Singita Sasakwa Lodge

Singita Sasakwa Lodge — An Edwardian Manor House in the Serengeti

Singita Sasakwa Lodge sits atop Sasakwa Hill in the Singita Grumeti Reserve, a 350,000-acre private concession in the western Serengeti corridor. The lodge is designed as a stately Edwardian manor house — the architectural choice is deliberate and disarming: silver candelabras, antique furnishings, Persian rugs, crystal glassware, wood-panelled bars with snooker tables, and grand wraparound verandas from which the Serengeti plains stretch to the horizon. It is safari at its most theatrical, and it works.

The Grumeti Reserve was transformed from depleted hunting land by the non-profit Grumeti Fund into one of the most wildlife-rich private concessions in Africa. The reintroduction programme — which included 9 critically endangered eastern black rhino in 2019 — has produced extraordinary resident wildlife populations alongside the annual migration passage between May and July. Only Singita vehicles operate on the concession, and off-road driving is permitted throughout.

Accommodation

Ten private cottages are arranged across the hillside below the main manor house, each with polished parquet floors, four-poster beds with the finest linen, en-suite bathrooms, dressing areas, a living room, fireplaces, French doors opening onto a wraparound veranda, and a private infinity plunge pool overlooking the plains. Configurations range from one-bedroom cottages to a four-bedroom villa. A new Hillside Suite — a standalone dual-level one-bedroom suite with its own private pool and dedicated butler — adds the most intimate and exclusive option on the property. Four family cottages accommodate children.

The main lodge includes a grand dining room, a wine-tasting cellar, a spa (Singita Bush Spa with signature treatments using local botanicals), a gym, a boutique and gallery, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and an archery range. Staff-to-guest ratios are among the highest of any lodge in Africa. Every cottage has a dedicated butler.

Activities

Game drives in open custom Land Rovers are conducted by expert field guides within the private Grumeti concession — no other vehicles, no park-gate hours, full off-road access. Walking safaris explore the riverine woodland and surrounding bush. Seasonal equestrian safaris on horseback are available for experienced riders. Hot-air balloon safaris provide aerial views. Tennis, archery, wine tastings, bush dining in remote locations, community visits to conservation projects, and the Mini Rangers programme for children round out one of the most comprehensive activity lists in East African luxury safari.

Who Is Sasakwa Best For?

Sasakwa is the choice for travellers who want the most formal, grand-scale luxury safari in Tanzania. The Edwardian aesthetic is not for everyone — if you want understated modern luxury, Faru Faru or Mara River are better fits. But for those who want the full manor-house experience — butler, four-poster, plunge pool, candlelit dinner with crystal and silver — Sasakwa is genuinely unrivalled in East Africa. Families are especially well served: the children's programme is one of the most extensive on the continent, and four family cottages provide dedicated space.