On the outskirts of Arusha – the gateway to the Serengeti and other national parks in northern Tanzania – Mama Simba is a lovely layover spot, either side of a safari. It’s just half an hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport and has its own private airstrip for the chartering crowd. The thatched-roof lodge is set in a private, predator-free, 690-hectare conservancy where antelopes and zebras roam. Sip a cold G&T beside the Mount Meru-view infinity pool, stroll around the grounds, honour leg day at the open-sided gym, or just put your feet up and watch the gazelles go by from your deck.
Nesting arrangements
Mama Simba’s style is best described as country house but make it wild – zebra-print headboards, comfy couches, crystal chandeliers, ornate wooden cabinets and leopard-print cushions.
There are six cottages with high thatched roofs, two rooms and a suite. The Garden Room and Pool Room in the main house are best for couples or solo travellers who pack lightly, while the Garden Cottages and Master Suite have living rooms with fireplaces for chilly evenings, decks with wicker loungers, and bathrooms with standalone copper tubs.
Food philosophy
Meals are served on the terrace overlooking the lawns, al fresco in the grounds, or in the indoor dining room with its wicker chairs, green glassware and white tablecloths. Organic ingredients are prioritised – even for the wines, which are mainly from France and South Africa. Oh, and Mama Simba is an all-inclusive lodge – so no need to ask for the bill.
Secret sauce
A mini safari before the big safari, Mama Simba is set in North Dolly, a 1700-acre private conservancy where plains game roam, safe and sound from predators. You might spot a hulking Cape eland strutting past or impalas, zebras, wildebeest or Grant’s gazelles ambling around while you’re relaxing in the pool or dining on the terrace.
Take a walk around the lodge with a Maasai guide to learn about the conservancy’s animals and plants – an activity that’s included in the rate. Horse riding is available in the conservancy, too, and if you have time, there are nearby golf or polo facilities. You could even take a helicopter flight over Mount Kilimanjaro (it’s only cheating if you care what the hikers think).
One more thing…
Mama Simba is only 35 minutes’ drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport, but it also has its own airstrip just ten minutes from the lodge. This is rather handy if you have charter flight connections and makes it a neat spot for an Arusha layover before or after a safari.
