When staying at Chem Chem Lodge you can go for sundowners next to Lake Manyara.

Chem Chem Lodge | Burunge Wildlife Management Area One Of Tanzania’s Best Safari Lodges

Surrounded by an oasis of palms, Chem Chem Lodge is located in the migration corridor between Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks in Tanzania. With eight elegant tented suites, a pool and a spa here – at one of Tanzania’s best safari lodgesyou can relax and enjoy being pampered in the African wild.

The place

I rub some more sunblock into my skin, luxuriating in the warmth of the midday sun. Although I’m surrounded by the untamed African bush – and the promise of unveiling all its wonders – right now the pool at Chem Chem Lodge is the star attraction. I’ve got plenty of time to explore anyway: four whole days to truly understand the meaning of a slow safari. With 20,000ha protecting the migration corridor between the savannahs of Tarangire National Park and the waterways of the Lake Manyara National Park, this lovely safari lodge gives me the freedom to connect with nature, at my own pace.

I rub some more sunblock into my skin, luxuriating in the warmth of the midday sun. Although I’m surrounded by the untamed African bush – and the promise of unveiling all its wonders – right now the pool at Chem Chem Lodge is the star attraction.

I’ve got plenty of time to explore anyway: four whole days to truly understand the meaning of a slow safari. With 20,000ha protecting the migration corridor between the savannahs of Tarangire National Park and the waterways of the Lake Manyara National Park, this lovely safari lodge gives me the freedom to connect with nature, at my own pace.

The room

I walk into our tented suite at Chem Chem Lodge, admiring its elegance. After all day in the sun, I feel like I (ahem!) deserve some downtime – and I certainly don’t need to look far for it. The natural and earthy feel is emphasised by the use of canvas, lava stones and wood, and a king-sized bed backed by a lava-stone wall. The raised stone base helps keep our room cool; outside, there’s a stone verandah equipped with a sun lounger and cushioned daybed. With each of the eight tents situated for complete privacy, my partner and I can unwind in nature’s ‘silence’ without seeing another soul. I follow the steps down to the stone bathroom, which has its own wardrobe and stand-alone bath, with a glass door leading to the outdoor shower. As I stand under the shower’s strong spray I look through the trees, catching a glimpse of a giraffe browsing on the bushes under a baobab tree. This makes me think of dinner, soon to be enjoyed in the dining room. We can dine privately pretty much wherever we want, but I just love the long communal table there, carved from a tree trunk. Later, we walk the short distance to the main house, which mirrors the form of a flamingo with wings spread wide for landing. One wing holds the restaurant and the outdoor fireplace, where guests are already flocking for pre-dinner drinks, and the other has the bar, lounge and library. But first we visit the viewing deck, where we look out over awe-inspiring views of Lake Manyara, feeling connected to the untouched wilderness that surrounds us.

I walk into our tented suite at Chem Chem Lodge, admiring its elegance. After all day in the sun, I feel like I (ahem!) deserve some downtime – and I certainly don’t need to look far for it. The natural and earthy feel is emphasised by the use of canvas, lava stones and wood, and a king-sized bed backed by a lava-stone wall.

The raised stone base helps keep our room cool; outside, there’s a stone verandah equipped with a sun lounger and cushioned daybed. With each of the eight tents situated for complete privacy, my partner and I can unwind in nature’s ‘silence’ without seeing another soul.

I follow the steps down to the stone bathroom, which has its own wardrobe and stand-alone bath, with a glass door leading to the outdoor shower. As I stand under the shower’s strong spray I look through the trees, catching a glimpse of a giraffe browsing on the bushes under a baobab tree. This makes me think of dinner, soon to be enjoyed in the dining room. We can dine privately pretty much wherever we want, but I just love the long communal table there, carved from a tree trunk.

Later, we walk the short distance to the main house, which mirrors the form of a flamingo with wings spread wide for landing. One wing holds the restaurant and the outdoor fireplace, where guests are already flocking for pre-dinner drinks, and the other has the bar, lounge and library. But first we visit the viewing deck, where we look out over awe-inspiring views of Lake Manyara, feeling connected to the untouched wilderness that surrounds us.

