Sabora Tented Camp: Our full report
Just to the northwest of the Serengeti National Park, the old Grumeti Game Reserve was a privately run wildlife ...
... area that covered about 1,500km². In 2006, the management of this (together with the larger, neighbouring Ikorongo Game Reserve and Fort Ikoma Open Area) was taken over by a team from the respected company Singita, who run a handful of top private lodges in South Africa.This area is now known as Singita Grumeti Reserves, and all the profits from it are ploughed back into conservation, education and health initiatives for the local community. Within this reserve there are currently just three safari camps: Faru Faru, Sasakwa and Sabora Tented Camp – all are very smart, and amongst the most opulent of Tanzania's camps.
Sabora Tented Camp has a 1920s' theme, complete with antique leather trunks, Persian rugs and two old Chevrolets parked in front of the camp. It uses dark, Georgian-style 'campaign' furniture throughout, which was originally designed so that it can be disassembled and carried, or ingeniously packed up. These furnishings evoke the days of the traders and explorers, with a mix of Arab and Indian, brass and silk. The resulting 'old world' atmosphere is very evocative. There is even a red clay tennis court, made with clay from termite mounds!
The main lounge and dining area at Sabora Plains are divided between two large luxurious tents, with an additional outside lounge positioned on the deck between them. All are lavishly furnished with wooden campaign furniture, Persian rugs and pieces of African art. Yet Sabora's tented construction helps to retain a natural feel; visitors are not completely divorced from their surroundings by the luxury here.
The inside lounge is stylish, spacious and with large gauze windows it is also bright and cool. Cream carpets are dotted with Persian rugs, and silk curtains billow at the sides. The sofas have wooden claw feet and cream upholstery - they look like they have come from a stately home in the English countryside. Two old Zanzibar chests act as coffee tables, brass Arab ornaments decorate the side tables and beautiful black-and-white photographs hang from the canvas walls. The mix is antique colonial and very stylish.
The dining area is simply decorated, with a number of tables covered in starched white table clothes and dark-wood chairs. The floors are covered with a soft cream carpet and from the ceiling hangs a chandelier.
Our favourite spot at Sabora Tented Camp was the outside lounge, where you could relax in soft comfortable sofas and look out over the plains. For breakfast and lunch you will also find tables set out for dining. Down a few stairs, at the front of the outside lounge are a pair of lounge chairs set either side of a Swarovski spotting-scope.
Sabora Tented Camp also has a small spa which is run in conjunction with Sasakwa Lodge. On request, a therapist can come down from Sasakwa and you can have a variety of massages and beauty treatments in the small massage room.
Sabora Tented Camp has six spacious tented rooms each of which is raised slightly off the ground, on a wooden deck. Once inside, it is like stepping back in time – the rooms are a continuation of the antique theme. Only the odd modern touch, like the presence of an internet phone, reminds you that this is a very top-quality operation. (Click here for more on the tented rooms at Sabora…)
As you'd expect here, Sabora Camp's food is excellent; see below for more detailed comments.
Aside from all of the luxuries, the key reason to visit Sabora Tented Camp is for the safari activities. Though you can sit on the veranda of your tent and see plenty of wildlife on the flat, grassy Sabora Plains, it would be willful not to head out and explore the reserve.
The safari guides here are fantastic; they're certainly amongst the best in Tanzania. You can head out in 4x4 safari vehicles, with open tops and sides, and night drives are possible here (they're not possible inside the national park). Similarly, walking safaris are encouraged here (they're not usually offered in the national park), and so are horseback safaris – which run out of the superbly-equipped equestrian center at the nearby Sasakwa Lodge. Guests can also try their hand at tennis and archery, or simply relax in the large, oval swimming pool, set into a wide wooden deck, with sunloungers laid out beneath white parasols.
As an example of the sheer quality of the camp and its operations, every guest is offered the loan of one of the camp's pairs of top-quality Swarovski binoculars whilst they are out on game drives.
For something a little different, take a two-hour tour of the nearby village, led by the head of the Community Development Department to see local projects – and realise how much work is being done with the local communities.
Our view
Sabora is an outstanding, highly luxurious lodge in its own private wildlife concession. Expect lavish accommodation, fine dining, and some of Tanzania's top wildlife guides. A stay at Sabora is an exceptional experience, although it comes at a high price.
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- Spend at least three nights here to explore the surrounding area and make the most of the various activities on offer. You can also combine your stay at Sabora Tented Camp, with one of the other properties in the Grumeti Reserve – Sasakwa Lodge or (more likely) Faru Faru, and explore even deeper into this extensive private concession.
