Tanzania & Botswana: The Ultimate Safari

Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge Overview

Lemala Kuria Hills is one of the few permanent lodges in the northern Serengeti plains. The best way to get to northern Serengeti is by a light-aircraft plane so generally speaking, this area is much quieter than the central or southern plains of the Serengeti. Its location in the Wogakurya Hills, close to the Mara River, provides fantastic game viewing for both resident wildlife and sightings of the wildebeest migration herds as they make the famous river crossings. Lemala Kuria Hill is a luxury lodge formed of 15 glass-fronted suites, each with plunge pools, free-standing baths and private decks overlooking the savannas. For some, the main draw to Lemala is that it is a lodge rather than a tented camp or migration camp. As such, it has a lot of facilities including a swimming pool, wifi, laundry services and more. This is a great option for those looking for those who do not want canvassed accommodation, but still want to be in the midst of the action in the northern Serengeti.

Sayari Camp Overview

Overlooking the game-filled plains, Sayari Camp is situated in the north of the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania. Between the months of June and October, the wildebeest migration herds will be up in this area, feeding on green pasture before taking their opportunity to cross the Mara River. The benefit of being in a camp like Sayari is that the guides will know where the herds are every day and will have a greater insight into when they will make that river crossing and at which crossing point. The camp itself was just redesigned and now offers an even more luxurious and contemporary feel to it. Each of the 15 suites have walk-in showers, free-standing outdoor baths, beautiful décor and private verandas. In addition, the main area offers an inviting pool, set between natural rock formations, an Asilia Spa and an innovative solar-powered micro-brewery. This is the first in the bush!

Lamai

As part of the Nomad portfolio, Lamai is a beautiful and loved safari camp in the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania. The camp sits on the Lamai Wedge, above the vast savannahs and surrounded by a collection of giant boulders. The design is fitting with its surroundings – as neutral colours, tones and textures are used to compliment the natural kopjes. The camp is formed of eight rooms, each with large ensuite bathrooms, private verandas and expansive views across the plains. For the communal areas, there is a swimming pool, a natural rock deck offering a great viewpoint, and open air and indoor dining areas. Of course Nomad wouldn’t be as highly regarded and rated as it is without their particularly great safari guides, staff members and managers who keeps everything at Lamai running smoothly. Do not underestimate how far the staff will go to to make sure you are treated like Kings and Queens – bush breakfasts, sundowners, and morning in coffee in bed are just a few!

Olakira Migration Camp Overview

Olakira is one of our favorite migration camps because of its unique accommodation. As well as having canvassed tents, Olakira has an extended section which is mesh-covered so that you are able to go to sleep stargazing. Olakira Camp follows the movement of the wildebeest migration herds throughout the year. Between the months of December and March, the camp is located in the southern plains of the Serengeti and then from June to November, the camp makes its home in northern Tanzania to witness the great wildebeest crossings. Because the camp moves location throughout the year, the accommodation facilities more authentic compared to other camps or lodges. For example, Olakira’s ensuite bathrooms have bucket showers which are a novel and authentic part of the bush experience. This is one of our favourite migration camps across the Serengeti, not only because of its stargazing tent design, but also because of its incredible guiding quality and service level.

Little Vumbura

At little Vumbura, the adventure begins en route to the camp that’s perched on a private island, with access only possible by a boat that weaves between water lilies and reeds. Guests stay in one of seven tents with wooden floors, large beds, in and outdoor showers, a separate sunken lounge, and a private veranda from which to view the floodplains. Each room is colored in neutral tones with light touches of indigo echoing the waters surrounding the island, and every tent has a small collection of African art.

A walkway leads to a small library and lookout and there are floating decks and lamp-lit public areas, excellent venues to sample the local cuisine, created with seasonal ingredients from local farmers. The nearby mosaic of habitats supports all kinds of wildlife, with buffalo and elephants often sighted nearby, but you’ll see leopards, lions, crocodiles, and red lechwe on game drives and water safaris.

Chitabe

Located on a private conservation just south of Moremi Game Reserve, Chitabe is renowned as one of Botswana’s most fascinating predator-watching hotspots. The camp offers a well-concealed collection of eight traditional safari tents, each running on solar power and with access to a deck with savanna views. Large beds framed by African arts and photography from Dave Hamman who co-owns Chitabe, have views of the local wildlife (elephants frequent the camp) through the window, and there are outdoor showers for added immersion. There’s a raised bar, lounge, and restaurant, all with excellent views, as well as an atmospheric boma wrapped around a campfire.

The food is a highlight at Chitabe, with the camp’s dedication to championing local seasonal ingredients highlighted with picnics in the delta, barbecues on starry nights, and hearty breakfasts as fuel for morning game drives where you’ll often see cheetah, wild dogs, giraffes, and leopards.

Tuludi Camp

Tuludi is set within the 200,000-hectare Khwai Private Reserve bordering Chobe National Park to the east and Moremi Game Reserve to the south while floodplains with riverine forests visited by impalas, giraffes, and elephants stretch as far as the eye can see. It’s connected by raised, wooden walkways with seven large tents with mesh sides and high canvas roofs providing accommodation. Interiors are a sophisticated mix of traditional décor and contemporary design, each of which includes a separate sleeping and dressing area, an indoor toilet and shower, and an outdoor bathroom with a shower and standalone tub overlooking the plain. All have outdoor sunken seating areas with private plunge pools too. While you’re likely to see many animals right from the camp, twice-daily game drives bring sightings of lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, wild dogs, and baboons. Guests dine privately on hearty dishes inspired by local culture and ingredients with an international twist.

Jao Camp

Jao’s sustainable design-led aesthetic is beautifully realized through a stylish curation of natural and recycled materials, all considerately placed within the Okavango ecosystem. Perched on a private island and surrounded by forests and the vast floodplains that characterize the area, Jao offers a sublime level of immersion with the Delta’s wildlife almost always within view. There are five stylish suites with hand-woven grass mats, separate dining areas, large central beds, and pools with delta views, and two large villas benefit from private butlers and chefs.

Jao Camp’s main space is elevated to allow for a breeze and includes a thatched roof and glazed doors to keep the bar and restaurant cozy throughout the year. But perhaps its most impressive feature is the Jao Museum which, with its iron platforms against wooden walls decorated with evocative maps of the area, and a towering giraffe skeleton looming over the books, has the feel of some antique members club lost in the heart of the Okavango Delta.