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| The joy in this picture says it all! We will miss you TAASA!! |
Our final stop and the last 4 nights can't be shared in a day to day narrative. Instead, I've broken our time at Taasa Lodge into separate parts:
1. The Lodge and the special TAASA moments
2. Our visit to the Maasai Village which many of the Taasa employees came from and still have family members there.
3. Our animal encounters while at TAASA.
4. The TAASA people that have left a lasting impact on our hearts and lives!
Let's start with #1 - TAASA Lodge, our home for the last 4 nights of our African adventure
Every location on our adventure was incredible and we thought it was the best. Little did we know the impact that TAASA lodge would have on us. This was the pinnacle of our safari adventure with Roane Travel.
There's probably a reason that it is, this lodge and camp was built and is owned by Jim Roane and his business partner. The Roane family is a key part of what makes TAASA special. Our initial inquiry call in December, 2024 was with Jim himself, and we immediately felt taken care of and could feel the love he has for this land the people that inhabit it. I had spoken with him prior to our virtual call with everyone. I had "introduced" him to the group of 5 and shared pertinent information about us, as well as what we were hoping for from this adventure. I also shared a budget that we were hoping to stay within and a desired length for our adventure. He listened and said no worries, we can do this and scheduled the call with all 5 of us for the following week. He was going to create a tentative full itinerary that would fall within our budget and share it with us on the call.
After an hour of talking with him and hearing what he thought we might like, we had no desire for any changes and said, "Yes, sign us up!"
He shared that he wanted us to end at TAASA Lodge for our last nights to create that perfect ending to our bucket list adventure and he was right! TAASA Lodge was the perfect way to end our 10 days.
From the TAASA Lodge website:
So, let's share what TAASA Lodge meant to us and the TAASA moments that we had along the way.
Our arrival day at TAASA started with saying goodbye to Siringit Serengeti Camp. We honestly believed it couldn't get any better than that!
We left with Francis, to continue through the Serengeti to the Lobo Airstrip. Along the way we had our last game drive with Francis.
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| Among the animals we saw, we saw our first hippo upright and not laying in a pool of water. |
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| We arrived at Lobo Airstrip and had to say goodbye to Francis. He was amazing and an incredible guide for our first 6 days. |
Our time with Francis, who is part of Leopard Tours in Tanzania, was part of our package with Roane Travel. He was amazing and was our "keeper" for the first 6 days. He kept us organized, got us where we needed to be and was our safety blanket through those first few days. We missed him, AND couldn't wait to experience TAASA. We had heard so much about it!
Our new driver and tracker, Ole (Driver) and Boni (tracker) met us at Lobo and we transferred our luggage, said our goodbyes to Francis and were off! We were now in a TAASA jeep and it was open air with no windows, just a roof.
The open air vehicle was awesome and they had a "spotter" seat in the front of the jeep where Boni sometimes sat. He quickly moved inside at one point when they got notice on the radio from other TAAASA jeeps that there were lions in the vicinity!
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| we had our first encounters with the Maasai fly swatters. Don found it quite interesting, and dubbed it his "Serengeti Girlfriend." LOL! |
We had a short game drive on the way to TAASA, as we exited the Serengeti National Park and began the trek to TAASA.
From the TAASA website:
The lodge was developed with a dual mission of providing a luxury safari experience while also supporting wildlife conservation and the local community. It is situated in a private concession on the northern border of the Serengeti, which allows for activities not possible in national parks, and its conservation efforts focus on protecting the environment and empowering the surrounding communities.
The lodge was developed with a dual mission of providing a luxury safari experience while also supporting wildlife conservation and the local community. It is situated in a private concession on the northern border of the Serengeti, which allows for activities not possible in national parks, and its conservation efforts focus on protecting the environment and empowering the surrounding communities.
We learned that the private concession area that TAASA leases from the government is about 1,500 square kilometers! Because they own the land, we can do off road game drives and also go out at night in the dark for evening game drives.
Ole and Boni let us know we were arriving and we saw the signs for TAASA and knew it was about to happen!
Our Arrival was similar to the other lodges and camps. We were met with the staff singing and dancing to Jambo Bwana. I recently learned that that is a Swahili song that has become a "welcome" song for tourists sung as they arrive at lodges and camps across the region.
