Tarangire Treetops

It's hard to describe the feeling of living luxuriously amongst the treetops in spacious tented rooms wrapped around ancient African trees. At Treetops, you get to experience the bush, up close and personal, in an upmarket setting.

There are just 20 well-maintained, thatched tents on stilts with mesh-screened windows and private balconies overlooking the valley. The rooms are large and are all en-suite with double showers and complimentary bathrobes and slippers.

Main lodge

Built around a 1,000-year-old baobab tree, the main lodge has a beautiful open lounge and deck with a sparkling pool in which to cool down after a hot day out in Tarangire spotting game. A traditional Maasai boma with an open-air dining area is the perfect spot to enjoy the incredible feasts served at the lodge.

The waterhole right in front of the camp is regularly visited by an array of wildlife, including lion, leopard and elephant.

Things to do

• Tarangire National Park is a 20 km drive through natural bush with wildlife and a few Maasai cows, goats and donkeys to spot on the way. The perennial Tarangire River flows through the park and, as the only water source during the dry season from July to October, it attracts an abundance of wildlife and birdlife, creating spectacular game viewing. The landscape is lovely and varied, with grassy savannah plains, swamps, hills and spectacular baobabs. Game drives can be booked at the lodge.
• Night drives within the environs of Tarangire Treetops provide a special glimpse into the wild's nocturnal goings-on. With highly experienced guides, you're sure to be enthralled.
• Guided bush walks are also offered for those wanting to get up close and personal with the African bush. Appreciate the finer details of the fauna and flora of the area and learn about the skill of tracking.
• To learn about the life of the Maasai people, you can visit the local village, meet its people and be taught about their culture and traditions.

Getting there

By road - Tarangire Treetops is about a three-hour drive from Arusha Airport and a four-hour drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

By air - Arusha is served by two airports. Arusha Airport has daily flights from numerous local destinations and Kilimanjaro International Airport has daily flights from local, African and international airlines. 25-minute charter flights from Arusha to Kuro Airstrip can be booked. From there, it's about a three-hour game drive to Tarangire Treetops.

Our take on Tarangire Treetops

This is a good, upmarket base from which to explore Tarangire National Park. The rooms are spacious and luxurious and, with the added bonus of being up in the trees, offer spectacular views across the beautiful African bushveld. The main lodge is enchanting, built around a baobab and the waterhole in front of the camp is a real 24-hour bonus.