A tented camp is one of the most memorable ways to stay on safari in Tanzania. You sleep under canvas, often with a private bathroom and a deck, and hear the bush around you at night. Camps range from simple mobile set-ups to permanent luxury suites.
There is no official ranking, so this list of the best tented camps in Tanzania is a starting shortlist of well-known, currently operating camps, grouped by area. Prices and seasons change, so check with each camp or your agent.
Best tented camps in the northern Serengeti
The north is the place for Mara River crossings, usually from about July to October. Sayari Camp, run by Asilia, is the closest permanent camp to the river. Serengeti Bushtops, in the Wogakuria area near Kogatende airstrip, offers large tented suites with private hot tubs.
Nomad Tanzania’s Lamai Serengeti is set on a kopje in the same northern area. For background on the park itself, see the Serengeti National Park entry on Wikipedia.
Central, eastern and western Serengeti
Namiri Plains in the eastern Serengeti is known for cheetah and lion sightings. In the western Serengeti ecosystem, Singita Sabora Tented Camp lies within the private Singita Grumeti concession.
Mobile camps such as andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas move during the year to follow the herds. Our guide to Serengeti bush camps explains how these semi-permanent and seasonal camps work.
Tented camps in Tarangire and beyond
Tarangire National Park is famous for its elephants and baobab trees. Oliver’s Camp in the south-east of the park is a long-running tented camp that closes during the long rains.
Around Tarangire and Lake Manyara there are also lodges with tented rooms, such as Sangaiwe Tented Lodge and Maramboi Tented Lodge. Further south, Ruaha and Nyerere national parks have their own tented camps for travellers who want fewer vehicles.
How to choose a tented camp in Tanzania
- Match the camp to the season: the herds move, and some camps close in April and May.
- Decide between a permanent camp, which has more comforts, and a mobile camp, which is closer to the action.
- Check what is included: park fees, drinks, game drives and airstrip transfers.
Ask about safety rules too. Most camps require guests to be escorted to their tents after dark because wildlife walks through camp.
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