A refined sanctuary enveloped within 20,000ha of Tanzanian wilderness, the award-winning Chem Chem Lodge’s appeal lies in its seamless cohesion with its surroundings and Slow Safari ethos, which invites you to connect with nature at your own pace. The lodge (a Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice 2024 “Best Resorts In the World” winner) comprises 8 luxury tented suites — including 1 family configuration — a central area, spa, gym, and pool. The lodge’s central area features several spaced-apart dining spaces and an elevated deck, as well as a lounge, library, 2 outdoor seating areas and a safari boutique. Here, a sense of space and seclusion takes precedence, with each suite separated by at least 80m. Each of the air-conditioned suites features an ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers and a private patio, as well as a coffee machine and bar fridge. Enjoy the slowed-down pace, exceptional food, spectacular sunsets and exploring the region with your private guide and vehicle.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, Swahili
Location
Vilima Vitatu Between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park Tanzania
My husband and I stayed at Chem Chem Lodge in July 2021. It was the first safari lodge we stayed at before heading to the Serengeti. The service and attention to detail is one that we have never experienced before. My husband and I travel a fair amount and have stayed at some top-notch hotels but we were absolutely blown away by our experience here. We stayed here during Covid so we were one of the few guests at the property which was actually really nice.
The common space and the rooms were amazing but what stood out more to us was really the service. We stayed here for 3 nights and for every single meal, the staff had us dining in a different location. The first night, they served us cocktails at their beautiful firepit and we watched the sunset. Once the sun set, they had a special and private table set up for up for us in the bush under the stars surrounded by candles. One morning, they drove us to a different part of their property and had a private chef cook for us under a giant baobab tree. We also had the chance of enjoying a dinner in their beautiful library, etc. All of our sundowners were so picturesque and memorable. On our last night, they surprised us with the best sundowner near their lake. They brought a beautiful, antique portable bar and brought their on-staff masai warrior to help us build a fire.
The food was EXCELLENT. We've stayed at a few Singita properties in Africa (supposedly was of the most premium brands) and we felt that Chem Chem's food was far more superior. Ingredients were so fresh and we felt that the team did a great job of incorporating their local cuisine into the menus which we loved. All the food tasted healthy and fresh.
We very much enjoyed our guide Majuto. He was incredibly professional and did an excellent job of looking after us.
Thank you Chem Chem for gifting us with the most beautiful experience.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 12 Jan 2022
Dear j-traveler3560 Thank you for such wonderful feedback on your stay at Chem Chem; we are truly humbled and will pass it on to our entire team. We are happy to hear of your unforgettable experience with our cusine and team, and hope that you visit us again soon. Warm Wishes The Chem Chem Team
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Chem Chem was one of four luxury safari camps where we stayed as a family of four, kids ages 13 and 10, on our Tanzania safari circuit in late August. Out of all the camps, Chem Chem was my favorite. The team there was so welcoming, from Francis, our waiter, who went out of his way to play games with our kids and take them to make cookies and feed the local wildlife, to the management team, Clever, who happily accommodated us in our ask to extend our stay by two days. And then of course, there was Salum, our private guide, who was so knowledgeable and friendly and took us to see some amazing wildlife (after already seeing so much at the three prior locations), including lions in the trees on our first day, tons of giraffes (but sadly not Omo, the white giraffe we searched for), elephants, birds and other wildlife since this was the one camp we were able to do night drives. One of the benefits of a private concession is that you can go off-roading, which allows for many more up close sightings. We also had a wonderful bush breakfast on our walking safari, experiences with a Masaai cultural guide where we made fire and a bow and arrow, and we always had delicious food and drinks. One highlight was sitting in the truck right below the lions in the trees above us while we enjoyed drinks for sundown. The family room at Chem Chem was perfect too - so large and beautiful with a lovely patio to enjoy coffee while viewing the wildlife at the watering hole. We cannot wait to return!!
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Date of stay: August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 10 Sept 2021
Dear kstafford0125 We are thrilled to hear about your family's wonderful stay at Chem Chem! The team will be delighted to hear this feedback from you. We are glad you had such great sightings, we are very fortunate to be in incredible wildlife area that is private too! Omo will be waiting for you on your nect visit to us :) Karibu Sana. Warm Regards The Chem Chem Team
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After coming off a Kilimanjaro climb we needed some quiet downtime and care and boy, did we pick the perfect place. We have been to Africa many times, but Chem Chem is perhaps one of three lodges I would return to in a heartbeat.
In contrast to many lodges, your time is your own at Chem Chem. You eat when you want, you do activities when you like (of course subject to the best times to see animals etc), you dont have to mix withe other guests if you don't wish to and so, there is a feeling of total relaxation and lack of pressure.
At Chem Chem you are assigned a personal butler and a guide who stays with you the whole time. Our butler Festo was so attentive, interesting and friendly and he made sure our food experience was amazing. Not only did they serve the most innovative and delicious vegetarian/pescatarian food consistently that we have ever had anywhere, every night we ate somewhere different which in a place as lovely as this was a treat of its own. I really wish to emphasise the quality of the food here- every single meal was faultless. Their chef is incredible and beats hands down another lodge where we were paying a big premium, where their idea of vegetarian food was to serve us the vegetable side dishes of everyone else. (!)
