Singita Faru Faru Lodge

At a glance, Singita Grumeti Faru Faru seems to be another beautiful lodge in a remote African location. It is that — but its greatest appeal lies in its little discoveries, in the gradual revealing of design contrasts and quirks, and in the incredible wildlife encounters.

Faru Faru is one of the few exclusive lodges and camps in the private Grumeti Reserve, which Singita manages. We also stayed at the nearby Singita Sabora, a tented camp pitched on the savanna grassland—and while the experience was enchanting, the Faru Faru won our hearts with its luxury, comfort, and style.

Singita Faru Faru Design

The design of the Singita Grumeti Faru Faru Lodge draws from several sources. First, there is the Swahili sand beach vibe from Zanzibar. Then there is Serengeti bush chic, where earthy tones and dirt walkways are the backdrops to organic African artifacts. Finally, all this is spiced up with designer furniture, stylish lamps, warm cushions, and fun ideas inspired by the quirky practicality of a “botanist camp.”

Although this design mix is unusual, it feels right at home in the peaceful woodlands of the Grumeti River — and it fits the lodge’s small footprint. Faru Faru is small and has an intimate atmosphere. There are only seven one-bedroom suites, a two-bedroom Villa Suite with a private pool, and a single-family suite.

Grumeti Adventures

Service at the Faru Faru is as attentive and personalized as we learned to expect at the Sabora camp. Do you have special dietary needs? That is no problem; the staff will prepare a special menu. Don’t feel like waking up early? No worries. You can go on the safari drive later.

This brings us back to one of the main selling points of Singita and the Grumeti Reserve.

Situated in the western migratory corridor of the Serengeti and spanning an area almost the size of Kenya’s Masai Mara, Singita Grumeti enables a safari adventure as it should be. The exclusive-use concession enables some of Africa’s most enchanting experiences. Across the 350,000 acres of wilderness, only a few accommodation options are available. The wildlife encounters are intimate and unique due to the limited number of guests and the abundance of animals.

in our opinion

Contemporary, chic, and full of stylistic seduction, this design-minded lodge is more than just another hotel option. Your time here will linger in your memories for a long time.

See our photo essay and discover Singita Faru Faru Lodge through our lens.

*This review contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

What we love

• The lodge's original design concept was by Cécile and Boyd, the South African design studio responsible for all Singita properties' interiors and art direction. At the Faru Faru, the mix of barefoot-in-the-bush and botanist camp inspirations results in truly spectacular interiors.
• The beautiful, air-conditioned guest suites are covered with canvas and furnished as if from the coolest home decor catalog. All bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom with a standalone bathtub and an outdoor shower, taking guests closer to nature.
• Thanks to its location on a hill facing the Grumeti River and the nearby watering holes, the lodge is well-positioned to observe wildlife. Elephants, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, and other animals frequent the area, and the guests have every opportunity to feel like they are always on safari. "Here, the safari comes to you," says Singita. It's quite true.
• The Grumeti Reserve is an exclusive-access concession, ensuring a remarkable safari experience in which the drives are private and frequently off-road, the land is vast and incredibly beautiful, and the wildlife is abundant.
• The service level is as high as in any best luxury hotels. The staff is relaxed and confident, and as at other Singita properties, they will go to great lengths to make the stay memorable.
• The light cuisine of Faru Faru. Based on East African ideas and served with excellent wines, the meals at the lodge feel like something created in the spur of the moment and in a flurry of inspiration. They were always a treat.
• Since its establishment in the 1990s, Singita has been conservation-minded. The Grumeti Reserve is only one of five nature reserves (in three countries) operated by the company. The luxury lodges partially fund the wide-ranging projects, including anti-poaching efforts.

What you should know

The best time to visit Faru Faru and the Grumeti area is during the migration months. The great herds move through this area and cross the Grumeti River in May and June, but we were here in November and had excellent game drives.

In addition to the safari drives, guests of the Faru Faru can undertake horseback safaris out of the impressive stables at Singita's Equestrian Centre (located near the beautiful Singita Sasakwa Lodge). Rides can range from a few hours to multiple days and be tailored to suit different riding abilities.

All flights to Grumeti land at the Singita Sasakwa airstrip. While most scheduled flights are operated by Coastal Aviation, Singita can organize a private charter.

We recommend combining the stay at Faru Faru with another camp or lodge in the Grumeti Reserve. We also stayed at the Sabora camp—it's a very different experience but equally enchanting. Don't miss our Trip Report with exclusive photos from our stay at the Singita Sabora.