TAASA Lodge

TAASA Lodge stands in a private concession that borders the northern Serengeti, near Loliondo, at about 2,000 metres (6,000 feet). That puts it close to the northern edge of Serengeti National Park, a useful base for the northern Serengeti and the Mara River.

Most guests fly in. Light aircraft run daily scheduled flights to the Lobo airstrip from Arusha and Dar es Salaam, and the lodge is about a 45-minute drive from there. Staff meet you at the airstrip.

There are twelve tents, two of them linked by a walkway for families. Each tent is about 50 square metres (500 square feet) and is built on two levels: a raised sleeping area with either a king bed or twin beds, and a lounge with a sleeper couch below. A private veranda looks over Lobo Valley. The en-suite bathroom has a stone shower and a double vanity, with hot water at any hour. Neither the tents nor the main lodge have air conditioning, and on cool nights a hot water bottle is tucked into your bed.

The main lodge has a dining room with an indoor fireplace, an outdoor terrace with a fire pit, a bar, lounges, a large viewing deck and an infinity pool. A local chef prepares the meals, and dinner can be served on your veranda if you prefer. The lodge is known for its bush breakfasts, sundowners in the bush and boma dinners.

Days are built around the land. Game drives run by day and by night in open-sided 4x4 vehicles, shared or private, and guided nature walks add a slower pace. The lodge supports the nearby Maasai villages of Ololosokwan and Mairowa, and a village visit is part of what it offers.

It suits families, couples and small groups who want a quiet base with space to unwind between drives. Given the altitude, expect cool mornings and evenings.