The Top 11 Places To Stay On A Tanzania Migration Safari Trip : Africa is full of wonder when it comes to safari tours, offering a variety of attractions such as stunning landscapes (e.g., Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Kenya), beaches such as Zanzibar and Mombasa beaches, powerful falls such as Victoria Falls and Murchison Falls, and mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. However, only Tanzania and Kenya offer the opportunity to track and follow the great wildebeest migration, which takes place every year from the time of calving through rutting and river crossings. The Serengeti and Maasai Mara are driven by wildebeest, which number around 1.3 million and possibly more.
Together with about 300,000 zebra, accompanying predators, and scavengers, they form a sizable ecological powerhouse that roams the stunning landscape, establishing boundaries, changing the environment, changing the vegetation, and dictating the lifestyle and range of everything else that lives there. On a Tanzania and Kenya migration safari, these are our top 15 accommodations for your breathtaking views, unforgettable encounters, and splendorous stays:
TANZANIA: SOUTHERN SHORT GRASS PLAINS (DECEMBER–MARCH)
Ndutu Safari Lodge
In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ndutu Safari Lodge is situated on the edge of the Southern Serengeti plains, which are dotted with acacia trees and offer expansive views of Lake Ndutu. This lodge has thirty-four cozy cottages with en suite bathrooms made of stone and thatch, as well as a relaxed, friendly dining, sitting, and bar area that look out onto Lake Ndutu.
Wildebeest give birth to their young while returning to these magnesium-rich grasses after following the rains, creating an enormous hive of activity that is amazing to observe. The plains are verdant and teeming with new life. The local predators that have been waiting for this abundant time of year are also brought in by this.
Fantastic sightings can be had at this historic lodge both inside the building and during quick game drives across the plains. It is simple to access the Serengeti from this location because it is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Why Ndutu Safari Lodge:
- Take in the sunset in Ndutu With a glass of gin and tonic
- Amazing game drives in search of big cats in Africa
- Witness the wildebeest calving season and feel the excitement.
- Explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area by off-roading.
- Enjoy the rush of taking pictures of big cats and other animals.
- Keep an eye out for Ndutu’s abundant bird life.
Kusini Safari Camp, Serengeti
Sanctuary Kusini, the only permanent camp in the far southern region of the Serengeti, enjoys the privilege of looking out over plains that are home to many predators and offer year-round high-definition game viewing.
At Sanctuary Kusini, you not only have front-row seats for when the Great Migration passes through at full speed, but you can also observe game gathering on these grassy plains year-round because the main lodge is built around a group of stunning kopjes, or rocky outcrops. Why choose Kusini Safari Camp in the Serengeti?
- Watch the magnificent Great Migration as it passes through the southern Serengeti.
- Great big cat sightings all year long.
- For those who want to avoid crowds and go off the beaten path.
- On top of the kopjes, there is an amazing sunset with a 360-degree view.
- Ticking off the big five on an action-packed safari.
- Relax in your opulent camp while listening to the sounds of nature.
Ndutu Heritage, Ngorongoro
For an Authentic African Safari tour, this traditional tented camp is by far the best option for viewing wildlife. Being in a luxurious camp in a stunning location with the sights and sounds of nature nearby is unmatched. The opulent tented camp offers the ideal setting for anyone who wants to experience the wildlife and stunning African landscapes while remaining in tune with nature.
Due to its colonial, vintage hunter’s camp atmosphere, Serengeti Heritage Luxury Tented Camp offers its guests the most genuine African Safari experience. With only 40 guests, the 13 roomy walk-in tents, nestled in an acacia tree-lined clearing, provide an intimate setting with all the amenities of a large lodge. Each tent has running water, flush toilets, and a hot and cold shower.
The welcoming staff will go above and beyond to make sure you have a wonderful, fulfilling, and memorable stay. You can take your time with everything. You choose how to spend your time at the camp and when to go on Serengeti game drives. The local wildlife will sing to you throughout your stay.
The camp uses only solar energy for both its hot water supply and electricity in order to preserve its incredible environment. A backup generator is only used to maintain electricity during days of inclement weather. Reasons for picking Heritage Ngorongoro Camp:
- On the morning and afternoon game drives, look for the big cats.