Research I found about this song - we heard it everywhere we went!
Adaptation & Cultural Significance in Tanzania
Key lyrical themes & meaning
Why it matters & legacy
- The use of the song in Tanzania reflects its role as a kind of “welcome anthem” or tourist-friendly tune: it uses simple Swahili greetings, invites foreign guests (“wageni, mwakaribishwa” = “guests, you are welcome”), and repeats hakuna matata (“no worries”) — all of which fit the hospitality ethos aimed at visitors.
- On Kilimanjaro climbs, guides and porters sing adapted lyrics: e.g., “Kilimanjaro? Hakuna Matata! Tembea pole pole … Utafika salama …” (“Kilimanjaro? No worries! Walk slowly … You’ll arrive safely …”). This shows how the song was localized for Tanzanian context.
- The song has taken on a sort of symbolic value: it invokes East African hospitality, the Swahili language, the friendliness toward tourists — especially in Tanzania’s tourism industry. It also helps create a shared, memorable musical moment for visitors.
Key lyrical themes & meaning
- Basic greetings: Jambo, jambo bwana; habari gani? mzuri sana. (“Hello, hello sir; how are you? very good.”)
- Welcome to visitors: Wageni, mwakaribishwa (“Guests/foreigners, you are welcome”).
- References to country/culture: In the original version “Kenya yetu …” (“our Kenya …”), “Kenya nchi nzuri …” (“Kenya is a good country …”). In Tanzania versions these lines may be replaced with “Tanzania yetu” or “Kilimanjaro…”
- The refrain “hakuna matata” (“no worries/no problems”) underlines a relaxed, friendly vibe.
Why it matters & legacy
- The song is more than just pop: it functions as a cultural bridge, especially for tourists who may not speak Swahili. Through the easy lyrics they learn greetings and feel part of the local vibe.
- In Tanzania’s tourism (safari lodges, mountain treks, coastal resorts), the song’s use helps create a hospitable, fun atmosphere. People remember the tune, it becomes part of the experience.
- The fact that it has been adapted locally (for Tanzania) shows how music circulates across borders in East Africa, and how a Kenyan pop song can become embedded in Tanzanian cultural-tourist contexts.
After our welcome briefing, we were shown to our "tents." We thought it couldn't get any better than the last camp and...
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| sliding doors that have a lock - we would later find out how important that is! |
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| the interior of our tent - king size bed, full sitting area and behind the bed - full bathroom (double sink vanity, rain shower head, full toilet area) We then went to the lodge for lunch and had some much needed beverages! |
After lunch the ladies chose to stay back and relax, unpack and organize themselves until dinner. Don and I took the opportunity to have our first "open air" game drive withs Ole and Boni!
One of the highlights of the TAASA game drives is being able to go off road in their conservation area and get up close and personal with the animals!
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| Don enjoyed his 2 minutes in the spotter seat during a break. |
Our BUSH BRUNCH!
One one of our first morning game drives at TAASA, we got our first TAASA moment. Ole and Boni told us that we would be having breakfast in the bush. We though just something simple, nope...
They had the full setup!
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| picnic blankets and chairs for everyone |
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| A table popped out of the back with a basket filled to the brim! |
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| Juices, coffee, mimosas, lots of fresh fruit, breads, pastries, meats...a FULL brunch spread. |
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| the view was incredible, and it was hard to believe that we were having breakfast in Africa, amongst the animals, though we were safe. :) |
Monkeying around at the tents
Another unexpected adventure was the monkeys around the tents. There were lots of vervet monkeys; we had already encountered them at our first stop and actually fed them with our butler. (Day 1)
Our monkey encounter at TAASA happened on a day that Aunt Rose and Don chose to go on an all day game drive with Ole and Boni back into the Serengeti, to find the elusive black rhino. Mom and Debbie chose to stay back and relax. I chose to stay back because my brain was full, and I wanted some time to appreciate the lodge amenities and catch up on blogging.
So, the story begins at check in when we were told to keep our sliding doors of our tent locked at all times, even when we were on the deck. It was our arrival day, and we "heard" them, they also mentioned the monkeys will come into your tent and take things if you don't. We all sort of heard that.
