Extraordinary Africa>Tanzania>Serengeti>Mwiba
Mwiba is a rare treasure, a gorgeous luxury lodge in a remote and private game viewing area of the Southern Serengeti.
What’s Mwiba really like?
Arriving at Mwiba, wooden walkways lead you through the boulders to the cosy lounge and bar area. This flows out onto the main deck where you can look out over the bush. Meals are often served here, or outside in the boma or in the lodge’s library. Below is a swimming pool, and nestled further away in the rocks is the spa and gym.
Boardwalks lead away from the main area to the 10 beautiful tented suites. They’re all thoughtfully decorated with polished wooden floors, big windows and decks outside to take in the view. Bathrooms have large soaking tubs, and indoor and outdoor showers. Four of the suites can be set up as two pairs, so it works well for guests travelling together, though as you do go outside between the suites we would recommend that young children share a room with parents.
What can I do at Mwiba?
Each group of guests at Mwiba is given their own private game viewing vehicle, so activities are incredibly flexible. Wildlife here is still becoming accustomed to visitors, so doesn’t compete with great herds of the public park. This said, if you visit during migration season (roughly January to March), it is possible head into Ndutu or the Southern Serengeti to try to see the wildebeest. Outside this season, while you may work harder for wildlife sightings further afield, you will often find wildlife visiting the river nearby the lodge. The sense of seclusion and privacy that you find at Mwiba is incredibly hard to find elsewhere in Northern Tanzania. Being outside the public park also gives guests an opportunity to enjoy night game drives and walking safaris.
What is particularly special about Mwiba is the chance for relaxed and authentic cultural experiences with some of the neighbouring communities. There’s a Datoga village nearby to the lodge that welcomes visitors, and it is often possible catch up with some of the local Hadzabe hunter-gatherer families. They’re nomadic, so we absolutely don’t make any guarantees, but often on a bush walk you might meet up as they go about their day’s activities harvesting honey, nuts and seeds or on occasion, hunting. They move quickly, and are absolutely not there to entertain visitors, just to go about their day, so encounters can be fleeting, but fascinating nonetheless. As optional extras, we can also arrange fly camping from Mwiba, and scenic helicopter flights, though these should be booked in advance. Lastly, for an extra fee, there are some rather lovely spa treatments available.
Giving back at Mwiba:
For each night a guest stays at Mwiba, a fee goes to help protect the habitat and support anti poaching in the reserve. Staying here also helps support the local Datoga and Hadzabe communities, and if you see something you like, buying handicrafts is a huge support of the local women.
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