- Directions
- Sabora Tented Camp is approximately 16km from the Saskawa Airstrip, this is a 45-minute drive.
If you wanted to drive to Sabora Plains Tented Camp from the Ngrongoroo Crater, you would need to break your journey by staying somewhere in southern Serengeti. It would be around a 6-7 hour straight drive, which is best done over two days. - Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- The food at Sabora is excellent and of the quality you would expect in a Michelin starred restaurant in Europe. When we were last there in September 2007, the menu was tasty, imaginative and varied. The silver-service is faultless – and the silverware itself is beautiful.
Breakfast timings are flexible, and can be based around what activities you have planned for the day. However, it generally consisted of fresh fruit, cereals, a variety of fresh home-baked goods and a cooked breakfast. The cooked breakfast on offer usually includes a full English, though there is often the option of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, eggs benedict and other tasty choices.
If you wanted to have breakfast after a very early game drive, then Sabora Tented Camp will usually offer you a muffin or something similar to nibble on in the meantime.
Lunch is then served between 12.30 - 2.30pm – and can vary between a buffet lunch and a set menu. When we were last there, there was a buffet of fresh salads, cold curries, a variety of little tartlets made with roasted vegetables, goats cheese, artichokes and other tasty ingredients. There was also a platter of seafood and smoked fish. It was delicious.
At 3.30pm Sabora Tented Camp serves tea and cake, and you can then head out on an afternoon game drive afterwards. There is tea, coffee and a wide selection of herbal teas on offer. Then there are a number of different sweet and savory snacks to sample. When we were last there included cakes, scones, muffins or cheese and spinach in puff pastry, mini quiches and spring rolls.
Then dinner is served 8pm and is a slightly more formal affair. There are three courses on offer, with a choice for the main and for the starter. The starter we had when we were there was jumbo tiger prawns, the main course was a perfectly cooked and succulent steak. The desert was then a delicious chocolate fondant. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Yes
- Drinks included
- Most drinks are included, except for champagne and some premium imported wines and spirits.
Special interests
- Honeymoons
- Sabora Tented Camp is a very opulent and romantic lodge; guests staying here will feel very pampered and spoiled. It is the perfect place for a special occasion; remote and peaceful, whilst remaining very slick and stylish. It’s an ideal choice for your Tanzania honeymoon.
- See ideas for Honeymoons in Tanzania
- Riding holidays
- Sabora Tented Camp is located quite close to its sister lodge Sasakwa. The stables are located on Sasakwa Hill. From there you can do day rides or even longer riding safaris in Tanzania within the Singita Grumeti Reserve – which has lots of magical vast open plains to offer.
- See ideas for Riding holidays in Tanzania
- Wildlife safaris
- Sabora Tented Camp sits within Singita Grumeti Reserve, a private concession to the west of the Serengeti. This safari area is quiet and remote so you won't see many other vehicles here, even from July to August – when it throngs with wildebeest as the migration passes through.
- See ideas for Wildlife safaris in Tanzania
- Luxury
- Sabora Tented Camp offers a high quality safari experience with an elegant 1920s theme. Character and charm is added by antique volumes of African literature, vintage cars and campaign furniture. This is truly a luxury safari lodge.
- See ideas for Luxury in Tanzania
Children
- Attitude towards children
- The camp welcomes children who are over the age of 12 years.
- Property’s age restrictions
- Children need to be over the age of 12 years to stay at Sabora Tented Camp.
- Special activities & services
- There are no special activities or services at Sabora Tented Camp.
- Equipment
- No
- Generally recommended for children
- This is a very smart tented camp – it is not really suited to families.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Sabora Tented Camp
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Sabora Tented Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
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100% success
100% success
100% success
50% success
50% success
50% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Communications
- Sabora Plains Camp has internet phones in the rooms – these are complimentary for the guests to use and call internationally on. There is also complimentary internet access at the lodge for all guests.
- TV & radio
- In the main lounge there is DSTV or satellite television. The television is kept discretely within a cabinet, and only brought out on request.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Members of the team are first aid trained and there is basic first aid equipment on site, for more serious cases the camp has links to the flying doctors in Nairobi.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- There are askaris, or guards to escort guests between the tents and the main areas at night – just in case there is some wildlife around the camp. There are safes in tents for valuables.
- Fire safety
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included
- Money
- Sabora Tented Camp can exchange small amount of pounds sterling, US dollars and Tanzanian shillings with a little bit of warning.
- Accepted payment on location
- Guests can use Visa, Amex, Mastercard and travellers cheques to settle their tabs, there is no charge for this.
Sabora Plains Tented Camp will also accept cash in most currencies.
