Taasa Lodge: Our full report
Taasa Lodge, previously known as Leopard's Ridge and Buffalo Luxury Camp, is set on a 60-acre hillside site ...
... inside the Loliondo Concession, five kilometres from Serengeti National Park’s Klein’s Gate. As well as being a base for game drives into the Serengeti, Leopard’s Ridge can offer night drives and walks because it’s not located within the park boundaries.We have yet to visit Taasa Lodge in its current form, but discovered Leopard’s Ridge, as it then was, in 2012 when we came across it by accident on one of our trips to Tanzania.
The 15 Suite Tents are quirky and spacious, these tents are raised on solid stone bases, and suspended under a corrugated iron roof. Bizarrely they have a proper closing door, despite being made from canvas.
Inside, colourful rugs cover the timber floors, and animal-skin cushions and brown leather sofas make the lounge area a comfortable place to relax. Up a few steps, on a low mezzanine level, is the bedroom area which is dominated by a large aluminum-frame bed. A luggage rack and some hanging space for clothes are provided. The en-suite tiled bathroom is located towards the back of the tent and has a large bathtubs separate shower, and his-and-her sinks. Hairdryers are provided – although can only be used when Leopard’s Ridge's generator is on.
The style of both the bedroom and the bathroom is a little eccentric and individual – which may not be to everyone’s taste, but does make a nice change from the usual bush-camp style.
The main communal areas are located inside a large glass-sided structure set at the top of the plot, with fantastic views down the hill and overlooking the Serengeti. At the top, the all-inclusive bar serves a good selection of South African wines, and is decorated with a few bar stools, some animal-print sofas and a few coffee tables. It’s a good place to relax before or after dinner. Uniquely, there are a few easels set up for painting should anyone feel particularly inspired by the views! A few steps lead down to the dining area laid out with individual tables. Weather permitting, tables are sometimes set up on the verandah outside.
Game viewing is at its best here in July/early August, when the wildebeest migration heads to the far north of the Serengeti and again in mid–late September/early October when the herds return to this area. The lodge is close enough to the northeast of the Serengeti National Park for visitors to use it as a base for exploring the park’s productive Lobo Kopjies area. However, Taasa's location outside the park boundaries, in the Loliondo Concession, gives visitor the opportunity to do activities such as walking and night drives. Thus the lodge gets the chance to compete with its obvious alternative, the more expensive Klein’s Camp. However, we’d observe that Klein’s unique private concession within Loliondo is substantial, very established and completely private, thus from a game-density point of view, the resident game is generally much better in Klein’s concession than elsewhere in Loliondo.
Thus activities here major on 4WD during the day into the national park, In addition, one guided walk and one night game drive – accompanied by an armed ranger and a Maasai tracker – are included per person per stay, and you can also visit a local Maasai village.
Our view
The views from Taasa Lodge are spectacular, and the chance to augment drives with walks and night drives is welcome. We don't know much about this lodge in its current form, so ask us for the latest.
Country manager: Tanzania
Geographics
- Location
- Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- If you plan to stay at Taasa Lodge then we’d suggest a visit of two or three nights, in order to explore the Serengeti’s Lobo Kopjies area, and to try some of the extra activities available in Loliondo.
- Directions
- The camp is 3 miles from Kleins Gate.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board
- Food quality
- Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- On request
- Drinks included
- Most drinks apart from champagne, premium wines and sprits are included.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- The camp welcomes children.
- Property’s age restrictions
- There is no minimum age.
- Equipment
- There is no special equipment.
- Generally recommended for children
- Dangerous game can, and does, walk through this unfenced camp; we don’t advise bringing young children – and any children would need constant parental supervision. On the plus side, the option to get out of the vehicles and visit local villages in Loliondo could make it a flexible option for families compared to somewhere inside the national park.
- Notes
- Children must be supervised by a parent at all times as the camp is not fenced.
Communications
- Communications
- There is WiFi in the office that guests can use, and a laptop which they can borrow if they don’t have their own equipment.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There is a first-aid kit at the lodge.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- They have askaris and security guards patrolling.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in each room.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Hot air ballooning
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is possible for an extra cost; it is machine washed and line dried.
- Money
- Guests can store valuables in the main office.
- Accepted payment on location
- Guests can only pay for extras in cash. They usually accept British pounds, euros, Tanzanian shillings and US dollars.
Other lodges in Serengeti Migration Area
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Olakira Camp
Comfortable, friendly and relaxed, Olakira Camp moves between the Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Sayari Camp
In the northern Serengeti, near the Mara River, luxurious Sayari Camp offers excellent wildife all year – boosted further by the wildebeest migration.
Nomad Serengeti Camp
Serengeti Safari Camp is a well-appointed tented camp that moves several times a year to follow the predicted path of the migration.
Dunia Camp
Dunia Camp is well located for the migration from December to March, and has excellent game viewing for the rest of the year.
Namiri Plains Camp
Namiri Plains is one of the best camps in the Serengeti and its remoteness ensures a fantastic wildlife experience away from the crowds.
Lamai Serengeti
Set high in the kopjes with fantastic views, Lamai Serengeti offers top service and guiding and good migration sightings from Jul-Oct.
Ubuntu Camp
Ubuntu Camp has several locations in the Serengeti, following the wildebeest migration, so it is often in a great location to see the herds.
Kati Kati Camp
Kati Kati is a small, very simple bushcamp, which is well-positioned to explore the wildlife-rich Seronera area.
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Large and economical, but not luxurious, Ndutu Safari Lodge is well located in the southern Serengeti, so book early to get space.
