Mpingo Ridge Lodge: enjoy show-stopping Tarangire views

Explore the wonders of Tarangire from Mpingo Ridge Lodge, a luxury tented camp famed for its hilltop vistas. The camp may be named for the hundreds of ancient Mpingo trees that cover this area, but the view is the real show-stopper. Set atop an escarpment, we overlook Tarangire River and vast plains filled with game, especially elephants. When you arrive, you walk into the main building which has sliding glass doors leading onto a veranda and your jaw just drops.

Since we’re perched on the escarpment, which can be windy, the camp has a more solid, lodge-like feel than classic tented camps. Each of the 15 tents has a whale-backed shape and is set on stilts, with wooden floors and glass doors that open onto a veranda. The decks have sunken lounges that convert into siesta beds and an outdoor bathtub where you can enjoy a soak under the stars. The rooms face east, so I like to keep the curtains open so you wake up to a golden sunrise.

Spend your days out on game drives in Tarangire, which is famous for its huge herds of elephants and tall baobab trees. There’s also a healthy population of big cats, as well as other plains game. Most guests relax between drives by our infinity pool, which is set near the lounge, bar and restaurant. I love the spa, which is built on the edge of a rock with escarpment views and an open-air bathroom hidden within the kopjes.

However you choose to spend the day, I’d recommend ending it with cocktails in our secluded sundowner spot, followed by a bush dining experience. Another special feature at Mpingo Ridge is that we offer exciting night drives, where you’ll spot nocturnal animals like porcupines and civets. You might even see a leopard in the midst of a hunt. On a clear night, you can stop and stargaze, taking in the constellations and Milky Way.