Room types at Sabora Tented Camp
Tented rooms
The Safari Tents at Sabora Plains Tented Camps are incredibly luxurious, yet due to their understated anitique-colonial style, they don't feel over the top.
Each of Sabora's tents is raised on a wooden platform – and entered through a door at the back. Once inside the tents at Sabora Plains Tented Camp are incredibly spacious, with cream carpeting, Persian rugs across the floors, and an array of antique furniture.
Leather-bound trunks sit at the foot of the vast four poster beds. Old leather directors' chairs and large floor cushions create a lounging area. The electric lights are discretely disguised as brass storm lanterns. To complete the colonial theme – in our room we had an old hat stand, with an antique safari pith helmet hanging from it.
On the coffee table, you will find classic games like chess, draughts and scrabble. There is also the traditional game of Bao which is played across many of the east and southern Africa countries. It is a really fun to learn from one of the team, though be warned they play a tough game. We didn't win a single game whilst we were there!
At the front of each bedroom at Sabora Plains Tented Camp is a veranda furnished with a pair of lounge chairs – this is a great spot to watch out for game. When we were sat here one evening a group of zebra raced passed us, only two or three metres from where we were sitting and completely unaware of our presence.
In addition to the veranda – there is also a comfortable day-bed and deck-chair set on the grass, a few metres in front of the tents – and all shaded by a white parasol.
The rooms at Sabora Plains Tented Camp all come complete with 24-hour electricity, hairdryers, UK-style sockets, wireless internet and an internet phone. Guests can use the wireless and the internet phone to call internationally free of charge.
The en-suite bathrooms at Sabora Plains Tented Camp can be found through a canvas dividing wall.
The bathrooms were our favourite part of these rooms – they are spectacular. The floors are covered with leather tiles and in front of the gauze window in a huge white claw-foot bath. An antique chest of draws sits to one side, with antique silver brushes and mirrors sitting on it. Then a huge freestanding mirror sits to the other. Adjacent to this are his-and-hers ceramic sinks set into a wooden surface.
Through a further canvas door is an open air shower, around which a wall of wooden poles has been cleverly crafted for privacy which still allows you to look out across the plains. Towels sit in a wrought iron towel rail and high-quality complementary toiletries from South Africa are provided.
Other lodges in Serengeti Migration Area
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Olakira Camp
Comfortable, friendly and relaxed, Olakira Camp moves between the Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Sayari Camp
In the northern Serengeti, near the Mara River, luxurious Sayari Camp offers excellent wildife all year – boosted further by the wildebeest migration.
Nomad Serengeti Camp
Serengeti Safari Camp is a well-appointed tented camp that moves several times a year to follow the predicted path of the migration.
Dunia Camp
Dunia Camp is well located for the migration from December to March, and has excellent game viewing for the rest of the year.
Namiri Plains Camp
Namiri Plains is one of the best camps in the Serengeti and its remoteness ensures a fantastic wildlife experience away from the crowds.
Lamai Serengeti
Set high in the kopjes with fantastic views, Lamai Serengeti offers top service and guiding and good migration sightings from Jul-Oct.
Ubuntu Camp
Ubuntu Camp has several locations in the Serengeti, following the wildebeest migration, so it is often in a great location to see the herds.
Kati Kati Camp
Kati Kati is a small, very simple bushcamp, which is well-positioned to explore the wildlife-rich Seronera area.
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Large and economical, but not luxurious, Ndutu Safari Lodge is well located in the southern Serengeti, so book early to get space.
Serian Serengeti
Serian Serengeti is a mobile tented operation run by Alex Walker which moves between two locations following the wildebeest migration.
Klein's Camp
Klein's Camp, in a private area of the northern Serengeti, sets high standards. Activities include walks, nights drives and Maasai village visits.
Serengeti under Canvas
Two of the three Serengeti under Canvas camps move through the Serengeti National Park every few months to follow the wildebeest migration.
Grumeti River Camp
Grumeti River Camp offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with top service, first-rate food, expert guiding and an excellent location.
Lemala Kuria Hills
Lemala Kuria Hills is a luxury permanent camp that is ideally located for wildlife all year around, but especially during the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Ewanjan
Lemala Ewanjan is a comfortable and stylish tented camp in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti National Park.
Lemala Mara-Ndutu
Lemala Mara-Ndutu is a semi-permanent camp that moves between the north and south of the Serengeti to witness the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Nanyukie
Lemala Nanyukie is a stylish camp located in the quieter part of the central Serengeti.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
The large Lobo Wildlife Lodge has simple, functional rooms in a stunning location. It's a good base for exploring the north-eastern Serengeti.
