Review: Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Serengeti

This Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review is from our Serengeti Safari in Tanzania, following our stay at Singita Sabora Tented Camp. Singita Sasakwa and Sabora Tented Camp are two of three luxury safari lodges offered by Singita in the Serengeti, the third being Singita Faru Faru Lodge.

All Singita rates already include meals and drinks (excluding French champagne and rare vintages), but TravelSort Clients enjoy these additional benefits:

  • Ability to use TravelSort's paid Award Booking Service, with Singita stays of 3 or more nights
  • For Singita Serengeti House (a 4BR luxury villa with its own staff, a few minutes from Sasakwa Lodge) stays of 2 nights or more, enjoy a complimentary massage for two guests
  • Virtuoso gift worth $100 during the stay
  • Priority for early check-in and late check-out, based on availability

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Location, Getting There, Arrival

Singita Sasakwa Lodge is located just 10 minutes away from Singita's air strip, making it very convenient to get to, or to return to the air strip after a stay at Sasakwa. In fact, when we departed, we left Sasakwa Lodge just 25 minutes before our Coastal Air flight was scheduled to depart, and had ample time before our flight.

We had stayed at Sabora Tented Camp the night before, so our drive from there took about 1 hour or so. It's a bit shorter point to point, but we enjoyed seeing some animals on the way, such as these three zebra, each of them resting a head on the rump of a neighbor so as to watch in different directions for predators.

Serengeti Zebras Watching Different Directions for Predators

We also spied these warthogs, with buffalo grazing by the tree behind them.

Singita Sasakwa Review-Warthogs and Buffalo

Our guide also spotted this Leopard Tortoise in the middle road, which wasn't a good place for him, so he moved him to the side of the road and we watched him slowly crawl away. Leopard Tortoises can live as long as humans–up to 100 years.

Singita Sasakwa Review-Leopard Tortoise

After climbing up the hillside, we arrived in the courtyard of Sasakwa Lodge, alighting from our Land Rover by the central fountain.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review-Courtyard Fountain

Inside the lodge, beautiful sunrise-colored roses were arranged in a bowl with fresh and fragrant rosemary:

Singita Sasakwa Review-Roses and Rosemary

We were welcomed with cool towels and refreshing juice and iced tea.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review-Welcome Drinks

The Lodge is built in Edwardian style, with an expansive lawn that you can often spot monkeys frolicking on.

Singita Sasakwa was named for the local chief who used to reside here, and enjoys a panoramic view of the Serengeti plains below.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review-Lawn
Singita Sasakwa Review-View of Serengeti Plains

Here's our Singita Sasakwa Lodge YouTube Video Review:

Singita Sasakwa 2 Bedroom Cottage

Singita Sasakwa has 10 stand alone cottages, six of them 1 Bedroom Cottages, two of them 2 Bedroom Cottages, 1 3BR Cottage and 1 4BR Cottage. We were upgraded to a 2 Bedroom Cottage, which would easily sleep 4 guests.

Singita Sasakwa Review: Ruark's Cottage, a 2 Bedroom Cottage
Singita Sasakwa 2BR Cottage

The Entrance way led to the living room, with high ceilings, comfortable sofa, a writing desk, and even crystal bottles of complimentary brandy and port for a nightcap.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review

Both bedrooms featured King size canopy beds, with the mosquito nets drawn on them during turndown service.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review-Bedroom

The bathroom had double sinks, a separate toilet chamber, and a spacious bath area with a clawfoot bath tub and separate glass enclosed rain shower.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review-Bathroom
Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review-Bathtub and Rain Shower

The highlight, as at the main lodge, was the view of the plains from the outdoor patio and private plunge pool.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge Review-Outdoor Private Plunge Pool
Singita Sasakwa Review-Cottage Private Plunge Pool

Singita Serengeti House (4BR Villa)

Although there is a 4BR Cottage at Singita Sasakwa Lodge, my top recommendation for an extended family or small group of friends is Singita's Serengeti House, which includes two bedrooms, each with their own ensuite bathroom in the main villa, as well as two garden suites very close to the main villa. Serengeti House is just a short drive to Sasakwa Lodge, but has all its own facilities and its own staff.

Singita Serengeti House-Fountains to Left of the Entrance

The open plan living and dining area features high ceilings, ample natural light, and neutral colors that fit with its surroundings.

Serengeti House Living Room
Serengeti House Dining Room

The villa has its own kitchen and wine fridge.

Serengeti House Kitchen and wine fridge

The master bedroom features a canopy bed and a TV that unobtrusively recesses into a stand when not in use.

Serengeti House Review-Master Bedroom

The spacious bathroom offers both a soaking tub and indoor rain shower, as well as an outdoor shower, and a TV.

Serengeti House Bathroom

The outdoor deck and 82 feet long pool is especially beautiful, with sun loungers and an outdoor sala nearby for dining al fresco.

Serengeti House Deck and Pool
Serengeti House Pool and View

Serengeti House also has its own gym, tennis court, and spa sala.

Serengeti House Gym

The Verdict

Singita Sasakwa Lodge, to date, is my clients' favorite luxury safari lodge in Africa, and I can understand why. Its hillside location provides panoramic views over the Serengeti plains, yet you don't necessarily have to go far to see so many of the animals–we often saw giraffes by the lodge, monkeys scampering among the grounds, and one morning we even shared some quiet minutes with a lion, near Sasakwa's helipad.

The individual cottages afford a great deal of privacy, with all creature comforts catered for: comfortable beds with mosquito nets, clawfoot bathtubs and separate walk-in rain showers, complimentary mini bar, and private plunge pool with the same majestic views of the Serengeti.

Dining, as at Sabora Tented Camp, is a highlight, from the homemade pastries, granola and satisfying omelets and pancakes at breakfast to beautifully plated dinners, accompanied by excellent South African wines. I especially enjoyed the tea smoked salmon, roast duck with tamarind, grilled beef with polenta and passion fruit souffle with homemade raspberry sorbet.

Sasakwa is also ideal for those who want a few recreational options in addition to game drives, since there are two tennis courts, a well-equipped fitness center, library, and billiards table in addition to the spa and main swimming pool.

If you've been to Singita Sasakwa recently, what was your experience?

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