The government gave Nomad Tanzania first dibs on location when it opened up the Lamai area for permanent tourist accommodations, and boy did both parties pick right. Built into the rocks, this 12-suite property has commanding views of the sprawling, acacia-dotted plain—and it truly is built into the rocks. Rarely have I seen a place, on safari or otherwise, that meshes so seamlessly with its surroundings. No concrete was used in the construction, and not a rock removed. I loved the textured, unpolished chic of the décor, from the oatmealy cotton blankets to the shearling-draped recliners and leather car seats at the bar, the latter taken from one of those Volkwswagen Kombi vans that used to be de rigueur for tours of Africa. The place is entirely solar-powered and doesn’t keep plastic bottles in circulation, and their monkey-proof “butler windows,” which allow staff to be uber-discreet when dropping off your morning coffee, was the smartest hospitality innovation I saw all trip.

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A Superb Lodge in the Northern Serengeti

The government gave Nomad Tanzania first dibs on location when it opened up the Lamai area for permanent tourist accommodations, and boy did both parties pick right. Built into the rocks, this 12-suite property has commanding views of the sprawling, acacia-dotted plain—and it truly is built into the rocks. Rarely have I seen a place, on safari or otherwise, that meshes so seamlessly with its surroundings. No concrete was used in the construction, and not a rock removed. I loved the textured, unpolished chic of the décor, from the oatmealy cotton blankets to the shearling-draped recliners and leather car seats at the bar, the latter taken from one of those Volkwswagen Kombi vans that used to be de rigueur for tours of Africa. The place is entirely solar-powered and doesn’t keep plastic bottles in circulation, and their monkey-proof “butler windows,” which allow staff to be uber-discreet when dropping off your morning coffee, was the smartest hospitality innovation I saw all trip.

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