Singita Grumeti

It’s hard to imagine how Singita Explore’s high-ceilinged, airy tents could have been improved upon, but following a recent refresh, they now include a separate shower in the en suite bathroom and insomnia-proof memory foam mattresses piled with down duvets. Set up in prime game-viewing locations for private parties of up to 12 guests, Singita Explore is as close to nature as you can get without relinquishing any of the luxuries or comforts of a game lodge. Yet it really feels like you’re camping. The chef cooks everything on an open fire, from lemony crayfish tails and prawns to a pot of fall-off-the-bone-tender oxtail, followed by citrusy pancakes smothered in melted chocolate. Everything about the camp is designed for minimal energy consumption and environmental impact, so that it can be packed up and relocated to another scenic site depending on the season, the weather, and the movement of game.

Singita Grumeti is one of the few (if not only) camps with its own Equestrian Center, home to 18 horses. Guests of any of the properties can enjoy a day ride out over the Serengeti to explore the plains and — fingers crossed — travel alongside a herd of zebra or elephants, or a pride of lions. Multi-day equestrian safaris, paired with overnights in one of the tented camps, are also available.

The Grumeti is a private wildlife reservation that is only available for safari through Singita Explore. While on an Explore Grumeti safari, I managed to capture this brilliant moment in photo. What a majestic, gorgeous creature!

What a beautiful sunset over the vast plains that surround the Singita Explore camp. This photo was taken from the public area of the camp, and we saw many more stunning views like this one throughout our trip. One incredible thing about Singita Explore is that, while it enables guests to immerse themselves in, and connect with, a raw and beautiful nature, they also remain in a safe and private space (to put it simply).

The zero-footprint Singita Explore Mobile Tented Camp is an exclusive-use camp, so the 6 en-suite tents are pitched and configured based on the requirements of your group. The camp sites also vary depending on the season, and are selected to ensure prime views during the migration.

Not only did I have the chance to experience the three incredible Singita Grumeti Reserves’ lodges (Faru Faru, Sabora Luxury Tented Camp and Sasakwa), but I had the chance to see Singita’s new mobile tented camp, Explore, which just opened. Since it’s mobile, it can follow the migration, putting you in the middle of the action.

One of the most memorable moments of my stay with Singita was this spectacular set up. We were traveling in one of the safari carts and our tour guide surprised us by stopping here for lunch. This area was set up in the middle of the wilderness. It was an incredible experience to enjoy lunch on the African plains, with animals happily grazing nearby. The meals were carefully curated for each persons dietary needs and wants, and the way that the service at Singita is so caring and personalized so as to make each experience seamless is just amazing.

The Singita company has been recognized as one of Africa’s leading wine collectors, with over 20,000 bottles in their South African lodges alone, many limited-edition or rare finds. Guests of Grumeti can choose from extensive lists (or, if you are at Sasakwa, visit the temperature-controlled cellar), and set-up tastings or info sessions. If you spot something special, the Singita Premier Wine Direct service can pack it up for you or ship it home.

One of the best ways to get a feel for the scope of the Serengeti — and for the size of some of the roaming herds — is with a hot air balloon ride. The Singita Grumeti properties can organize an early-morning float over the plains, timed to sunrise, followed by a five-star breakfast in the middle of the bush.

Don’t miss a visit to Singita’s Environmental Education Centre, set up for the communities of the surrounding villages. At regular overnight camps for local teens, the Centre teaches the importance of conservation and low-impact tourism, and gives them eco-friendly skills they can implement when they return to their villages.

A highlight of a Grumeti stay is a visit to some of the area villages. In some of the ones closest to the reserve (which are where many of the staff live), you can meet with locals who participate in Singita’s sustainability and agricultural programs, and check out private farms and the community farmer’s market. Farther afield, guests can visit area elementary schools, or stop by a traditional village to meet with elders and learn about their way of life.

Though the age requirements vary between the Grumeti properties (Sasakwa and Faru Faru take all ages, for example, while some of the tented camp are ages 10-and-up), there is plenty at all the properties to entertain the younger set. Tailored activities include archery, arts and crafts, and star gazing sessions, and baking classes with the chef, while the Mini Rangers Course teaches skills like bush survival techniques, butterfly capture and release, identifying animal tracks, and more.