5 must-visit permanent lodges in The Serengeti
Northern Tanzania is home to some of the best wildlife viewing spots in the world. From the famous Ngorongoro Crater to the elephant paradise of Tarangire, the possibilities are endless. There is, however, one national park that deservedly steals the headlines: the Serengeti.
Home to the great wildebeest migration, an abundance of big cats, and a plethora of other flora and fauna, it's no wonder the Serengeti is on many people's bucket list. With endless grassy plains dotted with rocky outcrops, it's not just a photographer's dream, but it epitomizes an East African safari.
While the Serengeti is known for its mobile camps which move throughout the year with migration, there are a handful of beautiful lodges which are permanent and do not move with the wildebeest. Instead, they occupy areas that provide great viewing of the game year-round and during certain months the migration arrives at their doorstep. As they are permanent, most lodges have facilities like swimming pools and hot tubs that help keep friends and families busy during the hours between game drives.
Nomad LamaiLamai is Nomad's flagship property, nestled in a kopje in the Kogatende region of the Serengeti, the camp not only offers stunning views of the northern plains, but is also a hope, a hopping and a leap away from the famous river Mara.
The eight bedrooms all have their own private verandas and en-suite bathrooms. The camp perpetuates the essence of Nomad simplistic luxury, you can be sure that all your needs will be met with warm and friendly hospitality and all the amenities you could want provided.
Although resident game is excellent year round in the northern part of Kogatende, the time of year to be here is from late July to late October. It is at this time that approximately 1.5 million wildebeest cross the Mara River. Trying to avoid hidden crocodiles and predators lying in ambush on the shores is a remarkable sight to see.
Sayari and Namiri from AsiliaReflecting Nomad Lamai, Sayari d'Asilia is located in the Kogatende region of the Serengeti and is perfect for the months when migration reaches the northern part of the park. Although slightly larger with 15 spacious and open rooms, the permanent camp is elegant and luxurious.
In the eastern plains of the Serengeti there are very few camps, but Asilia has a lodge called Namiri located here. Within an hour of any other camp, any sighting you have will be yours. And you will have great observations here!
For years this area of the Serengeti has been closed to tourists and used for predator research. Now recently open, you can enjoy some of Africa's most intimate and exclusive predator sightings. Photography is a dream here and after the safari returning to camp is certainly not an ordeal. With open and beautiful rooms that overlook the endless plains and fantastic hospitality and service, this is the perfect lodge to combine with any migration camp.
And beyond KleinIn the far northeastern Serengeti region there is a private concession managed solely by & Beyond. Located here is Klein's camp. While migration tends to occur sporadically from October to December, visiting Klein's allows for more freedom in activities that are not permitted in the national park.
Night readers are a favorite here as you try to spot the nocturnal creatures and see what they are up to after dark. There is also the added freedom of being able to go off-roading, which allows you to follow wildlife through its natural surroundings providing the best photographic opportunities.
The camp itself has ten luxurious cabins including one specially designed for families which has an inter-leading walkway. Located in the middle of the jagged Kuka hills, the view of the valley is magnificent no matter where you are in the camp. As with all & Beyond Properties, the guidance and hospitality is among the best in the industry and the private concession ensures a private and intimate safari experience.
Singita - SasakwaLocated in a 350,000 acre private concession, Singita owns several properties in its own private part of the Serengeti. Located on the western border of the national park, Singita has some of the best permanent and luxurious lodges in Africa. Like & Beyond's private dealership in Singita you can drive off-road and at night, but June is when the migration arrives here.
As the herds move from the plains of southern Ndutu to Kogatende, some herds pass through Seronera while others venture west into the Grumeti region. As they cross the region, they tackle obstacles like the Grumeti River in their search for greener pastures.
Sasakwa is arguably Singita's most luxurious lodge in the Grumeti area. Built in the style of an old Edwardian mansion, the newly renovated Sasakwa is like a home away from home, while still offering everything you could possibly want. The private concession ensures you a private and intimate safari away from the crowds in the national park during high season.
The area has also become a very successfully established conservation area for the critically endangered black rhino. Over the past year, a number have been relocated to the area, with a calf being born. Under close round-the-clock surveillance, these rhinos are extremely well protected and with plans to reintroduce more of these beautiful creatures, it is hoped that this will become an area to help reestablish a population that was on the brink of extinction not a long time ago.
KiotaWhile permanent lodges in the Serengeti typically cost a lot more than a migration camp, it should be remembered that there are high value permanent lodges available.
Kiota Camp in the central Seronera region is a fantastic option for those on a tighter budget, but still want to experience what a permanent camp looks like. The canvas rooms are all very spacious and capture the true essence of the safari with bucket shows and en-suite bathrooms.
The camp is located on a grassy hill that overlooks a beautiful valley where the migration passes directly at the end of May. Migration tends to arrive at Seronera in April and continues until the end of May, and although this is considered a low season, game viewing is spectacular and certainly worth the risk of a two rain showers! Time spent in the Seronera area is certainly not wasted, the area has a very high density of lions and leopards as well as large wooded pockets for buffalo and elephants, providing great photo opportunities.
Marc Harris is Managing Director of Tanzania Odyssey. Tanzania Odyssey has been a leading specialist tour operator in Tanzania since 1998. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to enhance your profile, please contact us.
