Safari Real Estate Brief | What Makes a Safari Stay Exceptional
We are refining our safari stay experiences bit by bit, and we learn a lot along the way. Recently, we set up a wine program with the world’s leading sommelier, launched a cocktail program with a former bartender champion focused on refreshing safari drinks, and we are in discussions to onboard a world-class chef to further refine our menu.
We constantly seek ways to get better, with a simple goal: to serve better — to better serve our guests and customers.
Here is what I believe makes a safari stay exceptional.
Intention
People can usually feel quite quickly what a place stands for.
The core intention we want to instill is authenticity. I am even considering renaming this blog A Safari Toward Authenticity.
Africa offers a raw, untamed form of authenticity, through wildlife and through people. African people are genuine. Wildlife certainly doesn’t wear masks. A lion does lion things. A zebra does zebra things. Nothing is confused.
We aim to harness this energy, with the hope that guests rediscover more of their true selves while staying with us.
Attitude
We speak about this a lot internally, and our value system is built around it. Our three core values are love, respect, and an open mind.
Love inspires us to seek natural ways for guests to feel welcomed and understood.
Respect means bringing your best self and most refined skills to guests and colleagues. It also means doing what you say you will do, so people can rely on you.
An open mind is about learning and being able to receive critique and feedback that is intended to improve our work.
I believe that if a person has the right attitude, everything else is teachable. A simple smile and genuine kindness can go a long way.
Confident Service
Ultimately, we want our team members to feel on equal footing with our guests, everyone simply having their role.
The goal is a team that feels so competent and confident in what they do that guests can relax and trust the process. Whether it’s morning coffee, evening wine, or security, confidence comes from knowing what is best and having the ability to deliver it. In other words, confidence is competence.
We start by writing expectations clearly in our SOPs, regularly revisiting them, and combining this with dedicated training programs. For example, Raimonds Tomsons, the world’s leading sommelier, helped us completely upgrade our wine program.
We also aim for intuitive service, service that anticipates guest wishes before they are even articulated.
Location
We are in the business of creating spaces where people can reconnect with themselves, and location plays a crucial role in that.
We look for places that have something distinctive: a view that goes upward or downward across the terrain, a river, an open plain, a large rock, or even a single, beautiful flat-top tree. There needs to be something that anchors the place visually and emotionally.
At the same time, we prefer not to be too far from main road arteries, for logistical efficiency and to preserve guests’ time.
Design
Overall design, and interior design in particular, makes a massive difference.
In the safari real estate business, especially in luxury tented camps, furniture and décor are among the few elements where you can truly differentiate. This is one area where we believe we stand out in Tanzania.
We are also intentional about tent design. Large roof overhangs protect from sun and rain. Window placement is used to frame views while preserving privacy. For example, we design tents without windows on one side so that, when placed next to each other, guests cannot see into neighboring units.
Food and Beverages
Safari hospitality often struggles here, which is why we place so much emphasis on it.
It starts with investing in a well-equipped, clean, and organized kitchen, setting chefs up for success. We are moving toward a portfolio-wide menu, selecting our best dishes and refining them over time. Too much variety makes it harder to achieve repetition, consistency, and excellence. A smaller, refined menu usually delivers better results.
Beverages are just as important. We have introduced a selection of leading African wines with the help of Raimonds Tomsons, paired with proper wine storage, especially critical in safari environments that are hot and humid.
Looking back, what defines an exceptional safari stay isn’t a single feature or moment. It’s the absence of friction.
When service feels confident, spaces feel considered, food supports the day, and the environment is allowed to lead, guests relax into the experience.
That is the direction we keep refining toward, staying honest about what works, open to learning, and focused on creating places that feel real and authentic.
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We’re growing. For those interested in safari real estate investing, send a message with “Safari Real Estate.”
