Tag Archives: boutique

Serena Hotels acquires two luxury boutique properties in Tanzania

Traval Wires reported that Serena Hotels has taken over the operations and management of two new luxury boutique properties in Tanzania, a move that will effectively strengthen its safari circuits and brand presence within premier leisure destinations in the East Africa region. Both properties, the Mivumo River Lodge and the Selous Wildlife Lodge are located within Africa’s largest game reserve and a proclaimed world heritage site, the Selous Game Reserve in Southern Tanzania.

Set to open on July 15th 2009, the Mivumo River Lodge comprises 12 superior rooms and 3 premium luxury suites decorated in an elegant African style of a bygone era incorporating local materials from the region. Each superior room consists of a luxurious bedroom and lounge with a private balcony offering an indoor bathroom, outdoor shower and an intimate plunge pool. To ensure privacy and exclusivity, the rooms are spread out and strategically located along the mighty Rufiji River, all with magnificent views of the breathtaking Stiegler’s gorge.

The lodge also offers full aromatherapy Spa treatments and a variety of activities including game viewing river cruises, exclusive guided walks, bush picnics, private game drives and sundowner river cruises.

To complement the Mivumo River Lodge is the Selous Wildlife Lodge, a luxury tented camp unit located on the Eastern bank of the Simbazi River, a tributary of the Rufiji, is set to open on 1st August 2009.

The camp comprises 12 tents each of which enjoys outstanding views of untouched wilderness, with scatterings of enormous trees and lush, dense vegetation. It has a dining area and guest lounge overlooking the natural watering hole which is also lit in the evenings for night game viewings. This is all complemented by an outside viewing deck and swimming pool.

This development brings to 23 the total number of hotels, resorts and lodges under the Serena Brand in East Africa.

Contact info@onseahouse.com for advise and recommendations if you want to include a stay at Serena properties during your safari before or after your stay at Onsea House in Arusha.

Best Safari House Award reveils hidden secrets

Onsea House in Arusha was nominated as only property in Tanzania for the Best Safari House Award in 2009. The final results of the Good Safari Guide Awards were announced on Friday 8th May 2009, on the first night of INDABA, Africa’s largest travel show.

The Best Safari House Award result reveiled some well hidden secrets of similar exclusive and intimate boutique properties in other Eastern and Southern African countries. It is no surprise that South Africa houses the majority of those safari houses. Shortlisted properties include the And Beyond Kwandwe Uplands Homestead, Morukuru LodgeAnd Beyond Phinda Getty HouseSingita Castleton Camp and The Manor at Samara.

The real hidden secrets and big winner in the category come however from Zambia with shortlisted properties Shiwa Ng’andu and winner of the Best Safari House Award Luangwa Safari House, a property of Zambian’s leading safari company Robin Pope Safaris, also award winning in the category Best Mobile Safari. 

Overall winner of the awards was Jack’s Camp, a property of Uncharted Africa Safari Co in Botswana who won (among others) the award of Best Safari Camp in Africa.

Contact info@onseahouse.com for any further information on Onsea House in Arusha or for any recommendation for a safari in Tanzania, Kilimanjaro hike or beach holiday on Zanzibar.

Attractive rates for 2010 launched for INDABA

Africa’s top travel show INDABA attendee numbers promise to eclipse last year’s record-setting global travel trade, media and exhibitor attendance. This is in spite of an international market subdued by the global economic crisis and the new Swine Flu virus outbreak in Mexico, according to SA Tourism.

The show, highlighting the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa opens its door from 9 until 12 May 2009 at the Durban ICC.

Onsea House, officially nominated as Best Safari House, is not personally present at the show but most Tanzanian ground safari operators, of which some are in the DEC Hall on the stands of Tanzania Tourist Board (DECC017) and Classic Safari Camps of Africa (DECB028),  represent and frequently book the intimate boutique property in Arusha and received already the new rates for 2010.

Contact info@onseahouse.com to request the rates for 2010 or for any other enquiry.

Best restaurant in Arusha

Rough Guide and Lonely Planet mentioned it already in their recent editions, but now also Tour Operators and online reviews confirm the qualities of the Onsea House restaurant.

Boutique Hotel specialist I-escape raves about the Onsea House cuisine, the Dutch Tour Operator BMS-Travellers includes a stop at the Onsea House restaurant in a 5star+ safari including 2 nights at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and the Asilia Lodges luxury camps,…

The Trip Advisor (and Facebook) application with Restaurant Reviews indicates Onsea House also as most popular and best restaurant.

Take a preview of the restaurant and the dishes at the Onsea House restaurant & food picture set. Book your table via Belgian Chef-Manager Axel on +255 787 112 498.

For general booking inquiries, contact info@onseahouse.com