Chem Chem and Legendary Expeditions become Auberge Safari

Legendary Expeditions and Chem Chem Safari have partnered with Auberge Collection to launch a visionary new brand: Auberge Safari — bringing together nine exceptional properties across northern Tanzania’s most extraordinary landscapes under one distinctive identity.

For clients and guests, the experience on the ground remains unchanged: the same exceptional guides, warm hospitality, seamless service, and deeply immersive safari experiences they have come to know and trust. For you, it means the product and relationships you already value are now aligned with one of the world’s most recognised names in luxury hospitality.

Comprising nine extraordinary properties across Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife locales, Auberge Safari unites two of East Africa’s most respected conservation-led safari operators, Legendary Expeditions and Chem Chem Safari, under one umbrella, offering the opportunity to book an unrivalled journey across Tanzania that connects a constellation of high-end safari camps and lodges.

Each of the properties joins Auberge Safari with its own distinct character intact—its experiences shaped by legacy, locale, culture and connection—while honouring Auberge Collection’s signature approach to soulful, place-driven hospitality.

Auberge Safari

From the sweeping savannahs of the Serengeti to the tranquil shores of Lake Manyara, Auberge Safari charts an intentional course across Tanzania’s northern circuit—offering extraordinary journeys rooted in unparalleled access, exclusivity and experiences unavailable anywhere else. 

Each expertly curated expedition is woven with the essence of true, wild and free: private guides and vehicles; the Great Migration at every stage of its journey; intimate encounters with Big Tusker elephants; and meaningful connections with the living traditions of the Maasai, Barabaig, Hadzabe and Datoga people. World-class kitchens celebrate seasonality and flavor, wellbeing unfolds as an extension of the wild, and every moment is shaped around you—all underpinned by the intuitive, gracious service for which Auberge Collection is renowned.

"This partnership is about reach, not change. Auberge's place-driven approach makes it a natural match for what Chem Chem has always stood for. What it offers is a rare global resonance — bringing our philosophy of Slow Safari to those travellers who seek not simply to visit the wild, but to be changed by it. We remain deeply committed to the long-term work we have always believed in — protecting the Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor, empowering communities, and safeguarding a landscape that has connected people and wildlife for generations. Our approach, our stewardship, the way we operate and how we live our purpose on the ground, all continue with the same unwavering dedication and commitment as always.” Fabia Bausch, Co-Founder, Chem Chem Safari

“Legendary Expeditions has long set the standard for conservation-driven safari experiences, and Auberge Collection brings an equally strong commitment to place and purpose,” said Dan Friedkin, Chairman of Auberge Collection and owner of Legendary Expeditions. “Together, they represent a meaningful evolution—one that strengthens our ability to protect these landscapes while offering guests a more connected way to explore them.”

The one-of-a-kind camps and lodges defining the Auberge Safari experience include:

Mwiba Lodge, Auberge Safari

Greater Mwiba Protected Wildlife Area

Elevated atop an ancient granite outcrop in the heart of an exclusive-use reserve, Mwiba Lodge, Auberge Safari weaves wilderness and culture into a seamless whole, where foraging walks with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers and visits to the Datoga tribe sit alongside game drives and bush dinners. Moments of stillness define the lodge, where ten tented suites—each a refuge of quiet luxury—open onto private decks above sweeping African vistas.

Mwiba Plains, Auberge Safari

Greater Mwiba Protected Wildlife Area

Set amid the emerald grasslands of an exclusive-use reserve, Mwiba Plains, Auberge Safari offers rare access to the Great Migration’s ancient calving grounds—where thousands of newborn calves take their first steps daily and predator calls echo through the night. Here, seven tented rooms and two family suites reimagine the classic explorer-style camp through a lens of contemporary refinement.

Mila, Auberge Safari

Nyasirori, Western Serengeti

Unapologetically wild, Mila, Auberge Safari gazes over the golden plains of the Serengeti’s western corridor—lion country, where game drives, walking safaris, sundowners in the savannah and dinners beneath star-topped skies honor safari’s timeless traditions. Intimate by design, the camp’s five tented rooms and family suite blend rugged charm with modern comfort.