Kubu Kubu
Kubu Kubu is a contemporary, tented lodge, well located in the central Seronera area of the Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti Walking Mobile
This fairly simple camp offers only walking activities, but it's very well done and combines well with more conventional camps or lodges.
Mbalageti Lodge
Mbalageti is a well-run lodge in a quiet part of the Serengeti's western corridor – an ideal location during the Apr-Jun migration.
Serengeti Serena
The Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is a large, hotel-style lodge and a good family-friendly base from which to explore the central Serengeti.
Kusini Camp
Kusini Camp is permanent, luxury camp located on a beautiful kopje in a quiet, wildlife-rich corner of the south-west Serengeti.
Migration Camp
Serengeti Migration Camp is a smart tented camp, good for the wildebeest migration from Jul–Aug, or to explore the Lobo Kopjes any time.
Mkombe's House Lamai
Mkombe's House Lamai is a fully staffed private house in the Wogakuria Kopjes district of Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Serengeti Sopa Lodge is an international-style hotel offering good-value accommodation in the central Serengeti, with lovely views of the plains.
Singita Mara River
Singita Mara River Tented Camp is a luxurious camp in the isolated and rewarding Lamai wedge region of the northern Serengeti.
Olmara Camp
With just eight guest tents, including two family tents and three signature stargazer tents, Olmara is a simple, family-friendly camp with a wonderfully attentive team. The camp captures an authentic bush experience, welcoming travellers of every kind.
Serengeti Green Camp
Serengeti Green Camp is a comfortable camping experience, in your own private safari camp and at the heart of a great wildlife area.
Sasakwa Lodge
On a hill looking over the Serengeti plains, Sasakwa Lodge is grand, luxurious safari camp, one of the most opulent properties in Tanzania.
Faru Faru Lodge
On the north bank of the Grumeti River, Faru Faru is a small, chic hideaway in this exclusive corner of the Serengeti.
Kirurumu Migration Camp
Kirurumu is a rustic tented camp which moves around the Serengeti twice a year to follow the wildebeest migration.
Four Seasons Serengeti
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the only hotel in the Serengeti offering international facilities such as a gym, spa and children’s club.
Nimali Mara
Nimali Mara is a luxurious safari lodge in a quiet region of the northern Serengeti with good access to the wildebeest migration.
Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is a permanent luxury camp in the northern Serengeti, with spacious and private tents with their own hot tubs.
Ndutu Kati Kati
Ndutu Kati Kati is a seasonal tented camp, based in the southern Serenget from Dec-Mar, ideal for the migration as it passes through.
Olduvai Camp
Olduvai Camp lies between Ngorongoro and the southern Serengeti plains. It's a good base for the southern plains during the rainy season.
Lake Masek Tented Camp
Ideally located for the wildebeest migration from Dec–Apr, Lake Masek Tented Camp is a good, mid-market safari camp.
Mara Mara
Mara Mara is a smart tented camp in the northern Serengeti, situated on a small hill close to the Mara River.
Esirai Migration Camp
A season migration camp, with only 8 tents and 1 family tent and plenty of character. Esirai is ideally placed for excellent wildlife and enjoys a simplistic and comfortable under-canvas experience.
Mwiba Lodge
Mwiba Lodge is a luxurious property located on a private concession on the edge of the southern Serengeti.
Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Seronera Wildlife Lodge is large hotel-style safari lodge in the heart of the Serengeti, offering good value and a great location.
Mara Kati Kati
Mara Kati Kati is a simple bush camp in the northern Serengeti, based from Jul-Oct near the Mara River for the wildebeest migration.
Nasikia Naona
Naona Camp is a small tented camp, located in the Moru Kopjes, west of the Serengeti central area
Kirawira Camp
Set high on a hill, in the Serengeti's western corridor, Kirawira is a relatively large tented camp in the Serena group.
Nyikani Central
Nyikani Central is a comfortable tented camp located in the game-rich Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Mbuzi Mawe
Mbuze Mawe is a comfortable tented camp in a convenient, central-north location when driving through the Serengeti.
Laba Migration Camp
A luxury mobile camp that moves between the Western Corridor, Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Serengeti Pioneer Camp is a luxurious tented camp in the central Serengeti, styled on African explorers' camps of the early 20th century.
Taasa Lodge
Taasa Lodge is a slightly quirky option offering guided walks and night game drives, which are not permitted in Serengeti National Park.
Nimali Serengeti
Opened in July 2017, Nimali Serengeti is a smart, permanent tented camp located in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Nomad Walking Camp
Nomad Expeditionary Walking Camp is a simple camp of up to three tents, plus infrastructure, that changes location to allow guests to do substantial walks between campsites.
