ZAINA LODGE : LUXURY SAFARI RESORT IN WEST AFRICA
When we talk about safari experiences in Africa, the general consensus leads us to  East and Southern Africa, and West Africa does not typically come to mind. My stay at the premier luxury safari resort in West Africa – Zaina Lodge– completely changed my view on that. The safari lodge experience at Zaina Lodge felt like something out of a dream with no shortage of ‘is this real?’ moments. I am excited to share my time there with you, so read on for my full experience.
On arrival at Zaina Lodge, I was struck by how naturally the architecture meshed with the environment around it, and pulled from building and decor practices from local communities. The lodge’s commitment to creating a calming and welcoming environment through the use of warm tones, locally made furniture, and locally sourced fabrics, all had me feeling vacation ready from my first step onto the premises. We were greeted with a welcome lime juice and assisted through our check-in procedures by members of the Zaina staff who were incredibly welcoming and by the end of our stay felt like family.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT ZAINA LODGE
Getting to Zaina Lodge :Â Zaina Lodge is nestled within the grounds of the Mole National Park in the Savannah Region of Ghana. The easiest way to get to Zaina (if traveling internationally) is flying into the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana and then catching a domestic flight to Tamale. From the Tamale airport, you can book the Zaina Transfer service so that the lodge has a car waiting for you that takes you directly to Zaina; you can catch a privately owned chauffeur service or a local taxi; or you can take local buses ‘trotro’ up until Larabanga, and then catch a taxi into Zaina from there.Â
Safety Measures : The lodge is not enclosed, which means that the wildlife that move through Mole National Park do move through the Zaina grounds as well. This is perfect for game sighting, but also means that you should not move around at night without a ranger or guard with you. Additionally, being out in a national game reserve inevitably means insects and you should pack and diligently use insect repellent so you don’t get too many bites during your stay.
Eco-Friendly and Plastic Free:Â This was one of my favorite features of Zaina Lodge, that they are 99% plastic free. The only plastics at the lodge come from bottled water which guests can buy at the lodge’s bar. Purchasing these is not necessary, however, as the lodge places, and refills, glass bottles with purified water in every room, and serves water in glass containers at every meal. Every container for soap, body wash, and shampoo is biodegradable; and the products are made locally. The lodge’s water system is powered with solar energy, another key move in their bid to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible.
ROOMS AT ZAINA LODGE
Accommodations at Zaina Lodge take the form of 25 tent chalets that line either side of the main check-in and dining area. Each of these chalets is unique in interior decor, but they all have the same exterior and floor plan. The chalets are made of durable tent material in the section of the rooms that has the bedroom area, and concrete around the bathroom area which is behind the wall that acts as a headboard for the bed.
They are each fitted with a writing desk; a decorative cupboard that carries the TV and day pillows at nighttime; an indoor shower, vanity area, and washroom area; and an outdoor shower. Behind the bed is a closet area for all of your belongings, and tucked in a corner of the bedroom, each room has this beautiful carved chest which  holds the water cooler for the glass bottles of drinking water I mentioned earlier.Â
The balcony of each chalet overlooks Mole National Park, and Zaina (amazingly) dug out two pools in direct view from the chalet balconies so guests can watch antelopes, elephants, and other animals get their morning water. I woke up to bushboeks right outside my balcony and I honestly have never experienced anything more beautiful. The tent chalet experience keeps you feeling one with nature, and the view from your bed when the sun rises in the morning is really the stuff of dreams.
The turn down service was impeccable. We would return to the room to meet everything put away, day pillows retired to the cupboard, the decorative runner stored away, and duvet turned down ready for you to slip into bed.Â
ZAINA LODGE DINING EXPERIENCE
The food at Zaina was heavenly. Every meal left my tastebuds in shock at how poignant the flavors were, and you could tell every dish was made with the freshest ingredients. Lunch and dinner were served buffet style, while breakfast consisted of the most gorgeous spread of fruit and pastries, with the option to add on eggs and other meats. There was also the option to have meals served at the pool, but I preferred to look out over Mole National Park and spot the animals coming to the Zaina dugout pools to get their water for the morning.Â
In addition to the impeccable food service, Zaina Lodge also has an in-house bar where the bartenders craft lodge exclusive cocktails and mocktails for your enjoyment. I was especially excited about the Blue Zaina, the color of which matches the color of the Zaina pool.Â
SAFARI EXPERIENCE AT ZAINA LODGE
The Safari Experience at Zaina Lodge is, of course, their main attraction; and it is a service they execute with just as much finesse as their other offerings. There are options to go either on a walking safari or on a driving safari, and our ranger advised that we take the driving safari both days. The cars leave at 7:00am and at 4:30 pm, and the walking safari leaves the premises at 6:30am. The safaris last two hours each, and the rangers guide you through different loops in the park where you are most likely to spot the animals going about their daily activities. The rides leave at sunrise and close to sunset because those times are when the animals typically look for water. These times are especially prime for elephant sighting as they are more mobile (searching for water) during those times of day.Â
The Rangers communicate with one another for information on exciting game sightings, and our guide, Mr Ousman was the kindest, most knowledgeable guide we could have asked for. He did his best to help us see elephants– which we eventually did– and answered all our questions about the animals that inhabit the park.Â
A highlight of the morning driving safari trip is the mid journey platform stop where we had tea, coffee and homemade biscuits to keep us fueled for the rest of the journey. The view from the platform was breathtaking, and we got to see some warthogs and birds from there.
In between safari rides and meals, I spent my time in the pool, looking over the park, or sprawled out on the pool chairs nursing my food baby. Everything about Zaina is designed for maximum peace and quiet, and I felt the most relaxed I have in ages. At night, the sky is so incredibly beautiful and you can actually see Saturn and Jupiter. I highly recommend just floating in the pool with the night sky above you– it felt magical.
My experience at Zaina Lodge was magical, and I cannot recommend spending a good few days there enough. You can contact Zaina Lodge with any further inquiries or to make a booking here. Let me know how your experience goes!
DISCLAIMER: I was a guest of Zaina Lodge, and as such my time with them was complimentary. All opinions, thoughts, and photographs are my own.
Best,
Amoafoa
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Pricing??
Hi, thank you for reading. This depends on the time of year, so the best way to know is via their booking engine. I have it linked in the last sentence of this post!
OMG. Love your blog. Good photos and amazing edits!!!!
thank youu! I’m such a fan of Telande too
Thanks for the information about Mole National Park. You’re the second person to do an awesome write up about the park. Manasseh Azure Awuni had his honeymoon there and he also gave a good account about his experience both at #Zaina and the safari.
Best wishes and may God bless you.
Zaina would be a beautiful place to honeymoon! Thank you, I had a very lovely time there.
This review and your images are amazing and I think it’s pretty cool that they’re 99% plastic free!
I love their commitment to sustainability. I wish more resorts would follow suit!
I love your blog
thanks so much!
Awesome review, amazing photos!
thank you!
Sooo wonderful..
And nice picture btw?
thank youuu
Love this review. The pictures are amazing.
thanks so much!