Now for the guiding: enthusiastic and knowledgeable was our guide Nenga, and experienced. Nothing was too much trouble. Tarangire is famous for it's elephants and we got so close to one pregnant female that we could see her baby kicking. We also fluked seeing 15 lions in one hit, mostly all up in trees which is unusual and makes for great photos. The park is close to Chem Chem and of course they have their own conservancy.
Now the work they are doing here on renaturing this conservancy is to be highly commended. You can see the difference between the protected land that is run by Chem Chem and the other adjoining areas and supporting this work is worth your visit alone.
We ran with a Masaai, we had sundowners by the lake, we sat by the pool and watched the animals go by, we had a very good massage and we absolutely took advantage of Chem Chem's "slow safari" philosophy, quite unique in its intention.
I'm sorry we only sent three days here. Next time it will be a lot longer. Thank you Chem Chem.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Go out on foot- the trackers here are the real deal.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 06 May 2023
Dear Imaginelle Thank you for taking the time to write about your stay with us at Chem Chem Lodge. We are so happy to read that you had the most wonderful and relaxing time after your Kilimanjaro Climb; fully embracing our slow safari ethos. Simply by staying with us you have contributed to the protection and preservation of this beautiful environment and all its inhabitants - so thank you very much for highlighting our conservation efforts! We look forward to welcoming you back to Chem Chem one day. Warm Regards The Chem Chem Team
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My wife and I stayed at Chem Chem for 4 nights at the end of November for our wedding, and it was absolutely perfect! We decided to do our ceremony with the Masai, which was way more amazing than I could have imagined. The tents are spotless, with Zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, baboons, and elephants hanging around 10 feet from your tent!
The food is incredible, the chef cooks a wide variety of meals, all of them delicious. There is not one thing I would change about this place. But the reason we will be going back is the staff. We had Salum as our safari guide, and this man will do everything to make sure you have the time of your life. He is such a kind man, knowledgeable of the area, and open to answer any question you might have. John is an attentive waiter with a wonderful sense of humor.
Alex and Clever went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed, as well as the rest of the staff. They even packed us a to go breakfast on the morning we left, it’s the little things they do that take things over the top.
I’m 100% certain any staff member you encounter will treat you like royalty, but if you get Salum as your guide you are in for a real treat. We can’t wait to go back! Thank you Chem Chem staff for the trip of a lifetime.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 12 Jan 2022
Dear charlief844 We are delighted to read that you had such wonderful time with us at Chem Chem, and even more special momemts with the Masaai Ceremony. We will share this with the team here, they will be thrilled to see your feedback. We will be very happy to welcome you back to Chem Chem in the future! Warm Salaams from the Chem Chem Team
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We were mind blown by the hospitality and excellence of everything at this lodge. We started our Honeymoon Safari at Chem Chem Lodge. Prices are steep but well worth every penny! Luxury Tents truly offer an authentic feel, you have wild life (giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs) living right outside your tents. Lodge is owned by a French couple and you can feel that a lot of thought has gone into designing this special place. Food was delicious. And it’s a must to try their sundowners!
Also the Safari was excellent. Do opt for Little Chem Chem Safari. It is a private reserve, so you get to see a lot of animals really close up, they are also allowed to go off the beaten track. We saw: elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, baboons and many more friendly animals.
We had a fantastic stay at Chem Chem Lodge and would highly recommend to all!
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Must do Sundowers by the Lake Manyara.
Safari in Little Chem Chem.
Breakfast in the tent.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 04 Aug 2021
Dear Vera, We are all delighted to read from you and even better to know you had a great experience with us. Thank you. We will share this with the team here, they will be thrilled to see your feedback which will bring them utmost joy and motivation. Your comments truly encompass our ethos and philosophy, we hope to welcome you back soon.
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Loved this place. Alex, Mercy and the team provide exceptional service. The lodge is clean and modern, and the food is great. Our nightly waiter, Peter, was so terrific and quickly learned our family’s food preferences. The menu was delicious & creative as well - curries, grilled veggies, meat dishes Our guide Nenga, was both knowledgeable about the park and wildlife, intrepid and so flexible to take our family out based upon our schedules. We were able to easily see lions, giraffes, elephants, you name it. Our Maasai guide, Saruni, was so kind to both our kids. We had a lovely visit to the Maasai village too. Housekeeping was excellent - they do laundry for you so you can pack really light. The wash came back in a day. The team cares about doing a great job and it shows. Highly recommend. Gym and pool are clean and lovely. Would suggest staying 3-4 days. If you stay the 4th day, head to Tarangire for a change of pace.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 03 Sept 2023
Dear RoamingMenehune Thank you for your wonderful review of your days at Chem Chem. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed our menu, facilities and appreciated the team! They will be delighted to see this feedback. We are glad that you felt so well taken care of, as that is what we strive for with all of our guests at Chem Chem. We hope to welcome you back again one day. Warm regards The Chem Chem Team
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We booked Chem Chem via Planet Africa Safaris and what an amazing choice this was! The staff was so welcoming and caring - a special thank you to Holiness for everything! but also to the rest of the team; the setting of the lodge with the waterhole right in front and the rooms decorated with so much attention to detail; and the game, of course! compared to others, you can watch from much closer because this is a private concession and we had the chance to have Henry as our driver and he was really really amazing, so knowledgeable, so careful as well in coming close to the animals but not disturbing them and taking the time to simply watch - „slow safari „ he called it. Thank you Henry ! I loved it , I felt this place had some type of special magic.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 13 Sept 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review. We're thrilled that you felt the magic of Chem Chem and enjoyed the close wildlife encounters in our private concession. We're grateful for your kind words about the team, and it’s fantastic to hear that the "slow safari" ethos made your experience even more special. We hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable moments in the future. Warm regards, The Chem Chem Lodge team
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Somebody once said,:” if you want to go on photo safaris, go to Africa last, because everywhere else will pale compared to Africa.” I would add that if you ever go to Tanzania, do Chem Chem last, for the same reason. My wife and I were there for 4 days starting on August 16. It was our first stay in a private conservancy although this was our 6th trip to Tanzania. What a treat this place was. Great accommodations, super big tents, delicious food, great location. But 2 things really stand out.
