Perched atop a dramatic escarpment overlooking the Tarangire River and valley, Lemala Mpingo Ridge Tented Lodge is the best place to stay in Tarangire National Park. While often overshadowed by more famous safari destinations, Tarangire is Tanzania’s hidden gem. As the country’s sixth-largest national park, it boasts a diverse landscape of classic African savannahs, verdant hills, dense woodlands, and winding rivers.
I chose Tarangire as the destination for my safari because of its large herds of elephants, picturesque baobab trees, and fewer crowds. I only had three days for safari, so I also picked Tarangire National Park over because it’s only an hour and a half drive from Arusha Airport (compared to a more than four-hour drive to Serengeti National Park), meaning I spent less time traveling and more time on safari.
I’ve stayed at Lemala Resorts around the world, so choosing Lemala Mpingo Ridge made sense for the luxury safari experience I was looking for in Tanzania. I wasn’t disappointed, as this tented resort lived up to expectations.
Location
Getting to Lemala Mpingo Ridge requires a 4×4 vehicle as you’ll climb up rocky dirt roads to reach the property that’s high on a ridge. Once you arrive, you’re rewarded with endless views of nature, wildlife sightings, and the sounds of the savannah all around you.
The resort is just over a two-hour drive from Arusha Airport and is easy to get to. The prime appeal of Lemala is its location near the Tarangire River. The river is the only consistent source of water in the area, making it a great place to spot elephants, gazelles, zebras, lions, wildebeest, and other wildlife.
Accommodation
Lemala Mpingo Ridge features 15 meticulously placed luxury tented suites, each designed to capture the magnificent vistas of the Tarangire Valley while harnessing the natural cooling breezes that sweep across the landscape.
Spacious suites offer flexible sleeping arrangements with twin or expansive super-king beds, with triple occupancy available upon request. I stayed in a room with an oversized king bed, which had a romantic four-poster design draped with mosquito nets. The bed faces sliding glass doors leading to an innovative sunken outdoor lounge with a cozy siesta nook stocked with plenty of cushions. The deck overlooks one of the most beautiful, endless views of the river and savannah that I’ve ever seen, with nothing manmade within eyesight. Out here, you’ll also find a private soaking tub in which you can relax and enjoy the views.
Back inside the spacious suite, there is a separate sitting area, small wet bar, desk, and large ensuite bathroom. The ensuite bathroom leads out to another deck, on which there is a private outdoor shower, which was my favorite feature of the room.
Although the rooms have air conditioning, electricity, and running water, they are a “tent” in the sense that the walls are canvas. However, it feels nothing like camping! The advantage of the canvas walls is that you can unzip them in spots, revealing screened windows that let in the fresh air.
Lodge
The heart of Lemala Mpingo Ridge is the elevated main lodge, which houses:
• A welcoming lounge and bar area
• Both indoor and alfresco dining spaces
• A rejuvenating spa
• A refreshing swimming pool
The restaurant has the same epic views that you’ll see from your room and was an amazing spot from which to watch the sunset each night. Since the resort is located in the wilderness, you’ll have to call for an escort to and from your room after dark to protect you from any wild animal encounters.
Activities and Wildlife Viewing
Unlike at many other safari camps, game drives are not included in the rates at Lemala Mpingo Ridge. I opted to book my game drives directly through the resort to keep things easy. The game drive vehicles were very modern and comfortable and even had a minifridge installed to keep beverages cool. There are also charging ports onboard and blankets in case you get cold.
The game drives take place in the morning and around sunset when the wildlife is the most active.
Lemala’s trackers and safari guides were personable and highly knowledgeable, and I definitely recommend them. On safari, I saw:
- Elephants
- Lions
- Giraffes
- Zebras
- Leopards
- African buffalo
- Monkeys
You can also book a hot air balloon safari ride in Tarangire, which I didn’t do, but looked like an incredible experience.
Dining
There is one restaurant in Lemala Mpingo Ridge, which is partially open-air and partly indoors. There’s a large bar next to the restaurant where you can get drinks any time of day.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I usually ate breakfast and dinner here and took a packed lunch to eat on safari.
The dining experience was high-quality, but the small menu did get a bit boring after the first two days. It would have been nice to have a bit more variety. Also, if you’re hungry in between meals, it’s hard to get a snack outside of dinner or lunchtime.
My favorite meal here was breakfast, which was a mix of a huge buffet and made-to-order items, including a delicious omelet bar. The fresh-squeezed juices were so refreshing, and it was fun to try different local fruits.
How to Get to Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge
The hotel can arrange a private transfer to and from Arusha airport and will pick you up in one of their comfortable safari vehicles.
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Tarangire National Park?
The best time to experience Tarangire National Park is generally considered to be from June through October, which is the dry season. I visited in February, which is the green season, and didn’t have any rain, except for one nighttime thunderstorm which was really cool to watch from my room.
Overall Experience
Overall, I highly recommend Tarangire National Park and Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge. I went on six game drives, and only ever saw two other safari vehicles in passing. The rest of the time, it felt like we had the park to ourselves (except for animals). It was a truly special experience to be in the only car just a few feet away from a pair of sleeping lions.
Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge is one of those special hotels that I’ll remember forever. The rooms are incredible—on my last day here, I woke up and watched the sunrise over the plains while sipping coffee from my bed, which was a magical experience. Drinking Champagne in the outdoor soaking tub, napping on the deck, and spotting animals while soaping my hair in the outdoor shower was unforgettable.
Cost
Rates at Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge start at $585 per person sharing per day. The rates include:
- Accommodation in standard room
- All meals
- House drinks
- Wi-Fi
- Laundry
Rates do not include:
- Park entry and concession fees ($59 per person per day)
- Game drives
- Airstrip transfers
- Champagne and premium house drinks
Tips for Visiting Tarangire National Park
- The CDC recommends taking anti-malaria pills if visiting Tarangire. Know that you’ll have to start the pills before you arrive and keep taking them after you leave, so plan accordingly.
- Tsetse flies are vicious in Tarangire, so avoid wearing blue and black (which attract the bugs) and cover your exposed skin. Use our safari packing list as a guide to help you know what to bring.
- Stay hydrated when out on safari, and use sunscreen as the sun can be a lot stronger than what you’re used to
- Bring cash to tip your safari guides. Read our full safari tipping guide here.
- Allow plenty of time to travel back to Arusha airport, as the road conditions and traffic can be bad.
Looking for a different type of luxury safari? Read our review of Lion Sands River Lodge in South Africa, where you can sleep in a treehouse.
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