Jabali Private House

OVERVIEW:

A very stylish private house complete with butler, chef, and guide, Jabali is ideal for two adult couples or a family with up to four children. The entire experience is tailored to the group and everything is impeccably managed for you!

Jabali Private House is owned and run by Asilia, which operates an impressive collection of properties across Tanzania, Kenya, and Zanzibar. These include sister property Jabali Ridge, a luxurious lodge situated only a few minutes’ walk away (or a short drive if at night). The accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, featuring all meals, all house drinks (except champagne), one private safari vehicle and guide, game drives, night drives, guided walks, transfers between the house and the nearest airstrip, and a laundry service. The house is closed from 16th March to 31st May each year.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The house is accessed via approximately 50 minutes’ road transfer from Msembe Airstrip. It’s set around three big baobabs, in Ruaha National Park.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT JABALI PRIVATE HOUSE:

There are two master bedrooms, with either a double or twin bed/s, and a smaller bedroom with fixed twin beds. In the master bedrooms, furnishings include bedside stands and lighting, and a writing desk, on which you’ll find an internal radio and a selection of reading material. Louvered shutter-doors surround most of the room and can be opened right up to provide lovely views into the surrounding bush! The en-suite facilities are open plan to the bedroom space, and they comprise twin stone washbasins and an indoor shower that becomes an outdoor shower once you’ve opened the shutters. The toilet is tucked away behind a closed door. Toiletries, robes, and slippers are supplied. The third bedroom, as well as being smaller than the two master bedrooms, is positioned at the back of the house. Although it lacks the views, it’s still very nicely presented and has its own en-suite washroom. All parts of the private house have Wi-Fi.

The communal spaces at Jabali Private House are accessed through grand timber doors at the back of the building, and here too there are shutters that can be opened or closed as you prefer. The indoor lounge area features a very inviting large leather sofa with plenty of cushions, as well as some chic armchairs and pouffes around a coffee table, and books full of fabulous photos. The kitchen, open plan to the lounge, includes a sizeable breakfast bar, which is often the setting for casual brunches and lunches as well as the first meal of the day. Guests are welcome to help themselves to snacks and drinks from the kitchen, although the staff are always on hand to help. Just outside, on the house’s veranda, there’s a table-and-chairs for al fresco dining, in addition to an informal lounge area with beanbags. The plunge pool adjoins the deck, offering a great spot for cooling off in between safari activities. You can also enjoy the larger infinity pool with incredible views at Jabali Ridge nearby, along with the property’s restaurant, bar, and spa.

ACTIVITIES AT JABALI PRIVATE HOUSE:

Jabali Private House offers classic safari activities, as follows:

• Expertly guided game drives

  – The second largest national park in Tanzania, Ruaha covers over 20,000 square kilometers of sprawling savanna, miombo woodlands, and abundant water sources, and it’s home to a real wealth of wildlife. Drives from the house are available during early morning and late afternoon, and they focus on looking out for the park’s highlights. These include four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – in addition to smaller predators and herbivores such as cheetah, serval, caracal, wild dog, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and a fine assortment of antelopes! As you’re accompanied on these adventures by a private guide, and in a private vehicle, you can set the pace and decide whether there are any particular species you’d like to try to see.

• Night drives

  – Guests of Jabali Private House can also enjoy searching for Ruaha’s nocturnal creatures! Head out after sunset, and you’ll have a lot of fun spotting the likes of leopard, civet, and the prickly porcupine.

• Walking safaris

  – Walks take place in the hills surrounding Jabali and it’s best to stride out during the morning, before the heat sets in. In the company of your guide, you can take time to appreciate the smaller lives of Ruaha, such as the park’s intriguing plants, insects, and birdlife.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.