Guide Price: From: $500 To: $650
Manyara Ranch Tented Camp is a breath of fresh air and somewhere we'd happily while away many days quietly exploring the secluded area of private land that lies between Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park. Manyara Ranch itself is the basis for a fascinating conservation project that seeks to preserve a vital wildlife corridor running between Tarangire and Manyara at the same time as exploring community conservation initiatives with local tribes.
As a guest, you'll want to devote a minimun of a couple of nights to this part, to explore quietly on foot, as well as by vehicle and even on horseback. You can easily use Manyara Ranch as a springboard for visiting Tarangire, but make sure you give yourself time to get to know the ranch itself in the company of Chris the manager and you'll find that there is plenty to keep you busy here for 3 nights or more. Like many of the more interesting places, if you're prepared to take things slowly; even sit quietly and watch, the rewards are fabulous.
In design terms, amongst the plethora of "designer" camps and lodges springing up left right and centre, there's a lovely simplicity to this little tented camp. Perhaps we're just getting long in the tooth, but haleluja! it feels great to find yourself in a good honest tented camp, run by someone who is visibly more excited by the antics if the extraordinary wildlife that populate this area than the decor (which incidentally is pretty good too).
There are only six guest tents in the camp, so even when it's full the place hardly feels busy - there are plans to open a lodge on Manyara Ranch, but for the moment you'll find few people cluttering up the 44,000 acre ranch.
While staying at Manyara Ranch you can visit Tarangire or Manyara, but to see it purely as a dormitory for these better known parks would be to miss the point. Variety, flexibilty and a sense of sponteneity are all part of the mix at this little camp because the land on which it operates is outside the jurisdiction of parks, with the result that there is great freedom to do a host of fun things. You can head off and explore the ranch by vehicle - and that's worth doing as an orientation - but really this place comes to life when you dig a bit deeper. While you're here you can do some superb riding, spend time watching game from the secrecy of a hide, spend a night flycamping and sleeping under the stars, take night game drives, guided walking safaris or take a peek at the workings of the ranch itself. You'll also want to allow plenty of time to do nothing and enoy the confort of the camp itself.
Refreshingly simple, but elegant 12-bed tented camp - love it...
From: 500 To: 650
Manyara Ranch, lying between Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park, is one of those unexpected and easily overlooked gems – a small, but rich wilderness, empty of tourists (there’s only one place to stay here) but full of game. The ranch is classic east African scenery; soft grasses and light sandy soils, acacia woodland and river lines, all set with the backdrop of the Manyara Escarpment to the west and the Ngorongoro Highlands and Lossimingor Hills to the northwest and north. As a visitor, this is a relaxed and easy going place to spend two or three days exploring on foot, on horseback and of course by vehicle – including visits to Tarangire which is but a short drive from here. Read more?
Tanzania safaris rival a safari any other country in Africa in terms of sheer wilderness, formidable landscapes and volume of wildlife. At Natural High, we have travelled all over the country, worked in some of its best Tanzania safari camps and lodges and flown all over as bush pilots so we feel qualified to venture such opinions. Read more?
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Catherine's long experience of, and enthusiasm for Africa, makes her a mine of travel information. Add to the mix her vivacious character and inscrutable attention to detail and there are few people you'd rather have plan your holiday.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
