Singita Sabora Tented Camp

Singita Sabora Tented Camp is where an authentic safari experience meets contemporary luxury. The camp wows with a high level of service, the comforts of its tents, and the exclusivity of a private reserve.

This was going to be our first stay at a Singita property, and we were very curious to see if the company’s reputation as one of the top safari brands in Africa is well deserved. Would the Sabora camp turn out as exceptional as we had hoped?

As soon as we landed at Sasakwa, the Grumeti Reserve’s private airstrip, the Singita staff embraced us with their welcoming attitude, putting us in a relaxed mood from the get-go. Holding welcome drinks, we waited a few minutes in the sumptuous lounge tent as our luggage was being taken care of — but before we knew it, we were on our way to the camp.

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A modern expedition concept

Singita Sabora’s experience provides a modern twist on the bygone era when African savanna was accessible only to a few adventurous explorers. The camp only hints at the early 20th Century safari expedition character, and its design caters to a contemporary aesthetic, never drawing directly from the “Out of Africa” mythos.

To a large degree, the interior decor is responsible for this impression. The designers did away with antiques and Zanzibari chests, brass artifacts, and Maasai blankets.

Instead, modern, carefully designed portable safari furniture channels an almost Scandinavian chic, making the tents look less like a safari film set and more like executive suites, influenced by the Californian startup fashionistas.

Five-star service

All this is in the service of comfort. Each guest tent features a four-poster bed, with well-designed, light bathrooms sporting a minimalist bathtub. There is a day bed outside, set out on the grass, which is great for afternoon naps and a comfortable spot for game-viewing.

The Sabora contemporary expedition concept is perfectly matched by the quality of service. The staff is discreetly attentive and maintains a sophisticated atmosphere of contemporary luxury.

Our experience was defined by the camp’s intimate character, the excellent safari drives — and the beautiful setting in the archetypal landscape of African savanna.

Your private Serengeti

One of the things we love the most about the camp is how closely it is linked with the African wilderness. The tents are set upright in the “center of the action,” surrounded by the archetypal savanna landscape peppered by acacia trees and traversed by herds of animals.

Wild zebras graze around Sabora during the day and wander between the tents at night. One morning hyenas woke us up with a frantic cackle. They were trying to shoo off some lions who were after their kill, just on the edge of the camp.

No surprise then that guests are strictly forbidden to venture outside after dark without the assistance of an armed guardian. It’s safe otherwise — the animals don’t interact with the tents. Still, it was thrilling knowing that only a thin canvas separated us from the wild outdoors. It made us feel immersed in the pulse of the wilderness.

The camp is situated in the Western part of Serengeti, known as Grumeti, and it is a vast swath of land: 350,000 acres. That’s almost as large a territory as the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

All of it is managed by Singita, which has only five small camps and lodges in the area — but what makes it extra special is that only their guests have exclusive access to the Reserve.

in our opinion

It's a remarkable feat to create the sense of an authentic Safari experience and yet offer a stay as comfortable as at the Singita Sabora Tented Camp.

What we love

• The exclusivity of the private reserve, Grumeti. It makes a massive difference to the experience of the safari. No other vehicles, plentiful game, and no restrictions for going off-road. It's safari as it should be.
• The camp's fantastic location, right on the savanna, with the backdrop of the classic African landscape and zebras freely wandering between the tents.
• The guest tents are large, air-conditioned, eminently comfortable — and designed in a style that caters to the most style-aware travelers.
• The facilities include a spa, gym, swimming pool, and the lounge tent doubling as a library. It is connected to the restaurant and the bar with a nicely designed sitting area. It's the best spot from which to observe the wildlife while sipping a drink.
• The standard of service is as high as in any top luxury resort we ever visited. Every detail is taken care of, every expectation anticipated.
• Food is exceptional and always expertly prepared and served. We loved how our first lunch was arranged under a lone tree, especially for us.
• Evening campfire with drinks is often accompanied by a show where members of the local tribe dance and sing in a trance-inducing performance.
• Singita would proudly say that they employ the best guides in Serengeti—and as far as we can tell, it's true. The game drives were always different and rewarding.
• In the Grumeti Reserve, we also stayed at the Singita Faru Faru Lodge, located just an hour away. It was great to combine the two places for a different style, atmosphere, and landscape.

What you should know

• All flights going to Grumeti land at the Singita Sasakwa airstrip, located about 40 minutes from the Sabora Tented Camp. Most of the flights are operated by Coastal Aviation. On the scheduled flights, the luggage weight is reserved to 15 kg per person. Singita can arrange a private charter without such limits.
• The room rates at Sabora are rather steep, but given the camp's exclusivity and the quality of experience — it's a good value for money.
• Every time we did a safari drive, we had the vehicle to ourselves, but this is not guaranteed. In the high season, guests may be asked to share.
• The camp is in a malarial zone, so make sure to be prepared with appropriate prophylactics. Also, guests who plan to cross from Tanzania to Kenya in Masai Mara (which is what we did) must make sure to have the yellow fever book up to date. They will check it on the border!
• Guests of Sabora have access to the sister property in the area, the Sasakwa Lodge, and can use its facilities, including the swimming pool. It's well worth visiting (we did!) if only for the view. The lodge is perched on a crest of a massive hill and overlooks a vast plain. Also, Sasakwa has a great equestrian center and offers horseback safaris — it's the only place in Serengeti that does it.