Spa & safari in the Serengeti

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  Bilila Lodge Kempinski, Tanzania

  © Kempinski

Africa has long been home to many exquisite safari escapes, but one of the latest to open in Tanzania mixes location with luxury perfectly, a spectacular lodge where every room in the beautifully thatched structure overlooks the Serengeti National Park with far-as-the-eye-can-see views.

Creating a luxury safari lodge on a remote Serengeti hillside can only be achieved with substantial vision and an overwhelming desire to overcome the inevitable practical, architectural and engineering obstacles certain to strike along the way. And the satisfaction at successfully achieving the building of the Bilila Lodge Kempinski seems suitably rewarding for everyone involved in the project.

The result is a safari lodge in traditional style combined with all the more modern luxuries of air conditioning, satellite television and wireless internet access for those who struggle to switch off on holiday. Then there’s the outstanding wine cellar run by a passionate South African sommelier who aims to provide the highest-quality range of international wines on offer anywhere in Africa.

But having flown into Dar Es Salaam and flight-hopped across Tanzania to reach Bilila Lodge, it is the authenticity and excitement of the safari experience that will forever live in the memory. Arriving at the Seronera airstrip, now accessible in less than two hours’ flight from Dar Es Salaam, 4x4s from the lodge await to whisk you along for the 45-minute drive through the Serengeti.

Along the way, you may have to stop as we did for passing herds of buffalo in the road or other elements of an en-route safari such as pausing to watch a family of giraffe feeding from the trees or hippos wallowing below bridges. Not your average hotel transfer.

The wildlife is what it’s all about here of course. From our room – a “villa” with living area, kitchen and private terrace with infinity pool – we awoke to see various wildlife meandering and feeding in the Serengeti. This included the magical daily sight of a family of baboons climbing the rocks a few metres from our terrace to view the sunset from atop the hill. As we made our way along the raised wooden walkway for dinner, we could see the surreal silhouettes of the baboons frolicking on the rocks and in the trees.

The views across the Serengeti never cease to be awe-inspiring during the stay. But what’s also impressive is the evidence of how well the lodge seems to have been accepted by the locals – by both the very friendly members of the Masai tribe who act as guides and security, and by the animals who venture very close to the hotel, including buffalo, and elephants who regularly drink from the watering hole in front of the main pool area.

Bilila Lodge has its own rangers with extensive knowledge of the geography and inhabitants of the Serengeti and on each game drive we saw, sometimes at very close quarters, a large range of animals as they went about their lives in one of the most spectacular natural habitats on earth.

But there are also soothing ways to unwind away from the wildlife trail - a cluster of thatched villas house the treatment rooms of an excellent spa. There are no less than 13 types of massage on offer – including Thai, Indian and Swedish varieties – all delivered by Thai masseurs from Anantara, a sister hotel and spa group to Kempinski within the Global Hotel Alliance of luxury hotel groups.

We sampled the Anantara Signature Massage, which was excellent and can be experienced as a couple for a very enjoyable interlude between game drive and dinner.

And when it comes to dinner, there are two restaurants, offering a different eating experience each night of your stay, plus a Boma with a traditional African barbecue and cooking of various dishes in metal pots over hot coals. During your meal in the open-roofed structure, the Masai perform a dance which begins with chanting from outside the Boma and continues with a performance delivered with genuine joy and gusto, adding to the authenticity of the overall unforgettable and highly-recommended experience in Tanzania.

http://www.kempinski.com/en/serengeti

By Nick Perry

Locations: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania