Accommodation

Choosing the right accommodation in Serengeti is an essential part of planning your safari. From luxurious lodges offering breathtaking views and gourmet dining to mobile camps that move with the Great Migration, there’s something for every traveler. The accommodation you choose will significantly shape your experience, whether you’re looking for ultimate comfort or an immersive, close-to-nature adventure. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the various types of accommodations in the Serengeti, categorized by location, type, and experience.

1. Types of Accommodation in the Serengeti

Luxury Lodges

Luxury lodges in the Serengeti are designed to offer high-end amenities and services in remote, breathtaking locations. These lodges are often strategically placed in prime wildlife areas, offering excellent views and proximity to wildlife activity.

Features: Spacious rooms or suites, private decks, plunge pools, gourmet meals, personal butlers, private game drives, spas, and sometimes airstrips for fly-in safaris.
Ideal for: Honeymooners, families looking for comfort, and travelers who want an indulgent experience with minimal roughing it.
Cost: $1,000+ per person per night.

Top Luxury Lodges:

Singita Sasakwa Lodge (Western Serengeti): Perched on a hill, offering sweeping views of the plains. This lodge combines Edwardian-style grandeur with wildlife immersion.
Four Seasons Safari Lodge (Central Serengeti): With an infinity pool overlooking a waterhole, this lodge offers unparalleled luxury in the heart of the action.
Mwiba Lodge (Southern Serengeti): This exclusive lodge offers an intimate experience with personalized service and incredible views of the surrounding savannah.

Mid-Range Lodges and Tented Camps

Mid-range lodges and tented camps provide a balance between comfort and cost. These accommodations still offer excellent service, but without the ultra-luxury price tag. Expect well-appointed rooms or tents, en-suite bathrooms, and often stunning views of the surrounding wilderness.

Features: Comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, dining tents or lodges, and knowledgeable guides for game drives. Some have swimming pools and offer walking safaris.
Ideal for: Travelers looking for a mix of comfort, affordability, and immersive safari experiences.
Cost: $400-$700 per person per night.

Top Mid-Range Lodges & Camps:

Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge (Central Serengeti): This camp offers a mix of comfort and traditional safari charm, with spacious tents and panoramic views of the plains.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge (Central Serengeti): Known for its classic stone-built structures and thatched roofs, this lodge is ideal for travelers seeking both comfort and proximity to wildlife.
Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp (Central Serengeti): Set in the secluded Makoma Hills, this camp offers excellent wildlife viewing while maintaining a mid-range price point.

Budget Camps and Public Campsites

Budget accommodations in the Serengeti are perfect for the more adventurous traveler or those who want to experience the Serengeti on a smaller budget. These camps range from simple tented setups to basic public campsites where you bring your own equipment.

Features: Basic tents with shared or private bathrooms, communal dining, and game drives arranged by local guides.
Ideal for: Backpackers, budget-conscious travelers, and those who want to experience the Serengeti in a more rugged and immersive way.
Cost: $100-$300 per person per night.

Top Budget Camps:

Nyani Campsite (Central Serengeti): A simple, no-frills campsite ideal for budget travelers who want to camp under the Serengeti stars. The campsite is basic, with shared facilities but a prime location for game viewing.
Seronera Campsite (Central Serengeti): A public campsite offering basic facilities but excellent access to the wildlife-rich Seronera area.
Thorn Tree Camp (Central Serengeti): A seasonal budget tented camp offering more comfort than a public campsite but with an affordable price tag.

Mobile Tented Camps

Mobile camps offer a unique safari experience, as they move with the Great Migration. These camps are designed to be lightweight and temporary but still offer an incredibly comfortable and intimate experience. They follow the herds, so you’re always close to the wildlife action.

Features: Canvas tents with en-suite bathrooms, camp beds, lanterns, and dining tents. You’ll also have expert guides who track the migration and ensure you’re in the right place at the right time.
Ideal for: Wildlife enthusiasts who want to be close to the migration and enjoy an authentic, immersive experience.
Cost: $400-$800 per person per night.