Well...on my alone day, I heard crazy noises on the roof of our tent in mid-morning, lots of scratching and what sounded like scurrying. I looked outside, couldn't see anything until I saw about three little guys scurrying over the tunnel that connected Aunt Rose's tent to ours. They were adorable.
I listened some more and then decided to go outside, (I did lock the tent once I was outside) and sat in the chair. They were all over, you can see in the first pic below that he is sliding down the tent pole.
I also zoomed in and got another one just sitting on one of the brick structures on my tent deck.
I got a little uncomfortable, so quickly unlocked the tent and went back inside, and locked it from the inside. The rest of the pictures are taken through my tent. :)
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| having a party on the tent deck, inches away from me inside. |
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| plotting his next move! |
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| He truly came to the door, just screen and wood, and tried to open it (correctly!). Luckily, I remembered the info from arrival day and kept it locked. |
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| after realizing that he couldn't get in, he hopped up on the chair and hung our for a bit |
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| they hopped up and sat for a bit |
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| He settled right outside my "window" and hung out there for a bit. |
So, the monkey story continues...I met mom and Debbie for lunch at the lodge, and the first thing they told me was that they had a monkey IN their tent this morning. I laughed.....
So, they didn't heed the warning to keep your tent doors locked at all times. Mom was relaxing in bed, having just gotten her wakeup call coffee and juice. Debbie was in the bathroom area.
One of the little guys came to their door,
Pushed it open,
Ran straight over to the desk,
Jumped up,
Took the top off the gifted chocolates from Roane Travel
Took the box down to the floor,
Proceeded to sit there and eat the chocolates.
You can probably picture it, mom is screaming for Debbie..."Monkey! Monkey!"
Debbie was brushing her teeth, comes from behind the bed and sees the little guy sitting on their lower level eating their chocolates.
She shoos him away, he scurries out,
Leaves the unfinished chocolates behind,
and she locks the door from the inside.
I WISH I had a video of that adventure, and listening to them share was hysterical. It turns out that they weren't locking their doors regularly...and after that adventure, they did! LOL!
It was a night to remember, and it truly couldn't get any better...or could it?
A day at the lodge
After the monkey adventure and lunch, I spent the rest of my time before Aunt Rose and Don got back, exploring the lodge area and appreciating the views and the sounds of the animals and nature.
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| the walkway from our tent to the main lodge area |
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| The main lodge, notice the sitting area and the bar area behind it. Beyond the bar is full restaurant seating, and more bar seating. There are also public restrooms beyond the bar. |
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| Outdoor seating and an infinity pool with an incredible view! |
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| more outdoor seating in the lodge area |
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| I enjoyed dipping my toes in and just "being." I embraced the Pole Pole vibe and just had a slow afternoon at TAASA. |
Our dinner on the deck of the lodge - under the stars
Another TAASA moment that we weren't expecting was our dining tables being moved outside one of our nights for a dinner under the stars. We arrived for dinner and early cocktails to see everything outside. They had blankets on all of the outdoor seating, (it gets cold quick when the sun goes down) and delicious appetizers hanging from the trees...
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| The firepit near the pool was going and all the chairs were ready for us with blankets |
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| Lanterns provided ambient lighting as the sun went down. Those weren't there every night. |
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| Our table was ready for us...seating for 5 |
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| The stars were out and the sunset/night sky was incredible! |
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| While we were eating outside, the guards/warriors had to keep guard to make sure that there weren't any animals nearby. |
It was a night to remember, and it truly couldn't get any better...or could it?
We returned to our tents, escorted by the two guards.
Aunt Rose then danced her way down the tunnel to her tent. We had requested the family tent at TAASA so that Aunt Rose didn't feel alone for the last 4 nights. It was great; just a long tented tunnel connecting two regular tents that could be zipped and unzipped as we wanted.
Our morning encounter with lion cubs and the "warriors"
This 30 minutes was another way that you feel part of the TAASA family.
We had just gotten our 6:00 am wakeup call coffee and visit from Wilson, our butler. He came escorted by Dani and his partner, the two overnight guards. You are not allowed to walk unescorted from 6 pm to 6:30 am at TAASA.
Wilson left, and within minutes, Dani was back on our deck calling into our tent...
"Laura, Laura...come out here."
I threw on my pajama bottoms and asked what was going on?
His reply, "Lions!"
Don quickly got dressed and joined us outside.