What sets it apart

Chem Chem Lodge was the perfect place for us to slow down, unwind and enjoy the experience of being pampered. Being on a private concession, we had the African wild to ourselves, with the freedom to explore both Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks whenever we felt like it. Every day, we lazed at the pool, then took in magical sunsets at Lake Manyara. And I took full advantage of the various ways you could enjoy spa treatments: foot massages at the pool, or full treatments at the spa or in our room. In fact almost everything was flexible. We could dine at different locations each evening, join vehicle or walking safaris, go flamingo watching, meet the Maasai people in their villages and schools, or simply do nothing at all. We chose how much, or how little to do. It was the ultimate slow-safari experience.

Chem Chem Lodge was the perfect place for us to slow down, unwind and enjoy the experience of being pampered. Being on a private concession, we had the African wild to ourselves, with the freedom to explore both Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks whenever we felt like it.

Every day, we lazed at the pool, then took in magical sunsets at Lake Manyara. And I took full advantage of the various ways you could enjoy spa treatments: foot massages at the pool, or full treatments at the spa or in our room.

In fact almost everything was flexible. We could dine at different locations each evening, join vehicle or walking safaris, go flamingo watching, meet the Maasai people in their villages and schools, or simply do nothing at all. We chose how much, or how little to do. It was the ultimate slow-safari experience.

At a glance

  • Exclusive tented lodge with eight tented suites (including one family suite) with a large pool, restaurant, spa and shop.
  • Private concession, private dining available, maximum eight persons per safari vehicle, private vehicle (additional cost), flexible departure times and flexible schedules.
  • Game drives, walking safaris, cultural visits, bush breakfasts and picnics, helicopter rides (additional cost), photographic safaris (additional cost), conservation and anti-poaching safaris, sundowners at Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara day trips (additional cost), birdwatching, hot-air ballooning (additional cost), Maasai-guided sunrise run and spa treatments (additional cost).
  • Children are welcome from eight and up, or all ages may come if the camp is booked exclusively. Children under 12 must share a tent with an adult. Family suite, babysitting and children’s activities are available. There are kids’ meals available, and meal times are coordinated around a family.

  • Exclusive tented lodge with eight tented suites (including one family suite) with a large pool, restaurant, spa and shop.
  • Private concession, private dining available, maximum eight persons per safari vehicle, private vehicle (additional cost), flexible departure times and flexible schedules.
  • Game drives, walking safaris, cultural visits, bush breakfasts and picnics, helicopter rides (additional cost), photographic safaris (additional cost), conservation and anti-poaching safaris, sundowners at Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara day trips (additional cost), birdwatching, hot-air ballooning (additional cost), Maasai-guided sunrise run and spa treatments (additional cost).
  • Children are welcome from eight and up, or all ages may come if the camp is booked exclusively. Children under 12 must share a tent with an adult. Family suite, babysitting and children’s activities are available. There are kids’ meals available, and meal times are coordinated around a family.

Prices

  • Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
  • It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
  • Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
  • However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.

  • Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
  • It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
  • Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
  • However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.

When to Go

This is a wonderful time to visit northern Tanzania, with the vegetation initially lush after the rains, but then dying back, making the wildlife that much easier to see. Temperatures are cooler (although the days are warm and sunny). With the wildebeest herds assembling to make the perilous crossing of the Grumeti River, this is the busiest time of the year here. Tarangire is a great option now, with locally migrating wildlife concentrating along the Tarangire River, or take in the tree-climbing lion and beautiful seasonal waterfalls at Lake Manyara.

The long dry spell between the rains sees the vegetation cycle being repeated: lovely green grass immediately after the rains subsequently starts to wither. As food and water become scarcer, game concentrates around waterholes, making wildlife viewing particularly easy in January. Wildebeest calving in January and February on the southern Serengeti short-grass plains means a glut of kills – it’s the best time for predator action. Away from the Serengeti, this is an ideal opportunity to see resident game in the Ngorongoro Crater and at Lake Manyara, and birders will enjoy spotting migratory species.

These are perhaps not the ideal times to visit northern Tanzania as they represent the two peaks of the wet season – the long rains in April and May; the short rains in November. This does mean however that you’ll be sharing the game reserves and national parks of northern Tanzania with far fewer people, and there’s still plenty to see. During the long rains, the Great Wildebeest Migration moves north in the Serengeti, through Seronera towards the Western Corridor, while in November the herds return from the Masai Mara.

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