Conserve Safari Tarangire | Best Luxury Tented Camp of 2025

This week, our Tarangire property was named Best Luxury Tented Camp of 2025.

The recognition came from the Global Hospitality and Luxury Awards.

Underneath it sits a chain of principles, design decisions, operating systems and daily habits that compound over many months.

I do not know exactly what criteria was used, but here are the core elements that we have been focusing on.

1. Design that fits the Tarangire landscape

Tarangire has a very distinct character, with ancient baobabs, warm colours, wide hilly views, and large herds of elephants alongside all the other safari wildlife.

We kept our design honest to that landscape and expressed it through a boho-inspired style built around natural materials. We could not have done this without our outstanding design partners at Kisasa, whose craftsmanship shaped much of the camp’s character.

Our approach included:

• elevated teak platforms

• light canvas structures with large window doors and strong privacy in mind

• warm beige and sand tones

• locally sourced natural materials

• unobstructed views toward the river valley

The goal was to create a camp that feels like it naturally belongs in Tarangire, not one that tries to dominate it.

2. Local sourcing as a core principle

From the start, we committed to building Tarangire with materials and craftsmanship sourced entirely within Tanzania.
Every element from decks, tents, furniture, fabrics, décor, lighting, bedding and even mattresses was produced locally.

Teak furniture came from workshops in Arusha. Décor and soft furnishings were curated through local artisans. 

Local sourcing gives the camp its authenticity, strengthens regional supply chains, and keeps the aesthetic grounded in place. This also helped to manage delivery risks as supply chains were short.

3. Employment rooted in Tanzania

Our Tarangire camp is operated by a 100% Tanzanian team.
From management to housekeeping, from chefs to guides, every role is held by local professionals.

We built the team by blending experienced hospitality staff with our internship program, which creates a pathway for motivated Tanzanian youth to learn, grow and step into full-time roles.

People from the surrounding villages are an essential part of this core team.

We wanted to keep the talent local, develop skills from within, and ensure the economic impact of our presence flows directly into the communities around us.

4. We invest absurd amount of energy in operational excellence

Building a camp is one thing, but running it well year after year is something completely different.
Most of it is repetitive, unglamorous and frankly quite boring, but it’s exactly how it should be. I do not like surprises in this compartment. :)

At Tarangire, we built this consistency through clear standard operating procedures, a steady meeting cadence, and simple training materials that keep everyone aligned.

We run regular audits across housekeeping, kitchen, bar, safety and stock control to keep standards tight.
Where it makes sense, we digitised the work, MyStock for inventory, POS for service, and structured reporting for daily operations.

These systems stay in the background, but they are what allow the camp to run predictably, calmly and well.

5. Service choreography and a kitchen that is outstanding

We organise the full guest journey. How people are welcomed, moved around the camp and eventually bid farewell.
The flow is kept clear and calm so guests immediately feel at ease.

But the part that surprises most people is the food.
Our kitchen team in Tarangire cooks with real care.

They work with local ingredients and a simple approach, but the result is consistently excellent,  something guests point out again and again.

These are the areas we’ve focused on since day one — design that belongs to the landscape, local sourcing, a fully Tanzanian team, strong operating systems and a food experience guests don’t expect.

If we keep showing up with the same discipline, Tarangire will continue to grow stronger with every season.

If you would like to explore investment opportunities or introduce aligned partners, feel free to reach out.