Rafiki Safari Lodge

Rafiki Safari Lodge, in the Savegre Valley south of Quepos

Rafiki is a tented lodge in the Savegre Valley, surrounded by forest, on the Savegre River south of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. It suits families and nature lovers who want to sleep close to the jungle with a proper bathroom, and travellers who would rather spend the day on a river than on a sun lounger.

Why we choose it

• Safari tents with real comforts. Each tent stands on a hardwood deck with rocking chairs facing the forest, and has a modern bathroom inside.
• Easy with young children. The Family tent sleeps up to 5, and the pool has a water slide that keeps kids happy between outings.
• The river on the doorstep. The Savegre runs past the lodge, so rafting, river walks and birding start where you sleep, away from the busier Manuel Antonio road.

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Rooms and views

Every room here is a tent, built in the style of a South African safari camp. The Standard tents have two single beds plus a double, which works for a family of four or friends travelling together. Tents 1 and 2 are the Lakeview tents, and their reward is the sunset over the valley from the deck. The Family tent is the one to ask for with children, with space for up to 5.

At night the forest does the talking. Expect frogs, insects and the river, and very little else.

On the property

There is a pool with a water slide, forest trails that start right at the lodge, and the Lekker Bar restaurant for dinner after a day out. Rafiki was built as a nature retreat first, so the evenings are quiet and most guests are in bed early, ready for a morning walk. You do not need to be a birder to notice how many species pass through the trees around the tents.

Location and getting there

Rafiki sits in the Savegre Valley, south of Quepos and Manuel Antonio, a world away from the beach strip. From the lodge we can arrange rafting on the Savegre, horseback rides and hikes to the waterfalls in the area, and the beaches and national park at Manuel Antonio make an easy day trip with your driver. Read more about the Savegre River.

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