Chem Chem Safaris

tarangire, tanzania

A lodge, a camp and an exclusive forest retreat in a Tanzanian wilderness.

Here, the concept of Slow Safari invites you to be present and truly appreciate the pace and power of nature.

MORE THAN A SAFARI…A LIFESTYLE

With 20 000 hectares (55 000 acres) of untainted African bush, the Chem Chem – Burunge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) protects an invaluable migration corridor between the ancient landscape of Tarangire National Park and the tranquil waters of Lake Manyara National Park. It is the perfect place to connect with the rolling wilderness around you and to immerse yourself in an authentic Tanzanian wilderness experience. The concept of a Slow Safari was born at Chem Chem. Key to this is the ethos of a safari as a tangible, sensual experience beyond the confines of a vehicle, where guests can see, feel, touch and smell the African bush for themselves.

Be it Chem Chem Lodge, Little Chem Chem or Forest Chem Chem – or combination thereof – you will feel your senses awakening to the ageless rhythms of Africa. Here, it’s all about choice: choose to do everything, choose to do nothing, and feel stress slip away. The reasons are limitless…

Whether on foot, in a game-viewing vehicle, or relaxing at the Lodge or Camps, this extraordinary location offers an exceptional experience. Enjoy it in the silence of your vintage tent, or on the thrill of a bush walk with a Maasai warrior. Let it touch you on a cultural visit where you can make a difference in the lives of others, and sense it in the stillness of a lakeside sundowner that eases you into a bushveld night of a million stars.

Fabia Bausch and Nicolas Negre manage the Chem Chem – Burunge Wildlife Management Area, which is the embodiment of their deep passion for Africa and its natural heritage.

FAST FACTS

RATES

Chem Chem Lodge:
US$ 1 190  – US$ 1 655
per person per night

Little Chem Chem:
US$ 1 155  – US$ 1 590
per person per night

Forest Chem Chem:
US$ 6 925 – US$ 9 520 
per camp per night, for the first 6 guests.

ACCESS

Fly:
Daily flights to Chem Chem Airstrip followed by a 10 min drive to Chem Chem Lodge or 45 min to Forest Chem Chem/ Little Chem Chem.

Drive: 
Chem Chem is easily accessed by road from Arusha Airport and Manyara Airstrip (both 2 hours), or a 3½-hour drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport. 

CHILDREN

Chem Chem Lodge:
4 years+

Little Chem Chem:
8 years+

Forest Chem Chem
All ages

Considered as one of the best family safari experiences in Tanzania. Chem Chem is very well geared to younger travellers and ideal for families of all sizes.  Family tents available at Lodge and Little Chem Chem.

Classic Portfolio Since 1993

What we love

Classic Portfolio Since 1993

SLOW SAFARI

Built around the ethos of a tangible, restorative experience, Chem Chem awakens the soul through the delight and discovery of an ancient landscape. 

SAFARI CHIC

Choose from a stylish, secluded lodge, a vintage tented camp, or an exclusive-use retreat in an enchanting African forest for your Chem Chem experience. 

BIG TUSKERS

Chem Chem is a safe haven for big tuskers, offering exceptional viewings. Over time, trust and respect are built between human and wild animal. 

TAILORED SAFARI

Each booking has a private vehicle and guide to ensure flexibility for every guest. Meals are not communal and your time is yours to do as you wish. 

Chem Chem Safaris

The impact of your stay

Chem Chem Philanthropy & Safaris cares passionately about Tanzania’s economic and social development and is proud to contribute to local community development efforts through the Chem Chem Association

Every stay contributes through:

  • Paying US$ 195 per person per night (under 15 years US$ 170) Conservation & Community Fees.
  • Including an optional US$ 75 per booking directly to the Chem Chem Association.
  • Monies from the Conservation & Community Fees directly contribute to concession fees, which protect the reserve from alternative land usage, including hunting.
  • The fees also support the Wildlife Corridor Project between Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park. This is a crucial project because of the ever-increasing human impact on the natural movement of wildlife in the area.
  • Tourism revenue supports the Chem Chem Association and their mission of ‘protecting endangered wildlife and empowering local communities’. 
  • This way, every guest indirectly supports community education, human-wildlife conflict resolution, anti-poaching patrols, economic empowerment initiatives, the Chem Chem Soccer league (a successful conservation initiative), and the health and wellbeing of people living with disabilities in the community. 
  • Between safari experiences, guests may also get involved by visiting the local school, taking part in a friendly community football match, taking a guided tour through the village lands, and just taking the time to learn about someone else’s life. 

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Classic Portfolio Since 1993

FACTS

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Chem Chem Safaris
Lodge & Camps

Within a wildlife corridor

EDGE OF LAKE MANYARA

Chem Chem Lodge

This sophisticated oasis has a calm energy that embodies the slow safari. An organic palette of colour and texture reflects the natural beauty beyond, and handcrafted furniture and artworks adorn the spacious main area and airy suites. It is equally a camp for celebrating the richness of Maasai culture, whether you choose to run with warriors or explore local village life.

Each of the 8 tented suites are situated at least 80 metres apart, ensuring total privacy with a stunning lake view. A communal pool is hidden beneath the trees to cool off from the midday sun, and the Chem Chem Spa offers the ultimate in relaxation. 

Chem Chem Lodge is the perfect setting from which to explore on foot, slow down and indulge in a sensual African safari.
 
SEASONALITY: Closed April to mid May.
 

