No explanation is needed when Abas Aimas shares that Milele means forever in Swahili.
I had just stepped inside Singita’s Milele villa, a 10-person property outside Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Between the grand suites and an expansive infinity pool overlooking the Serengeti plains, the property’s name was clear.
“Guests come, and they want to stay here forever,” Aimas, Milele’s assistant manager, told me.
The property — complete with a cinema, gym, and wine cellar — is one of the region’s most luxurious and expensive safari properties, with a $36,400-a-night price tag.
Milele is part of the Singita network of properties across East Africa.
The villa, which opened in May 2024, sits at the top of Sasakwa Hill in the Grumeti Reserve, a private concession on the northwestern border of the Serengeti National Park.
Singita has exclusive use of the 350,000-acre area, where it operates three lodges and four private villas.
Its newest and most expensive is Milele. In peak season, a night at Milele costs $36,400. Low-season rates are $27,300 a night.
Aimas spent years managing properties around the world, but he returned to Tanzania to help open Milele.
“These are the things I dreamed about when I decided to come back to my country,” he said.
Aimas said the property’s first year has been a success so far. The typical guest stay is around five days, and travelers’ responses have been overwhelmingly positive.
“When they see it, they can’t believe it,” he said.
The lodge sits at the top of a hill overlooking grass plains, but that’s impossible to know from its entrance.
Peterlis Kibwana, my safari guide while staying at Singita’s Sabora Tented Camp, drove me to Milele. During the 40-minute drive, we spotted herds of zebras, pairs of giraffes, and wildlife at almost every turn.
Soon, a massive cliff came into view, and Kibwana pointed to its top.
“That’s Milele,” he said.
As I squinted at the property, it was clear the views from the villa were bound to be remarkable. Even miles away, I could tell that Milele was impressive in size.
As Kibwana drove up the hill to the villa’s entrance, I was surprised — Milele no longer seemed massive. Shrubbery blocked most of the structures. Instead, a warm wooden pathway led into Milele.
The entryway leads to Milele’s main draw — views of the Serengeti.
A large infinity pool sits at the edge of Milele’s property, overlooking vast plains. I imagined spending all day migrating between the pool and loungers as I watched animals below migrate to new areas.
While I enjoyed the view for just a few minutes, seeing the Grumeti Reserve from up high was an entirely new experience. I had spent the past two days viewing elephants and lions up close.
Seeing massive herds, spotting birds in midair, and playing “I Spy” with different species gave me a new perspective on the ecosystem.
The villa’s design blends communal spaces with privacy.
Milele can accommodate 10 guests at a time, although Aimas said that just a couple or two often stay at the villa.
When guests are here, Aimas estimates there are about 20 staff members on-site — from butlers and chefs to safari guides and housekeeping.
Throughout the villa, I discovered moments of privacy and community. For example, two large dining tables and a communal firepit encourage bonding, while suites are secluded from the villa’s main area.
At the center is the villa’s main living area.
Much of Milele’s focus is on connecting guests with the outdoors. While I visited on a gloomy afternoon, Aimas shared that most rooms, including the main lounge, have large sliding doors that open.
The main lounge has couches, a fireplace, a fully stocked bar, and a dining table. Step outside, and there’s another dining table and more couches.
Behind the living room is a long hallway. Here, a hidden door leads to the villa’s cinema.
From the lounge area, guests can access a 10-person cinema — if they can spot it.
The door to the cinema seamlessly blends in with the hallway, and I would’ve walked right by it if Aimas hadn’t pointed out the door.
Comfortable recliners and couches fill the dark-lit room, and a screen stretches across one wall.
The hallway continues, leading to a kitchen and a fully stocked pantry.
Aimas explained that Milele has an on-site chef to cook guests fine dining meals each night and dishes on request.
Beyond that, a stocked pantry is accessible all day, and the property also has a wine cellar, where wine tastings are hosted.
Next door is a full gym.
Milele’s private gym is a room with floor-to-ceiling glass panes. Here, guests have all-day access to ellipticals, bikes, and treadmills.
During their stay, they can also book vinyasa and yin yoga classes on the property’s outside deck.
The hallway continues to three of the villa’s five rooms.
There’s a main bedroom suite, a junior suite, a two-bedroom family suite, and a fourth suite.
Each one is individually designed and named after a Serengeti animal. Dazzle, for example, is the name of a group of zebras. Inside this suite, gray armchairs sit at the end of the bed, and a checkerboard of similar colors covers one wall.
Meanwhile, the crash suite, named after rhinos, is filled with cream and light colors.
The suites feature amenities like hidden televisions and outdoor showers.
While each room slightly varies in style and amenities, each suite has private bathrooms, automatic curtains, and sliding doors leading to outdoor decks.
Others have dressing rooms, offices, and private spa pools.
The largest, of course, is the main suite, which is secluded on the other side of the property.
Back toward the entrance of Milele, guests can access the main suite. Here, there are two interior bathrooms and two outside showers. There’s also a dressing room and an office.
Outside is a private terrace and one of the two private spa pools.
Again, large glass sliding doors lead to a private outdoor area. Here, guests can rotate between a private spa pool, loungers, couches, and tables.
Back outside, a lush pathway leads to the final suite and more of the villa’s outdoor space.
The dazzle suite is also secluded from the main area, and along the pathway, guests pass some of the villa’s outdoor areas.
Along the path is a boma and outdoor sala.
A boma is a traditional outdoor area for a firepit. At Milele, a circular stone bench surrounds a firepit, so guests can curl up around a fire each evening and stargaze. Nearby is a sala, a covered area where guests can lounge and dine outside.
Kibwana said guests often arrive via private helicopter.
While Milele is accessible by road or bush plane, Kibwana and I stopped at Singita’s helicopter pad, where some of the wealthiest guests arrive.
Milele is more than just a villa, included in the rate are daily game drives.
While it’s tempting to never leave the property, staying at Milele offers more than access to the villa.
Private game drives around the Grumeti are included in the rate, and guests can book activities like hot air balloon rides, community visits, walking safaris, and yoga classes for additional costs.
It was easy to see how you’d never want to leave Milele.
My tour lasted under an hour, and returning to my luxury lodge felt like an impossible task.
From having access to so much pristine land to enjoying meals cooked by a private chef, touring Milele took luxury to levels I’d never seen.
The post I toured one of the most expensive safari villas in Tanzania. From the pool overlooking the Serengeti to the private gym, it took luxury to levels I’d never seen. appeared first on Business Insider.