Top Mobile Camps:

Olakira Camp (Asilia Africa, moves with the Migration): This camp offers close proximity to the migration, whether in the north near the Mara River or in the south during the calving season.
Kaskaz Mara Camp (Northern Serengeti): Located near the Mara River during the migration season, this camp offers excellent viewing of the dramatic river crossings.
Serengeti Under Canvas (AndBeyond): Offering a blend of luxury and mobility, this camp moves with the migration and offers stylish tents and gourmet dining in the wilderness.

2. Serengeti Accommodation by Location

Southern Serengeti (Ndutu Plains)

The southern Serengeti is where the migration begins, with wildebeest calving season occurring between January and March. This area offers great wildlife viewing during this period, especially for predator action.

Best for: Calving season, predator viewing, birdwatching.
Top Lodges & Camps:
- Ndutu Safari Lodge: One of the best options for staying close to the calving grounds, offering cozy accommodations with great views of the wildlife.
- Lake Masek Tented Camp: A tented camp located near Lake Masek, perfect for viewing both wildlife and birds.

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

The central Serengeti, particularly the Seronera Valley, is the heart of the park and provides year-round wildlife viewing. This area is known for its resident lion prides, leopards, and cheetahs.

Best for: Year-round wildlife viewing, lion prides, large predator sightings.
Top Lodges & Camps:
- Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge: Offering spectacular views over the plains, this lodge is known for its classic Serengeti charm.
- Dunia Camp: A mid-range tented camp set in a secluded area, offering excellent wildlife viewing in the central plains.

Western Corridor (Grumeti River)

The Western Corridor is famous for the Grumeti River, where wildebeest cross during the migration season in June and July. This area is also home to large crocodiles, as well as hippos and elephants.

Best for: River crossings (Grumeti), birdwatching, fewer tourists.
Top Lodges & Camps:
- Grumeti River Lodge: A luxury lodge offering incredible views of the river and the wildlife action during the migration.
- Kirawira Serena Camp: A classic tented camp known for its colonial-style luxury and proximity to the Grumeti River.

Northern Serengeti (Mara River)

The northern Serengeti is the prime location for viewing the Mara River crossings between July and October. This area is more remote, offering a quieter safari experience with fewer tourists.

Best for: Mara River crossings, remote wilderness, fewer crowds.
Top Lodges & Camps:
- Sayari Camp: A luxury camp situated in the northern Serengeti, providing excellent access to the Mara River and the migration.
- Lamai Serengeti: Located on the Kogakuria Kopje, this camp offers stunning views of the migration and great wildlife viewing throughout the year.

3. Things to Consider When Choosing Serengeti Accommodation

Timing of the Migration

If you’re traveling specifically to witness the migration, make sure to choose accommodations that are positioned close to the herds during the time of your visit. Mobile camps that follow the migration or lodges in the southern, central, or northern Serengeti will give you the best access.

Budget

The Serengeti offers a range of accommodations for all budgets. Luxury lodges come with steep prices, but there are affordable tented camps and even public campsites for travelers who want to experience the Serengeti on a budget.

Travel Style

If you prefer luxury and comfort, opt for high-end lodges with all the amenities.
If you want a more authentic and immersive safari experience, mobile camps or tented camps will give you a closer connection to the environment.
For adventure travelers, budget camps and public campsites offer an opportunity to rough it in the wild, close to nature.

Final Thoughts

The Serengeti offers a wide variety of accommodations that cater to different styles, budgets, and experiences. Whether you’re looking for opulence in a luxury lodge, a balance of comfort and affordability in a tented camp, or a mobile camp that follows the migration, your choice of accommodation will significantly enhance your safari experience. No matter where you stay, you’re guaranteed incredible wildlife viewing and unforgettable memories in one of the world’s most famous wildlife reserves.