Lupita is reached by international flights to Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. From there, we
recommend a chartered flight to Kipili, just a short boat ride from Lupita, or chartered helicopter
right to the island. This transfer is from 90 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the size and speed of
craft that is chartered. 

Guests of Lupita are in for a treat. Were it not for the total privacy this island affords, its pleasing warm and breezy weather, its recreational variety and unique excursions, Lupita's guest accommodations would steal the thunder. they are unusually large; the "smaller" ones are a full 1800 square feet and the larger, which are two-bedroom, two bath units perfect for a couple with children, are 2800 square feet! More important, though, is their unique design. their undulating roofs are thatched from local grasses, and the side facing the lake and views is totally open-air. thus a guest could spend all his time in his quarters, taking in the endless lake views, and have a perfectly satisfying stay.

Separations between sleeping, living and bathroom areas are half walls only, and thatched/timbered roofs soar to a lofty 25 feet, thereby adding to the sense of space. Beautiful hardwood floors are decorated with colorful area rugs, beds are extra-large kings custom-made from local dhou wood and draped with canopies that billow in the breezes. A most unusual shower is actually a waterfall, and there is a stone bathtub on the deck. For daytime cooling off, there is a plunge pool on the sunning deck.

All accommodations are furnished with interesting antiques like spice chests, old colonial writing desks and weathered boats cleverly transformed into bookcases - a mix of African and Arabic influences. Colors are yellows, tangerines, greens - a riot of happiness just like the sunny attitudes and colorful attire of the Tanzanians.

On our recent visit, luxuriating in our "room-without-walls" could have kept us more than satisfied. But husband-and-wife managers Peter and Robyn, attuned to our laid-back tendencies, nudged us to try the many things the island offers. One morning, we took a vigorous one-hour walk on the adjoining island, to a small village totally beyond the reach of any outsiders other than Lupita's guests; while the villagers were awesomely poor by standards of the civilized world, there was a serenity about them that was striking. the next day we decided to try a picnic lunch for two on a nearby beach; the staff boated us there, left us with a sumptuous picnic, and picked us up three hours and a full feast later. Before our five days on Lupita were over, had had enjoyed snorkeling in incredibly clear Lake Tanganyika waters, kayaking and canoeing, a world-class massage in the open-air spa, line-fishing at which we were all "successful", and a sunset cruise on the property's own lake cruiser.

Lupita's dining "room" (also without walls) sits at the center and highest point of the island and, like the guest accommodations, enjoys the cooling breezes days and night. With no more than 24 guests on the island at any time, dining is an intimate experience and, for those wanting a little more privacy, there are two curtained alcoves. During our recent stay Chef Tina chose fish from the lake for two of our dinners, delicious grilled Nile perch for one and a creatively seasoned Kuwe for the other. Also, as we hoped, there would be some items from the African bush, like springbok mousse. Desserts were scrumptious, including warm malave pudding, a traditional South African dish. Tina calls her style African fusion, and she uses local ingredients like coconuts and bananas, spices from Zanzibar, and zesty pepper sauces. Tina's sous-chef, a 28-year-old refugee from the Congo (just across the lake), prepared soups that were so delicious that this author made sure to get a few recipes before departing the island.

As with any intimate vacation environment, one's hosts make all the difference, more so if it's a private island. There is a sense of family among the staff at Lupita that is palpable. Setting the tone are Australian couple Peter and Robyn Doone, warm and casual and bright, and obviously dedicated to their "charges", of which there are about 20. Many of them come from local village like Kipili across the lake, and many of them had never been employed before Lupita. Jerolimo, for example, was hired for the construction of the property and, showing his competency and desire to advance, is now the very capable keeper of the island's lovely swimming pool, and its watersports director; he spends a lot of his free time reading his English dictionary. Laurenzia, that creator of Lupita's magic soups mentioned above, has worked her way up from a groundskeeper and is now a financially independent African woman, a very rare thing even today. All of these warm and trusting employees help make an already exceptional experience a memorable step into another, very different, culture.

Rates at Lupita are fully inclusive - accommodations, all three meals and afternoon tea, wines, spirits and other beverages, all water sports except scuba diving, transfers from Kipili, massage and taxes. the two-bedroom, two-bath accommodations are $2,600 daily, for two, and the single bedroom accommodations are $1,725 daily for two. Rates for the exclusive rental of the island, for up to 26 guests, are available upon request and can include pre- or post-visits to one or both of the luxury tented camps offered by the same owner.