On a basic camping safari, you’ll be accompanied by your driver-guide and a professional cook. We provide all camping equipment, including:
• 2-person dome tents (shared by two guests)
• Foam mattresses, sleeping bags, and pillows
• Camping chairs and tables
Each evening, after your game drives, you’ll arrive at your campsite—either inside the park for a true wilderness feel or outside in nearby villages.
Your cook will prepare dinner, and you’ll enjoy shared washroom facilities. In parks without fences, it’s common for wildlife to wander through the
campsite at night.
________________________________________
Campsite Locations
We generally use the following public or private campsites, depending on your itinerary:
• Central Serengeti: Public campsite in Seronera
• Ngorongoro Crater: Simba Public Campsite on the crater rim
• Lake Manyara: Private campsite 5 minutes outside the park (inside park at extra cost)
• Tarangire: Private campsite outside the park (inside park at extra cost)
• Ndutu: Simba Public Campsite (closest public site to Ndutu)
• North Serengeti: Lobo Public Campsite (nearest to Kogatende/Mara River)
________________________________________
Meals & Drinks
Your cook will prepare three meals a day using fresh ingredients brought from Arusha.
• Breakfast & Dinner: Served at the campsite (either outdoors or in a dining area, if available)
• Lunch: Usually a packed lunch, enjoyed at picnic spots in the park
• Water: 2 litres per person per day (extra available on request)
We ensure food waste is disposed of safely to avoid attracting animals. While tented camps and lodges offer more variety, our camping meals are consistently rated highly by guests.
________________________________________
Facilities & Practicalities
• Washrooms: Shared facilities; may lack hot water and cleanliness compared to lodges. Avoid nighttime visits—guides recommend keeping a bottle in your tent for emergencies.
• Charging Devices: Safari vehicles have charging ports for phones and cameras.
• Luggage Space: Less storage compared to lodge safaris due to cooking gear and camping equipment on board.
• Rainy Season: From March to May, rain can make camping uncomfortable—muddy grounds, moisture in tents. Lodges/tented camps are recommended during this period.
________________________________________
Wilderness Experience
Whether camping or staying in tented lodges, your closeness to nature depends mostly on location:
• Serengeti: Both options offer a true wilderness experience.
• Tarangire & Manyara: Staying inside the park enhances the adventure for either option.
• Ngorongoro: Budget camping at Simba Campsite (inside the park) offers a closer-to-nature feel compared to budget lodges in Karatu.
________________________________________
Pricing
• About 10–20% cheaper than similar itineraries with low-end ensuite accommodations in Serengeti.
• For short trips not including Serengeti, costs are similar—or sometimes higher—than budget lodges.
• Staying inside parks every night is 20–25% cheaper than the lowest-priced ensuite accommodations in the parks.
________________________________________
Mixing Camping & Lodges
While you can combine camping nights with lodge/tented camp stays, this is often less cost-effective since cook and equipment rentals are
charged daily. However, we can customize a combination itinerary at competitive rates if requested.
________________________________________
