Lupita Island Resort and Spa: Private Island on Lake Tanganyika
by Texas_Monica
We came here in June 2011 at the end of a safari vacation through Exclusive Resorts. After several days in the Serengeti, this resort was a welcome respite, especially the hot baths and showers.
It was a three-hour flight from Seronera to the airstrip at Kipili, stopping once to refuel in Tabora. Once we landed at Kipili, we had a ten-minute walk to the shore, then a ten-minute boat ride across to the island.
The property has only 13 cottages so it will never feel crowded, and the staff were very friendly and attentive. The entire property including the cottages is open-air so you can maximize your exposure to fabulous views and balmy breezes. The food was also excellent, ranging from traditional African dishes to more continental fare. Before dinner, as usual, the campfire was the gathering point of choice, and a terrific vantage from which to view the spectacular night sky full of stars while sipping Amarula.
Remote, private and exclusive, the resort at Lupita Island was truly amazing. All open-air African style with a bar, dining room, pool area, campfire, spa, gym, game room and decks for taking in the beautiful lake views. Each area was decorated with local African art and furniture, and there were many places to lounge and lots of big coffee table books to peruse.
Our room… wow. We were three and so we scored one of the two large suites. 2400 square feet, two bedrooms, completely open-air without even a front door to bother with! We would awaken in the morning to a magnificent sunrise over the lake, then doze off again to the sound of singing birds.
Activities included snorkeling, water skiing, kayaking, lounging on the beach or by the pool, taking a sundowner's cruise on the lake, hiking, etc. I took in a massage at the spa perched high on the island with an amazing view. There is a game room with pool, ping pong, darts, and foosball. We were able to visit a local fishing village and interact with the people there; others chose to take a helicopter tour of nearby Kalambo Falls.