Serian Serengeti
Serian Serengeti is a mobile tented operation run by Alex Walker which moves between two locations following the wildebeest migration.
Klein's Camp
Klein's Camp, in a private area of the northern Serengeti, sets high standards. Activities include walks, nights drives and Maasai village visits.
Kimondo Camp
Kimondo Camp is based in the remote Lamai Wedge in the northern Serengeti from Jul–Oct, and on the southern Kusini plains from Nov–Mar.
Serengeti under Canvas
Two of the three Serengeti under Canvas camps move through the Serengeti National Park every few months to follow the wildebeest migration.
Grumeti River Camp
Grumeti River Camp offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with top service, first-rate food, expert guiding and an excellent location.
Lemala Kuria Hills
Lemala Kuria Hills is a luxury permanent camp that is ideally located for wildlife all year around, but especially during the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Mara-Ndutu
Lemala Mara-Ndutu is a semi-permanent camp that moves between the north and south of the Serengeti to witness the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Ewanjan
Lemala Ewanjan is a comfortable and stylish tented camp in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti National Park.
Lemala Nanyukie
Lemala Nanyukie is a comfortable and stylish tented camp that opened in 2018 in the central Serengeti.
Kubu Kubu
Kubu Kubu is a contemporary, tented lodge, well located in the central Seronera area of the Serengeti National Park.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
The large Lobo Wildlife Lodge has simple, functional rooms in a stunning location. It's a good base for exploring the north-eastern Serengeti.
Mbalageti Lodge
Mbalageti is a well-run lodge in a quiet part of the Serengeti's western corridor – an ideal location during the Apr-Jun migration.
Serengeti Walking Mobile
This fairly simple camp offers only walking activities, but it's very well done and combines well with more conventional camps or lodges.
Serengeti Serena
The Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is a large, hotel-style lodge and a good family-friendly base from which to explore the central Serengeti.
Kusini Camp
Kusini Camp is permanent, luxury camp located on a beautiful kopje in a quiet, wildlife-rich corner of the south-west Serengeti.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Serengeti Sopa Lodge is an international-style hotel offering good-value accommodation in the central Serengeti, with lovely views of the plains.
Migration Camp
Serengeti Migration Camp is a smart tented camp, good for the wildebeest migration from Jul–Aug, or to explore the Lobo Kopjes any time.
Sasakwa Lodge
On a hill looking over the Serengeti plains, Sasakwa Lodge is grand, luxurious safari camp, one of the most opulent properties in Tanzania.
Faru Faru Lodge
On the north bank of the Grumeti River, Faru Faru is a small, chic hideaway in this exclusive corner of the Serengeti.
Mkombe's House Lamai
Mkombe's House Lamai is a fully staffed private house in the Wogakuria Kopjes district of Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti Green Camp
Serengeti Green Camp is a comfortable camping experience, in your own private safari camp and at the heart of a great wildlife area.
Singita Mara River
Singita Mara River Tented Camp is a luxurious camp in the isolated and rewarding Lamai wedge region of the northern Serengeti.
Kirurumu Migration Camp
Kirurumu is a rustic tented camp which moves around the Serengeti twice a year to follow the wildebeest migration.
Sabora Tented Camp
Sabora Tented Camp is a smart tented camp – one of the most luxurious, professional and stylish properties to be found in Tanzania.
Olmara Camp
With just eight guest tents, including two family tents and three signature stargazer tents, Olmara is a simple, family-friendly camp with a wonderfully attentive team. The camp captures an authentic bush experience, welcoming travellers of every kind.
Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Seronera Wildlife Lodge is large hotel-style safari lodge in the heart of the Serengeti, offering good value and a great location.
Mara Mara
Mara Mara is a smart tented camp in the northern Serengeti, situated on a small hill close to the Mara River.
Nimali Mara
Nimali Mara is a luxurious safari lodge in a quiet region of the northern Serengeti with good access to the wildebeest migration.
Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is a permanent luxury camp in the northern Serengeti, with spacious and private tents with their own hot tubs.
Esirai Migration Camp
A season migration camp, with only 8 tents and 1 family tent and plenty of character. Esirai is ideally placed for excellent wildlife and enjoys a simplistic and comfortable under-canvas experience.
Four Seasons Serengeti
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the only hotel in the Serengeti offering international facilities such as a gym, spa and children’s club.
Ndutu Kati Kati
Ndutu Kati Kati is a seasonal tented camp, based in the southern Serenget from Dec-Mar, ideal for the migration as it passes through.
Lake Masek Tented Camp
Ideally located for the wildebeest migration from Dec–Apr, Lake Masek Tented Camp is a good, mid-market safari camp.
Olduvai Camp
Olduvai Camp lies between Ngorongoro and the southern Serengeti plains. It's a good base for the southern plains during the rainy season.
Mwiba Lodge
Mwiba Lodge is a luxurious property located on a private concession on the edge of the southern Serengeti.
Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Serengeti Pioneer Camp is a luxurious tented camp in the central Serengeti, styled on African explorers' camps of the early 20th century.
Mara Kati Kati
Mara Kati Kati is a simple bush camp in the northern Serengeti, based from Jul-Oct near the Mara River for the wildebeest migration.
Nimali Serengeti
Opened in July 2017, Nimali Serengeti is a smart, permanent tented camp located in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Kirawira Camp
Set high on a hill, in the Serengeti's western corridor, Kirawira is a relatively large tented camp in the Serena group.
Mbuzi Mawe
Mbuze Mawe is a comfortable tented camp in a convenient, central-north location when driving through the Serengeti.
