Mbuzi Mawe Serena

A private encampment of 16 superbly luxurious tents guarded by sentinel towers of 3 million year old granite, the camp radiates out from a central lounge. A place of light and air, the lounge’s terrace is a massive ledge of natural stone, its views stretch to eternity and its décor blends the gnarled timbers of ancient dhows with champagne suede, claret chenille and amber weaves. To the rear of the lounge a bar and boutique are fashioned from rope-lashed hardwoods and back-lit by whimsical coconut shades; and beyond them a rock-hewn stairway leads to a classically styled dining tent with soul-stirring views over the sun-blazed plains. 16 tents all have ceiling fans, 2 queen beds, mosquito nets, accessibility for disabled, and Driver/maid accomodation available.

The central lounge features a cocktail bar stocked with a discerning selection of beers, wines and spirits; and the stylish boutique showcases a tempting array of gifts, safari accessories, books and cultural crafts. The dining tent has its own shaded terrace for optional outdoor dining while the cuisine blends the traditional camp fare of flame-roasted meats with salads, fresh garden produce, piquant fish dishes and luscious desserts. Sipping a "sundowner"’ cocktail as the sun sinks below the horizon is central to the safari experience; and a scene that the staff of Mbuzi Mawe delight in setting. Drinks and canapés can be enjoyed on the rocky terraces of the camp’s own kopjes, out in the wilderness, or around the massive fire-pit where guests may foregather for pre-dinner chat and post-safari tales. The camp also offers evocative al fresco breakfasts, safari luncheons, lantern-lit bush suppers, campfire roasts, and cultural dancing displays by the Ikoma people.

At the heartbeat of the Serengeti Unlike any other camp, Mbuzi Mawe lies at the epicenter of the Serengeti and within easy reach of the prime wildlife theatres of Lobo, the Western Corridor of the Grumeti River, the southern grass plains, the Seronera Valley and the kopjes, or inselbergs, of Barafu, Gol, Maasai, Loliondo, Simba and Moru. Time in camp seems fleeting when there’s so much to experience. Diversions include game drives, ranger-led bush walks, bird-watching and sightings of such Serengeti residents as elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, hyena, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, warthog, hippo, crocodile and a bewildering array of antelopes and accompanying plains game. As for the birdlife, the Serengeti offers one of the most spellbinding ornithological experiences in the world.