazing by the way ! We were surprised one day when they arranged a bush picnic in the middle of nowhere. A table full of food, champagne and armed guard appeared as we pulled into a clearing between trees in the middle of nowhere… just magical.

Wine: really good selection of included wines.. pick from the menu or ask for a recommendation. Mostly S.A grown (French champagne is extra)

Room: old fashioned colonial cool with big bed and everything you could need including minibar, port, snacks, coffee etc all included in the cost like everything else… Plunge pool and large patio with Yoga mat and stunning view over the plain below. That view can never be imagined until you see it for yourself !! Fast free wi-fi all over lodge and better cell signal in the bush than I get in Oxford ! I face-timed the kids next to a pride of Lions Ha Ha !!

Service: Amazing all round. All staff seem to want you to have a nice time and are well trained. Tanzanian people are very nice in general we found. Management team were white South Africans, very professional and...

---MAGNIFICENT LODGE IN THE SERENGETI!

---Singita Sasakwa is a gorgeous Edwardian lodge with beautiful views overlooking the plains of the Serengeti. The stunning cottages with wide wrap around terraces and plunge pool are beyond belief! It is known as Singita’s flagship lodge.

---We were greeted upon arrival by staff members welcoming us with jubilant singing.

---Then we walked outside on the huge lawn and saw the gorgeous views perched from the top of the mountain of the Serengeti. It was breathtaking!

---Sasakwa is pure luxury in every part of the lodge. Our cottage was filled with antiques, beautiful artwork, a spacious closet, gorgeous bathroom and a Bar at the entrance with complimentary drinks and snacks.

---Eating lunch everyday overlooking the Serengeti was so special. Candlelight dinners were beautifully presented and just incredible. Thank you to our waiter, Gerson who not only provided excellent service (like having my ice tea ready every day- LOL)- but was also a pure joy to be with. We loved you Gerson!

---Our guide for our three night stay was Bernard. He followed us from Sabora Tented Camp. How lucky were we to have him for 6 days. Bernard is truly magnificent! So knowledgeable about all the animals and we learned so much from him. The way he explains things about the animals was so special. But he is more than just a guide -he is an outstanding person and was a delight to be with on 2 game drives a day. We saw elephants fighting and mating, besides all the many close up encounters with lions, giraffes, zebras, baboons etc.

---We were fortunate to see the beginning of the Great Migration. What a sight to behold! Bernard knew just where to go to see the most animals. You can also ask your guide to join you for dinner which we enjoyed. We loved you Bernard and will never forget you!

---Be sure to make an appointment as soon as you arrive for the Spa. The massages were fabulous! Thank you to Pendo and Nyangi for your wonderful service.

---Going to the Community visit was a real highlight of our stay. Don’t miss this. We went into the villages, and sang and danced with the children, saw schools, local markets etc. The memory of that day will stay with us forever. The villages are nearby and you will be taken there by your guide.

---The lodge Managers K, and Joyce were engaging and always present. You really know how to run a great lodge.

---The food was outstanding and beautifully presented. Thank you to Bryan and Mia the Executive Chefs. Don’t miss tea time in the late afternoon with divine pastries by Louise. We also did a kitchen tour with Louise and that was so interesting to see how they make breads and prepare all the food.

---Thank you also to Pilli (Housekeeping), Irene (Assistant Lodge Manager), Gekuli and Alex ( Supervisors), and Emanuel and Stefano ( Wine Stewards)

---There is a reason Sasakwa has won so many awards including World’s Leading Safari Lodge.

---We didn’t want to leave and hope to come back in the future! As we departed 12 staff members were there to tell us goodbye. Thank you for giving us memories that will...

We actually travelled in February 2022 and have been meaning to write a review ever since. Such excellence should not be overlooked. We travel all over the world in some of the finest hotels and it is rare that we cannot find fault with something little, here we could find none. This is perfection. We had a two bedroom lodge with plunge pool, it was kitted out in colonial style, with full dressing room, beautiful freestanding bath. Every little detail had been thought of down to the candles and matches by the bath. Just off the lounge there was a bar filled with your favourite drinks, ice, lemon, knife, chopping board, it really was a home from home. Nothing and I mean nothing was too much trouble. We found our favourite board games in our room and spent many hours after coming back from a game drive, chilling by our pool and playing scrabble.|You are assigned a butler/ waiter who is with you your entire stay. They know your food and drink preferences, meet when you come back from safari with cold towels , essentially they preempt your every whim. Our lady was incredible. |The food is exceptional. We can be tricky eaters but we all enjoyed the food from adults to children. Every day was different, nothing was the same. Even where you ate every night was a surprise, one night our butler set us up on the verandah, the next we were in the grand dining room, no four nights were ever the same.|Then there was safari. You want to see the Big 5, no problem. Every game drive is tailor made to your wishes. We had an incredible guide, so knowledgable, so patient. We watched a zebra being killed, a baby giraffe take it first steps and so much more. We also got to see the other Singita lodges in the area - all equally as beautiful in interior design with their own characteristics. Some more tent and safari like. We were pleased we chose Sasakwa as I like the safety of solid walls but could appreciate the beauty of each individual camp.I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of them.|It was my birthday the day after we left and on our last night I was presented with the most wonderful birthday cake and a gorgeous gift which my partner hid from me until my birthday so I never thanked anyone for. This is a big thank you not only for the gift but for everything. We had the most wonderful stay, our only regret is that we didn't stay longer.|From here on in every safari we plan to take will be at a Singita Lodge if we can...