First the hospitality of the staff, who would always greet us at the front door when we came back from our game drives and who would bend over backwards to make us feel at home. They even celebrated our birthdays and wedding anniversary with a delicious private meal complemented with roses and singing.
Secondly the game drives. If you love elephants, this is THE place. They have their own water holes where we would sit for hours taking pictures of all the animals that came in for a drink but especially the elephants who enjoyed the fresh water pumped to the pond. For these reasons and for the sundowners beside the lake with the Masai warrior and the portable bar, for the hot bush breakfast complete with the chef and our butler, for the hospitality, for Vero our private butler, for Baraka our private guide and for the rest of the staff, this lodge is not to be missed. If we ever go back to Tanzania, we will most definitely do Chem Coem Lodge…last, and for a longer period of time.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 25 Apr 2023
Dear 589bernardm Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review of your time with us at Chem Chem. We will pass on your kind words to the team as they will be thrilled to hear it. We are incredibly fortunate for the elephants that we love and protect in our concession; and happy that you got to experience such special moments with them. We hope to welcome you back to Chem Chem again. Warm regards The Chem Chem Team
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We had a wonderful time at Chem Chem . The main areas of the Lodge and our tent/cabin was beautifully rustic and very comfortable. The watering hole outside is the focal point because the animals come to drink water all day long!! You can watch a variety of animals from any dining or seating area. My cabin was on the path to this watering hole so I also got to see the parade of animals going to and from the watering hole … from my bed!! The food was delicious !! Alfred was very attentive to our every need. I mentioned to him that I was allergic to dairy products and he provided special menus just for me!! Alex and Mercy were available to us at all times. I asked them to arrange for a Birthday desert surprise for my Husband ,Scott. The staff, including the Chef, came out with a Beautiful Cake and sang Happy Birthday to him. Jamal and Gabriel took care of our room and laundry very well. Our outstanding Guides, Whitman, Elie (Eliequam ?), and the Masai Guide, Soluqui (?), took us to see the animals … the highlight of my trip !! They are very knowledgeable and answered our questions in great detail. I especially enjoyed seeing a bachelor herd of maybe 30 Male elephants all together at the watering hole and I also enjoyed our Breakfast in Bush at the Baobab Tree!! Asanti Sana!!
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 13 Sept 2024
Thank you for your heartwarming review. We’re delighted you enjoyed the charm of Chem Chem, the wildlife, and the special care from our team. It’s wonderful to hear your husband’s birthday was a memorable celebration. Asante sana for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back soon. Warm regards, The Chem Chem Lodge team
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Chem Chem was truly extraordinary in all respects. From the moment Isaac (best guide ever) met us at the airstrip until our departure everything was flawless. Alex, the general manager at the lodge, worked tirelessly with his team to ensure that we took advantage of all Chem Chem has to offer. Game drives in their private concession were rich with wildlife and up close encounters, walks with Sequoinai, our Masai guide, were fascinating, day trips to Tarangire and Lake Manyara, sundowners at spectacular locations and a Masai vow renewal ceremony were all perfect! The camp itself is the epitome of safari luxury, food was excellent and beautifully presented. Tents so comfortable with just about every amenity you could wish for. Full laundry service included daily, cleaned to perfection. We were there for 4 nights and would have been happy to stay longer.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ChemChem Safari, General Manager at Chem Chem Lodge
Responded 25 Apr 2023
Dear 791marlas Thank you for your wonderful review of your stay with us at Chem Chem. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to Alex and the team. We are happy that you got to experience our wildlife rich concession and enjoy the surrounding areas of Tarangire and Manyara National Park. We hope to welcome you back to Chem Chem one day! Kind Regards The Chem Chem team
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Hello, is absolutly possible to do a drive in Little Chemchem because they are all at the same area just 45mns drive from one to another. You will enjoy it.
There are more places to choose from in the Tarangire National Park area.
LOCATION
TanzaniaArusha RegionTarangire National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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