CHILDREN: 4+ years

Chem Chem Lodge

7 tented suites &
1 family tent

from US$ 1 190 per person per night
All meals and house drinks
Private guide and safari vehicle
Morning and afternoon game drives
Guided walks, evening sundowners, morning sunrise hill climb, cultural visits with the Masaai
Game drive to Tarangire National Park in an open vehicle (excludes park fee)
Tracking with the Maasai and Baobab bush breakfast
Swimming Pool
WiFi

OVERLOOKING LAKE BURUNGE

Little Chem Chem

The camp overlooks the freshwater Lake Burunge with the Babati mountain range as a magnificent backdrop on the south-west. The north-east faces the hills of Tarangire in the distance. Known as the sunrise camp, Little Chem Chem is home to early morning displays of glory.

Set on the earth, the 6 vintage tents have a large bedroom with rocking chair and study desk, a vanity area with a dressing room, and an en-suite bathroom with running hot water shower and flushing toilet.

The atmosphere at Little Chem Chem is welcoming, elegant and oozes safari authenticity. Lions roam around and call each other at night; stately elephants move between waterholes; cheetahs hunt on the plains; elusive leopards can be found; and eland and lesser kudu can be seen in the more dense woods. And wherever there is water, the bird life is abundant and colourful.

SEASONALITY: Closed April and May.

CHILDREN: 8+ years

Little Chem Chem

5 tented suites &
1 family tent

from US$ 1 155 per person per night
All meals and house drinks
Private guide and safari vehicle
Morning and afternoon game drives
Guided walks, evening sundowners, morning sunrise hill climb, cultural visits with the Masaai
Game drive to Tarangire National Park (excludes park fee)
Night game drives
WiFi

BURUNGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

Forest Chem Chem

‘Kuungana’ means ‘to connect’ in Swahili, and this is the essence of Forest Chem Chem. The camp has been designed to bring people together over the warmth of the crackling campfire. It is a place for families and friends to connect with each other, with the bush, with Africa and with themselves.

Here, guests will discover even more opportunities to explore the game-rich areas bordering Tarangire National Park and Lake Burunge. Forest Chem Chem is only available on an exclusive use basis with 3 vintage tents and 1 family tent. The camp comfortably sleeps up to 8 adults and 2 children. 

With exclusivity comes complete freedom! Forest Chem Chem is the opportunity to experience a bush camp of your own. Here, in the heart of Tanzania, are some of the most densely populated wildlife areas the country has to offer. This is due to the proximity to not one, but two national parks, and the resurrection of an ancient migratory corridor through this land as a result of the conservation work by the Chem Chem Association.

SEASONALITY: Closed April and May

CHILDREN: All ages

Forest Chem Chem

3 tented suites &
1 family tent

from US$ 6 925 per camp per night
All meals and house drinks
Private guide and safari vehicle
Morning and afternoon game drives
Guided walks, evening sundowners, morning sunrise hill climb, cultural visits with the Masaai
Game drive to Tarangire National Park (excludes park fee)
Night game drives
Swimming Pool
WiFi

Chem Chem Safaris
FEATURED OFFER

Chem Chem Slow Safari

Stay 5+ nights at Chem Chem Lodge, Little Chem Chem or Forest Chem Chem and enjoy 20% off your stay.

A daily 1-hour massage per person is included at Chem Chem and Little Chem Chem.

VALID: 1 Mar – 14 Jun & 1 Sep – 19 Dec 2024

Chem Chem Safaris
featured journey

Connected Adventure

Leave your expectations behind and pack only a sense of adventure. Immerse into safari life where you taste local flavours, migrate with the herds, interact with nature and identify big bull elephants. This journey starts and ends in Kilimanjaro.

Chem Chem Safaris
location

Getting there

FLY

From Arusha, fly to Chem Chem Airstrip, then take a short 10 min drive to Chem Chem Lodge or 45 min drive to Forest Chem Chem/ Little Chem Chem.

From the Serengeti or Ngorongoro, fly into the Lake Manyara Airstrip, followed by a 2-hour road transfer in a closed vehicle. 

Private charters and scheduled flights are also available to the new Chem Chem Airstrip from other safari airstrips and airports.  Chem Chem Lodge is then a 10-min road transfer away, and Little and Forest Chem Chem are a 40-min transfer. 

location

Getting to Chem Chem Lodge

FLY

Regional airports for scheduled internal flights: Arusha, Manyara and Kuro

Chem Chem Airstrip: serviced on scheduled routes by Coastal Aviation and Auric Air. The strip is a 10 minute drive from Chem Chem Lodge. 

DRIVE

From Arusha Airport: 2 hours

From Lake Manyara Airport: 2 hours

From Kuro Airstrip: 3.5-5 hour game drive through Tarangire National Park.

location

Getting to Little Chem Chem

FLY

Regional airports for scheduled internal flights: Arusha, Manyara and Kuro

Chem Chem Airstrip: serviced on scheduled routes by Coastal Aviation and Auric Air. The strip is a 45 minute drive from Little Chem Chem. 

DRIVE

From Arusha Airport: 2 hours

From Lake Manyara Airport: 2 hours

From Kuro Airstrip: 2.5-4 hour game drive through Tarangire National Park.

location

Getting to Forest Chem Chem

FLY

Regional airports for scheduled internal flights: Arusha, Manyara and Kuro

Private airstrip:  Chem Chem Airstrip.Chem Chem Airstrip: serviced on scheduled routes by Coastal Aviation and Auric Air. The strip is a 45 minute drive from Forest Chem Chem. 

DRIVE

From Arusha Airport: 2 hours

From Lake Manyara Airport: 2 hours

From Kuro Airstrip: 2.5-4 hour game drive through Tarangire National Park.

Availability

Contact

Email:
reservations@chemchemsafari.co.tz

Tel:
+27 21 876 2368

Emergency:
+255 699 688 225
+255 689 119 349
+255 689 104 232 (Chem Chem Lodge)

+255 699 759 279
+255 682 564 293 (Little Chem Chem & Forest Chem Chem)

Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm. Based in Franschhoek.