Nyasi, Auberge Safari

Lamai, Northern Serengeti

Positioned in the secluded Lamai Wedge, at the beating heart of the Great Migration’s dramatic river crossings, Nyasi, Auberge Safari balances adrenaline-fueled days—watching wildebeest charge through crocodile-infested waters—with tranquil evenings around the campfire. Scattered among the acacias, seven tented rooms and two family suites offer understated elegance drawn from their wild surroundings.

Songa, Auberge Safari

Kogatende, Northern Serengeti 

Located close to the Mara River’s most well-trodden crossing points, Songa, Auberge Safari offers seamless access to the Great Migration’s exhilarating charges across crocodile-infested waters. Days tracing herds along the riverbank give way to hearty dinners and restful nights—the camp’s eight explorer-style tented rooms and family suite answering every call for comfort as the sounds of the wild usher in a deep sleep.

Legendary Lodge, Auberge Safari

Arusha

A storied sanctuary set within a century-old working coffee estate on Arusha’s edge, Legendary Lodge, Auberge Safari is the perfect setting to prepare for—or reflect upon—a safari. Its twelve tranquil cottages unfurl amid tropical gardens, where a serene spa, pool and activities for all ages offer the ideal conditions for unhurried arrivals and gentle farewells.

Chem Chem Lodge, Auberge Safari

Burunge Wildlife Management Area

The birthplace of the Slow Safari, Chem Chem Lodge, Auberge Safari reshapes the traditional safari into an experience rooted in intention—where wildlife encounters unfold without urgency and signature activities attune to nature’s rhythms. Set within a palm-dotted oasis, the lodge’s seven tented suites and family unit offer refinement and privacy in equal measure. Here, presence itself becomes the experience.

Little Chem Chem, Auberge Safari

Burunge Wildlife Management Area

Known as the sunrise camp, Little Chem Chem, Auberge Safari opens onto vast savannahs, where Big Tusker elephants, buffalo herds and rare tree-climbing lions roam. The wilderness here is shared by few, and a profound sense of seclusion prevails among the camp’s five tented rooms and family suite. Here, morning coffee arrives to a chorus of birds, outdoor showers open beneath the stars, and the unhurried rhythm of safari’s golden age endures.

Forest Chem Chem, Auberge Safari

Burunge Wildlife Management Area

A wild refuge reserved for exclusive use, Forest Chem Chem, Auberge Safari unfolds beneath a canopy bursting with birdlife. Comprising just three vintage-style tented rooms and a family unit, the camp’s remoteness fosters deep connection—to nature, to each other, and to oneself. Here, days unfold with effortless ease and game drives reveal the wonders of the wilderness: tree-climbing lions, Big Tusker elephants and elusive leopards.

A Foundation of Conservation

At the heart of Auberge Safari lies an unwavering commitment to the landscapes and communities that make these experiences possible. Every stay directly supports two independently operating conservation organizations—the Friedkin Conservation Fund, preserving the Greater Mwiba Protected Wildlife Area and securing the Great Migration’s passage, and the Chem Chem Association, protecting the Burunge Wildlife Management Area, home to a vital wildlife corridor linking the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks. Each works closely with local communities to foster sustainable livelihoods and ensure these wild spaces thrive for generations to come.

The Soul of the Place: An African Milestone

The launch of Auberge Safari marks the next chapter in the brand’s evolution, as Auberge Collection establishes its first presence on the African continent. United by the belief that true luxury is found in the soul of the place, this partnership allows Auberge Collection to join these respected pioneers in creating one-of-a-kind sanctuaries that honor the integrity of the wild.

For more information on Auberge Safari and the individual lodges and camps, please visit auberge.com.

About Auberge Safari

Auberge Safari is a curated collection of nine highly acclaimed lodges and camps across Tanzania’s most iconic wilderness areas—from the Serengeti National Park to the exclusive-use Greater Mwiba Protected Wildlife Area and Burunge Wildlife Management Area, which together span approximately 600,000 acres. At its heart is a deep commitment to conserving the ecosystems it operates in and empowering local communities. 

Each Auberge Safari property offers access to exceptional experiences—from the Great Migration at all stages of its journey and some of the best elephant viewing in Africa to immersive interactions with local cultures—all underpinned by the intuitive service and crafted luxury of Auberge Collection.

For more information: auberge.com/safari.