- Friendly staff and first-rate service
- Experience the breathtaking calving season on the Ndutu plains.
- Look for the wild dogs that are in danger.
- Keep an eye out for Ndutu’s abundant bird life.
- Drive a game vehicle with some of Tanzania’s top guides.
TANZANIA: CENTRAL SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (APRIL–MAY)
Serengeti Wilderness Camp
Serengeti Wilderness Camp is situated in the center of the renowned central Seronera region, in a stunning area that provides unmatched game viewing in the Serengeti. With only twelve roomy tents, our primary concern is your comfort and enjoyment. There is nothing more relaxing than drifting off to sleep at night to the sounds of the bush in your comfortable “safari bedroom.” There is a bush shower and flushing toilets in each tent. A private verandah provides a cool spot to unwind.
Our cozy lounge tent, which has a small library, maps, and some games for kids, and a charging station for cameras, is complemented by a sizable central dining tent. The evenings feature a campfire where our guests can enjoy sundowners and snacks while exchanging tales of the day’s adventures. Our safari chef will prepare delectable meals for your enjoyment.
This wilderness camps provide an intimate safari experience without sacrificing comfort, if that’s what you prefer in your African Safari Tour. In one of the most breathtaking locations on earth, this small camp offers traditional “under canvas” lodging along with excellent food, a soothing atmosphere, and warm Tanzanian hospitality. Why we chose Serengeti Wilderness Camp:
- Relax in your opulent camp while listening to the sounds of nature.
- Observe the magnificent Great Migration as it passes through the majestic Serengeti.
- On a walking safari, explore the Serengeti’s secret areas.
- Awe-inspiring scenery and countless photo opportunities
- On morning and afternoon game drives, take in the Serengeti’s abundantly wildlife-filled plains.
Mawe Tented Camp
This semi-permanent tented camp with a view of the Ngarenanyuki River is situated in the eastern part of the Serengeti and offers the best year-round game viewing. For all Serengeti game drives, Mawe Camp makes a great base camp. Only 12 luxurious tent rooms, including family rooms with stunning views of the Serengeti savannah and plains, are available at the camp. Why we chose Mawe Tented Camp:
- Discover the Namiri Plains for fantastic lion and cheetah sightings.
- Opulent lodging combined with the best wilderness experience
- With your knowledgeable guide by your side, enjoy a gin and tonic as the sun sets over the Serengeti.
- Excellent viewing of games all year long.
- Stunning surroundings and an endless supply of cheetah photography opportunities
Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp
Discover a chic retreat amidst Serengeti National Park’s breathtaking natural beauty. The 16 custom-made canvas tents at Mbuzi Mawe Serena Camp offer spacious style and many home-like comforts, ensuring a restful stay. Two queen beds, free Wi-Fi, and a private tent bathroom with hot water and flushing toilets are standard in every room. Each tent has a private terrace where you can admire the breathtaking kopjes in the area. Why we chose Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp:
- Encounter the thrill of viewing the great migration as it passes through their corridor.
- Enjoy the rush of daily game drives as you look for big cats.
- On your luxury camp, drift off to sleep listening to the sounds of nature.
- Discover Tanzania’s breathtaking wildlife and landscape.
- Enjoy Togoro’s wildlife-rich plains, which serve as a migration route to the northern Serengeti.
TANZANIA: THE WESTERN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Kirawira Tented Camp
Kirawira Serena Camp features 25 luxuriously appointed tents raised on timber platforms and arranged to maximize privacy, evoking the opulent safari camps of the early 20th century. After passing the furnished deck, you will enter a room with four-poster beds covered in patchwork quilts and steamer trunks, writing desks, brass lamps, rugs, and sepia photographs that is dripping with Edwardian charm. Exquisite bathrooms have classic black-and-white tiled floors, carved mahogany furniture, a shower, twin marble sinks, and hot and cold running water. Enjoy the extra bit of luxury of having your own personal valet attend to any needs. Why we chose Kirawira Camp:
- Witness wildebeest crossing the breathtaking Grumet River.
