Founded in 2001 by the Fox family of Ruaha fame, this intimate and organic-looking beach resort has an isolated islandlike setting on the tip of a sandy spit enclosing the Mbegani Lagoon. It lies roughly 7 km from the faded but historic port of Bagamoyo, which lies 70 km north of Dar es Salaam, to which it is connected by a recently completed 70-km surfaced road. The final approach to the resort involves a short drive on dirt then a 2-km lagoon crossing in a motorized version of a traditional dhow. For travelers arriving from farther afield, an airstrip is available in Bagamoyo (charter flights only), but the drive from Dar es Salaam takes only about an hour. This camp has an idyllic setting on a sandy, palm-lined private beach that stretches for 9 km along the edge of the peninsula. The bar and dining area is a tall wooden structure with an angular makuti thatch roof and wooden furnishings, giving it a “close to nature” feel. The speciality is fresh seafood, but good vegetarian and meat options are also available. The swimming pool (shaped like a figure eight) stands above the beach in front of the main structure and is enclosed by stone paving. The main activity is inactivity – most people come here to relax on the beach after a bumpy southern-circuit safari but the lodge also offers a variety of water-based activities, ranging from snorkeling in the surrounding reefs to sundowner dhow cruises and a limited selection of nonmotorized watersports. A walking trail into the surrounding coastal scrub, best undertaken in the cool of early morning or late afternoon, offers the opportunity to look for monkeys, wild pigs, bush babies and birds. Highly recommended is a day trip to the historic slaving port of Bagamoyo, which was visited by Livingstone and Stanley in its prime and still houses several 19th-century precolonial and colonial structures. This can be combined with a visit to the brooding ruins of the medieval Swahili port Kaole. The lodge consists of 10 stone and makuti chalets spaced out along the beach, separated by the thick coastal scrub. The chalets are naturally ventilated and have en suite baths with showers, as well as attractive furnished verandas facing the sea. Most rooms have Swahili-style four-poster king beds with netting. A generator provides the electricity. This is one of the top beach getaway spots in East Africa, with a delightfully low-key and organic feel. It makes for an attractive and relatively reasonably priced post-safari alternative to the increasingly busy island of Zanzibar, which lies directly opposite it. It is easily the best option in the vicinity of Bagamoyo, and for those who enjoy stylish simplicity and seaside seclusion, it ranks among the top three lodges within a hour’s drive of central Dar es Salaam.
Facilities
: Bed and Breakfast(B&B)
: Self Catering
: Game Lodge
: Hotel
: Spa or Hydro
: Resort
: Guest House
: Apartments
: Chalets or Cottages
: Caravan and Camping
: Camping Site
Location
Province: Tanzania East Africa
Nearest City/Town: Port of Bagamoyo
Address:
Geographic coordinate (GPS):
Contact Details
Website: www.tanzaniasafaris.info – enquiries@addictedtotravel.com
Telephone: +44 1452 862288
(Or use the form below to post an enquiry)
Pictures
