Has anyone stayed at the Grumeti Reserves?
If so, which one? How was your experience?

Thanks

You mean the newly acquired properties by Singita?

Hari

climbhighsleeplow has visited and reported on his visit. I do not believe that anyone else has posted so far.

I can't find his post after he visited. Perhaps he'll see your post.
Have you seen the pictures from his website?

http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/serengetilodges.htm

Bat,

What is the game-viewing like in those areas, especially when the herds are not around? i.e.,the predator sightings?

Thanks
Hari

hari:
I don't know--but eben would.

Thanks,

will top this up for Eben to read....

Hari

The Faru Faru camp is still under construction I believe - will check it out in a few weeks.

I recommend staying one night at Sasakwa and at least 2 nights at Sabora Plains. The views from Sasakwa are unbelievable and will help you get a "lay of the land" so to speak.

At Sabora, you have the benefit of open vehicles, really good guiding and a good mix of game viewing in open and bush areas. IMO the year-round game viewing is much the same as in the Western corridor but since the quality of guiding is better you will see more. Overall it certainly has more viewable game than the area between Seronera and Ikoma for example.

I can tell you more about the accommodations if you want?

Thanks Eben,

I dont know anything about the game viewing in the Western Corridor. Can i expect as good predetor viewing in these areas as say, Seronera?

Hari

climbhighsleeplow: thank you and yes i would love more info when you return. We will stay either 3 or four nights. I am hoping to have four because of the horse rides and other activities that are offered. Then it would be worth changing lodges 2 nights each.

Are the vehicles closed at Sasakwa? How do you know so much about the guiding?

Thanks again.

Check out the special Style Magazine section in today's New York Times (Sunday, September 24, 2006) for an article on these camps. ZZ

Style magazine and a safari camp....now that's not the combination i'm looking for....i think i will take a rain-check on Grumeti reserves...

Hari

Hari: I am non-plussed myself about this article and was disgusted when I learned that the camp has a spa and a sports center, not to mention an infinity swimming pool [is that the word: infinity?], but the author, who otherwise writes quite thought-provoking articles for the NY Times on gardening and his country living efforts, poses challenging questions about the dichotomy between a luxury safari camp and the surrounding area of impoverished villages. ZZ

Hello,

Personally, I rather like having a small work-out room (though a full sports centre is a bit much. I exercise regularly at home and since I never sleep during the siesta it's nice to get some exercise. It also helps fight that post-safari bulge which can accumulate after a few weeks...

Cheers,
Julian

Actually, i run upwords of 50 miles a week. So i use safari time to recover from all the pounding from the rest of the year...

Hari

Hi Hari,

I just get a bit hyper if I spend too much time sitting and don't work out, so a workout room is nice.

On the other hand, if you stay in a camp like Jao, you could just ask for the room on the far end of the camp -- it's a looooong walk to the lounge.

Cheers,
Julian

Julian,

Ofcourse, or the farthest tent at Lebala......that's a longish walk also, probably that's what i'll do.....

Or, even better....see if Spencer can take me out on a walk ( if they do that there....i think they only do the walks at Kwara, to the best of my knowledge...will hv to chk with him)

Hari

Zambezi,
Thanks for the article. The author shows surprising brain activity considering that he's writing in something called “Style” and that he apparently didn't talk to anyone from outside Grumeti Reserves. Though the history info is quite incomplete without mentioning the eviction of people from their life sustaining grazing lands in the Serengeti to please foreign conservationists and tourists. And again it looks like Bat's driver had a point being upset over Grumeti Reserves employing white South African guides (in another thread).

People who need to work out on safari should do so in their zipped up tents with the window flaps down, so that they won't ruin the ambience.
I once stayed at a camp with a pool and even though it was a discreet pool I didn't like it at all.