- Look for the 18–20-foot crocodiles that inhabit the waters near Grumeti.
- Awe-inspiring scenery and countless photo opportunities
- opulent lodging combined with the best wilderness experience
- From the restaurant, you can see the wildebeest migration in its entirety.
Mbalageti Tented Lodge
Mbalageti Tented Lodge is a stunning Serengeti safari lodge on the Serengeti Plains that offers breathtaking views over some of the most majestic regions of Africa. It has uninterrupted views of the Serengeti Plains towards the Mbalageti River. Before returning to the comfort and tranquility of the lodge, you can venture outside to the plains and the Grumeti River to take in the wondrous sights of nature. Why we chose Mbalageti Tented Lodge:
- Exclusive lodging with uninterrupted views of the plains below and the wildest wilderness imaginable
- The lodging is located away from the crowd, providing an off-the-beaten-path Tanzania safari experience.
- Enjoy Mbalagate’s wildlife-rich plains, which serve as a migration route to the western circuit.
- Explore Lake Victoria to gain insight into the Sukuma people’s culture and way of life, Tanzania’s largest tribe.
- Experience off-the-beaten-path game viewing in the more populated Serengeti areas.
Nimali Mara
Guests are guaranteed a tranquil and nurturing place of solitude as well as endless opportunities to unwind and get up close to Tanzania’s wildlife at this hidden oasis in a remote area. This upscale, small-scale tent camp is exquisitely decorated with modern and natural elements and exudes a sense of sophisticated elegance. Beautiful views of the Serengeti plains and the amazing wildebeest migration can be enjoyed from the lounge and dining area. A rocky natural cave that houses an infinity pool overlooks the endless plains and the local wildlife that frequently wanders by there.
Discover the magic of the bush and be amazed by the untamed wilderness that it is surrounded by. This small, secluded tented camp provides an unadulterated sense of time and space with its seamless blending of safari opulence and indoor and outdoor connections with nature. Why we chose Nimali Mara:
- Relax in your opulent camp while listening to the sounds of nature.
- Through the Mara River, retrace the steps of the great migration.
- Amazing daily game drives in search of the African Big Five
- Excellent customer service from a friendly and helpful staff
- Away from the crowds, Nimali Camp is located 30 minutes from the Mara River and blends in with exclave kopjes.
Mara Tingitana.
There are 10 mobile canvas tents at Mara Tingitana, each with a private veranda and all the conveniences of a real lodge. After a long day of game drives, unwind in the king-size bed, en suite bathroom, hot running water (on demand), and wooden floors.
Set at a high elevation with stunning views of a valley that serves as a corridor for wildebeest migrating to the Mara River, this hotel offers breathtaking views of some of the most majestic landscapes in Africa. Before returning to the comfort and tranquility of the camp, you can venture out onto the plains and the Mara River to take in the wondrous sights of nature. Why we choose Mara Tingitana:
- Observe the renowned wildebeest migration as it passes through the Mara River.
- About 40 minutes away, isolated from the crowds.
- All employees are local, the camp is locally owned, and it runs entirely on solar power.
- Take a walking safari to explore the Serengeti’s nooks and crannies.
- On daily game drives, look for the Big Five of Africa.
Ole Serai Luxury Camp
This luxury camp is ideally situated in the northern (Kogatende) region of Tanzania’s well-known Serengeti National Park, following the route of the great migration. The area is sparsely populated by large Acacia and Tortilis trees and is home to several species of wildlife that live there all year due to the catchments of nearby water bodies. Since the camp is situated along one of the main migratory corridors and routes that the wildebeest use during their Great Migration, traveling to and from the North and South of the Serengeti, the great spectacle of the famous annual migration can be witnessed almost as close as the camp’s doorsteps. Why we chose the Ole Serai Luxury Camp:
- Ideally situated along the Great Migration’s migration route.
- The Mara River is just 2.5 kilometers away from the camp, making it easy to reach.
- Take a walking safari to explore the Serengeti’s hidden areas.
- Discover the Big Five of Africa On a daily game drive while on safari.
- Awe-inspiring scenery and countless photo opportunities