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When Nicolas Negre and Fabia Bausch first dreamt of building a safari camp they wanted their guests to experience something of a ‘Slow Safari’ – a place to see, feel and smell Africa in all its glorious Technicolour. Fast forward to 2011, when Chem Chem first opened its doors, and that’s exactly what they’ve created. The sophisticated, eco-luxury camp sits in a 50,000 acre concession just outside Tarangire National Park meaning guests can do pretty much as they please. So if it’s long, ambling walks in the bush, massages at sunset and champagne with your (mind blowing) game viewing that you want, don’t miss Chem Chem off your bucket list.
From $1,240 person/night
The slow, sensual pace of life; the supremely stylish tents; the cool swimming pool shaded by the trees; the elegant Chem Chem spa. We could go on….
Pack your trainers and head out on a run with the local Maasai. Light-footed and elegant, they make the perfect training partners and trotting through the bush at sunrise is an incredible experience, even if you’re not worried about keeping fit.
It’s not really an issue but just a note that Chem Chem isn’t in a national park and is instead located in a Wildlife Management Area. To reach Tarangire and Lake Manyara, you’ll hop in a vehicle and drive.
Straight off the pages of Italian Vogue, the stunning main area is safari chic down to the last perfectly placed vintage throw. We’re talking sumptuously squashy leather armchairs with jaw dropping views to the water-hole and escarpment, coffee-table tomes atop distressed wooden furniture and effortlessly fabulous artwork on the stone walls. Next door is the enormous dining table where Michelin-star (really!) meals are served with aplomb. At the swimming pool, a handful of sun loungers rest under billowing fabrics, just calling out for a G&T.
Earthy, sophisticated and totally private, the eight canvas, wood and stone rooms are splendidly simple with brass fans, linen sheets and vintage writing desks adding the perfect finishing touches. Not just a bed in a tent, you also get a dressing room, reading corner and private patio with chaise long for the ultimate ‘Out of Africa’ moment. And the delights don’t stop when it comes to the bathrooms, with indoor and outdoor showers and egg-shaped baths to sink into at the end of the day. Other amenities include air-con, coffee stations and a minibar.
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Activities at Chem Chem are, quite simply, unforgettable. How about exploring the private concession on foot, venturing into Tarangire or Lake Manyara in open 4 x 4s, walking with the Maasai or discovering the conservation work Nicolas & Fabia are actively involved in? Then, when you think it’s all over, how about a helicopter or balloon flight over the rolling savannah and a private champagne dinner for two… This is romance, adventure and a classic African safari all rolled into one wonderfully original ball.
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Animals are plentiful in the Tarangire National Park, a landscape of famous upside down trees (baobabs), acacia woodlands, riverine forest and swamps. If you want to see elephants, this is the best place to go. Large herds roam the plains, among zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, tree climbing lions and the occasional leopard. A real treat is the birding, with more than 500 species recorded across the park. This is a true wildlife wonderland.