We spent the next 30ish minutes with Dani tracking a lioness and her baby cubs, VERY close to our deck.
It was awesome!!
Our Trip to the Maasai village
This adventure will be covered in another blog post. As up to 70% of the TAASA staff comes from neighboring Maasai villages, one of the TAASA moments is to visit the villages and possibly meet the families of the employees and see where they live.
It was something none of us will forget!! Look for that blog post posted HERE when it is complete!
Our night under the stars
Our final night at TAASA and the final night of our African adventure was the icing on the cake! Something that I won't forget for a very long time!!
This is copied from my "husband appreciation" post on FB:
This was our last night in Africa, in Tanzania, at TAASA. We had spent 10 days traveling with Debbie, Aunt Rose and my mom. It was amazing and I didn't think it could get any better. 
What Don didn't know, and neither did I, was that our last night was a special dinner surprise, what Taasa calls it's special "Taasa Moments." Dinner was on the top of a mountain, close...yet away from the lodge and tents, with the sunset, and full chef, bar, and catered 3 course meal.
We pulled up with our driver, from an afternoon game drive, to the staff welcoming us with song, we enjoyed a "happy hour" with the Bush TV and a full bar set up (on the top of a mountain in the African wild!). We then were invited into the boma for dinner.
The tables were set and the table I assumed was ours, was not set for 5. Wilson told me that that was not our table, and he led Don and I away from the rest of the guests, including mom, Debbie and Aunt Rose to a table for two. It was secluded and romantic and perfect!
I cried!!
It couldn't have been a more perfect way for us to spend our last night in Africa...together!
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| the bonfire |
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| the full bar - outside |
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| All of these Maasai are employees at Taasa as trackers, guides, butlers, etc. |
Research I found about this Maasai dance:
Origin and purpose
- Rite of passage: Adumu is a central part of the Eunoto ceremony, which marks the transition of junior warriors () to senior warrior status after about 10 years of service.
- Demonstration of strength: The dance is a way for young men to display their physical strength, agility, and endurance to the community. Attracting a bride: It is also a form of courtship. The higher and more graceful a warrior jumps, the more appealing he is to potential partners.
- Formation: Warriors form a circle and take turns entering the center to jump.
- Cultural identity: Adumu is a fundamental part of Maasai cultural identity, preserving their heritage and distinct traditions.
How the dance is performed
- Formation: Warriors form a circle and take turns entering the center to jump.
- Movement: They jump vertically while keeping their bodies straight and their heels never touching the ground.
- Community participation: As a performer jumps higher, the chanting and singing of the onlookers become more intense and higher-pitched, matching the effort and excitement.
Significance and evolution
- Symbol of power: The ability to jump high demonstrates physical and mental power, which is highly valued in a society that relies on warriors for protection.
- Modern practice: While it originated from a time of training for battle, the dance is now performed at significant life events, often for both community celebrations and to entertain visitors.
Our final morning at TAASA
We had an incredible 4 nights and 5 days at TAASA Lodge.
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| Fresh, filtered water was always available in the tents for teeth brushing and drinking. |
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| Nightly turndown service always included "bush babies," hot water bottles to warm your sheets prior to bed. |
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| Our FINAL wakeup call with Wilson! :( |
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| bags are packed and ready to be transported up to the main lodge |
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| Goodbye breakfast with Wilson in the lodge. |
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| Mango juice and a TAASA Bomba - farewell Tanzania! |
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| In the Swahili language, TAASA means Let's Go! It was time to go! |
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| This is Teddy, the masseuse at TAASA. There is a whole menu of massages and treatments that you can arrange. Aunt Rose and mom each got a full body massage. Teddy comes to your room and sets up right in the tent for your treatment. |
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| One final shot with Ole and Boni, and our jeep! They are getting ready to take us to Lobo Air Strip for our bush flight back to Arusha. |
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| The joy in this picture says it all! We will miss you TAASA!! |
Goodbye from TAASA, and back into the Serengeti to get to the airstrip for our flight!
TAASA Lodge is incredible not just because of its amenities, its wildlife, or its views. It’s incredible because of how it makes you feel. If you’ve ever dreamed of a safari that blends luxury with heart, adventure with peace, and comfort with wild beauty, TAASA is where that dream becomes real.
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