Reviews of Chem Chem

"Chem was a late addition for us; we had debated it, but it was a significant commitment and required other scheduling and budget trade-offs for us to make happen.

That said we are 100% thrilled we made the trip to Chem Chem. This was the finest Safari experience we had - period! As another guest remarked to us the dining "is better than the Four Seasons". This is not an exaggeration, if you are looking dinner under the stars, or in the library, or in the bush, they make it happen and at a standard you won't believe.

Of course none of this is possible without staff who work so hard to make it the best possible experience - they are the magic behind this place that makes it work! The rooms are finely appointed and you'll be walking by Giraffe, Zebra, etc. on the way to and from your room, the spa, the pool. Simply stunning - and this was after we'd already experienced much of the best of east Africa and thought we were getting jaded by luxury and experiences.

It's also worth calling out the concession / conservancy. This is a really special place to visit, as you're getting an experience much like Tarangire (lions in trees for starters!) but with no crowds and with guides who know every nook and cranny. The photos of the wildlife we have from Chem Chem are unique in how intimate and engaged everything was, but without being intrusive or feeling like you are disrupting the animals as they go about their day. The terrain here is quite close unlike the open plains of the Mara or Serengeti, so amazing guides make all the difference and the team at Chem Chem does not disappoint!

We consider ourselves seasoned travelers, this being my 3rd Safari and another member of our group being at 6+ Safari's, and we all agree that Chem Chem is easily a top 3 lodge if not #1 across our experiences in Africa.

We 100% intend to return." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 8n in Kenya; 3n in Zanzibar

"If you are looking for really high end- accommodation, food, facilities and service this is the place to come.
It even has a spa, swimming pool and a great gym!
It is not necessarily what hardened experienced Safari enthusiasts (like us) would necessarily want, but we loved it once we got used to being pampered.
Jared the Manager runs a very impressive, professional, slick operation, and everyone is so friendly!
The food is some of the best we have ever had at a Game Lodge, and there were lots of little touches. Serious fine dining!
There are lots of really special personal unexpected experiences and touches (like eating in a different place each meal time).

So, it is not really in the deep bush it is in a protected area, there are lots of relaxed small game animals and herbivores around and it is great to have them all around the camp.
But you will need to travel for about 20 minutes (through relative civilisation) to get into Little Chem Game Reserve or Tarangire National park, or for 90 minutes to get to Lake Manyara.
Little Chem Game reserve is impressive, albeit relatively small, however there is some spectacular Game viewing around the Water Holes, with some large herds of large old male elephants with big tusks (a rare sight nowadays) being our personal highlight. They provided us with lots of entertainment!. Little Chem was well worth a visit but only for 1 day (two max).
We took a full day excursion to Lake Manyara Game Reserve to see the Pelicans and Flamingos and were not disappointed. Again 1 day is all you need.
Our guide during our visit was Joseph. He was real fun, incredibly knowledgable, and great company. Nothing was too make trouble, he always wanted to go that “extra mile” for us. Also, driving to Lake Manyara, via the South gate entrance, Joseph showed us some real aspects of village life during our long drive, a real eyeopener!
We did really enjoy it though, and a great way to finish our Safari tour." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania