Chem Chem Safaris wins big in 2025
Chem Chem Safaris Picks up World Travel Awards and Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards
Good news out of northern Tanzania. Chem Chem Safaris has picked up major recognition on two of travel’s most watched stages this year, with awards from the World Travel Awards and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. It is a proud moment for a brand that has championed a calm, unhurried way to experience the Tarangire–Manyara ecosystem, and it is nice to see “slow safari” get the spotlight it deserves.
What they won
At the World Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony in Dar es Salaam on 28 June 2025, Chem Chem Lodge was named Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Lodge 2025, and also took Tanzania’s Leading Luxury Safari Lodge 2025. These are continental and national titles judged by WTA’s voting program and announced at the annual Africa event.
A few months later, Condé Nast Traveler readers recognised Chem Chem Lodge and Little Chem Chem among the World’s Best Resorts in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards for Central and East Africa, a list that highlights the region’s top stays chosen by readers. You can see the recognition on the properties’ Condé Nast Traveler pages.
Why this matters
Awards do not make a safari, but they tell you something about consistency, service, and the feeling guests take home. Chem Chem has built that reputation around an idea that sounds simple and turns out to be rare, time used well. Days are shaped to linger, to walk, to sit with elephants at last light, to meet local communities with care, and to bring the landscape closer without rushing.
Fhe setting, in real terms
Chem Chem manages a 20,000-hectare private concession that forms a vital corridor between Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park. The area is unfenced. Animals move the way they need to. The habitats range from palm islands and acacia woodland to open plains and soda lakes, which keeps the wildlife varied and the days never quite the same.
Two award-winning styles of stay
Chem Chem Lodge sits near the shores of Lake Manyara with eight elegant tent-style suites set for privacy and long views. It is the brand’s most refined base, with generous decks, deep sofas, and that quiet, contemporary style that fades into the landscape rather than fights it. Game drives typically access Tarangire or Manyara, balanced with guided walks, birding at the lake edges, and unhurried hours in camp. The Condé Nast Traveler listing is a good snapshot if you want a sense of tone.
Little Chem Chem is the vintage tented counterpart east of Lake Burunge, under the watch of ancient baobabs. It is smaller, more old-school safari in feel, and perfectly placed for elephants and big predators that use the corridor. Expect classic dawn and late-afternoon drives, time on foot, and the kind of night sounds you remember long after you are home.
What a slow day looks like
Mornings start with first light and a gentle plan. Maybe a short bush walk to read tracks in the sandy soil and watch hornbills quarrel in a fever tree. After breakfast, a drive out toward the river lines where elephants feed in the shade. Lunch is easy, then a quiet hour with binoculars on your veranda as the heat builds. By mid-afternoon, you are back in the vehicle, crossing grassland toward a waterhole where zebras come in at a tilt. Sundowners face west. The fire picks up. Dinner is unhurried and local, with produce that reflects the season.
Community and conservation
The Chem Chem story has always been tied to restoring the Kwakuchinja corridor and working with villages around the concession. The commitment is practical and long-term, from anti-poaching support to human-wildlife coexistence, and it is one of the reasons the area feels wild again. The brand’s own overview gives a concise sense of scope and purpose.
Planning notes with NOMARA
Chem Chem works beautifully as part of a northern Tanzania route. Pair a few nights at Chem Chem Lodge with Little Chem Chem for contrast, then continue to the central or northern Serengeti depending on the month. If you want a coast finish, fold in Zanzibar for a few easy days of salt and sun. Tell us your dates and pace. We will shape a route that keeps the slow rhythm intact while lining up the logistics that make a trip feel effortless.
If you would like us to fold Chem Chem into your travel window, get in contact with us with your month and wish-list. We will tailor a few clean routing options and keep space on hold while you decide.
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Quick FAQs
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Chem Chem Lodge won Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Lodge 2025 and Tanzania’s Leading Luxury Safari Lodge 2025 at the World Travel Awards. Chem Chem Lodge and Little Chem Chem were also recognised by readers in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards for Central and East Africa.
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Between Tarangire and Lake Manyara in northern Tanzania, covering 20,000 hectares that function as a wildlife corridor.
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Chem Chem Lodge is the more contemporary, suite-style option near Lake Manyara, while Little Chem Chem is a smaller vintage tented camp near Lake Burunge and the baobab plains. Both focus on guided drives, walking, and unhurried time in camp.
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Yes. Wildlife shifts with the seasons, but the corridor and permanent water keep movement steady. Your guide will shape each day around the best areas for the week you are there.
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Absolutely. We often pair Chem Chem with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro highlands, then add a Zanzibar finish when time allows.
