Serengeti Camping Safaris

4.9/5 – 412 Serengeti Reviews

The Serengeti National Park is one of Tanzania’s most popular parks. Most people know it as the stage for the annual migration of around 2 million wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle and zebra through the park. If you have the opportunity to follow the migration, you’re in for the safari of a lifetime. But this park is an exceptional wildlife experience at any time of the year, thanks to its combination of abundant and varied wildlife, which you will see against a backdrop of stunning savannah landscapes and iconic acacia trees. It’s hard to visit the Serengeti and not be awed by the experience. Traveling as part of a camping safari will help you make the most of being here.

1-20 of 258 camping safaris to Serengeti National Park

5 Questions About Serengeti Camping Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony is a leading expert on the Serengeti, which could just be his favorite wildlife park in all the world. He returns whenever he can and has covered the Serengeti for Lonely Planet’s 'Tanzania' and 'East Africa' guides on multiple occasions. He is the author of 'The Last Lions of Africa'.

› More about Anthony

What are the pros and cons of a Serengeti camping safari?

“There are many benefits (and not many disadvantages) to going on a camping safari in the Serengeti. When it comes to choosing a destination for a camping safari, the Serengeti easily makes my top five, thanks to the many wonderful experiences you can have on your camping holiday here. This is a fantastic park, equally good for wildlife as for landscapes. And there is so much wildlife around in the Serengeti that there is nothing better than lying awake at night and listening, knowing that there is a very good chance that you will hear a lion roaring or an elephant trumpeting in the night. With just canvas between you and the animals and the night sounds of Africa, it’s one of the most exciting experiences you can have on safari. Having said this, there are only a limited number of campsites in the Serengeti. Thankfully, the main one is in Seronera, deep in the central Serengeti and in the heart of some of Africa’s best wildlife country.”

What facilities can I expect in the campsites in the Serengeti?

“Facilities in the Serengeti’s campsites are generally quite basic, but also more than adequate for what you’ll need. You can expect a cleared patch of ground for pitching a tent, often with little shade. Toilet and shower facilities are shared, and when the campsite is at its busiest, you have to wait for your turn in the ablution block. These facilities are quite well looked after and kept reasonably clean, but most are quite old and in need of an upgrade. The plumbing can also be problematic. The main Seronera campsite also has a communal kitchen, and a covered area for meals. You’ll enjoy the facilities most when things are quiet. Then again, the opportunity to meet other travelers around an evening campfire when lots of other local and safari travelers are staying at the campsite is a wonderful complement to a day spent out on safari.”

How much do Serengeti camping packages cost?

“The cost of your Serengeti camping holiday will vary from one operator to the next. For shorter trips, which necessarily have a higher daily cost because they include the cost of getting to and from the Serengeti, you can expect to pay at least US$250 or US$300 per person per day. The daily cost reduces the longer your Serengeti safari lasts as those transport costs are spread over more days. Then again, don’t forget to factor in the daily park fees. These don’t vary from one operator to the next, and they add considerably to the daily cost: US$60 to US$70 per person per day, depending on the season. Where prices can vary between operators is in the types and number of vehicles they use, the tents you’ll be sleeping in, and how many staff will accompany you on your trip or whether you’ll be doing tasks, such as cooking and setting up tents, yourself.”

Is a camping trip to the Serengeti safe?

“As a general rule, it is very safe to go on a camping trip in the Serengeti National Park, as long as you follow the instructions of your guide at all times. That said, you’ll be camping in a park with some of the highest densities of wildlife in Africa, so you should always be careful and take personal responsibility for your own safety as well. And remember, one of the best things about a camping safari (you’ll be close to the animals) is also a reason why you need to be careful. Animals do sometimes wander into camp, and it can be rather thrilling, to say the least, to stick your head out of your tent and find yourself face-to-face with a grazing zebra or an elephant. And it is always possible, although rare, for something even scarier, like a lion or a hyena, to pass by. If you remain calm, avoid sudden movements, and always be aware of your surroundings, it is unlikely you’ll encounter any difficulties.”

› See also Malaria & Safety – Serengeti NP 4

What is the best time of year for camping tours in the Serengeti?

“There is no bad time to visit the Serengeti. There’s always plenty of wildlife and the weather is rarely bad enough to limit what you can do. One obvious consideration is the migration. The actual dates change every year, but as a general rule, from January to March, the massed ranks of wildebeest and zebra are more likely to be in the park’s south. In April they usually begin moving north and northwest, when they’re in or on their way to the Grumeti River and Grumeti Game Reserve, and the Serengeti’s Western Corridor, before heading for the Serengeti’s north in July and August and then crossing over into Kenya. They most often return to the Serengeti, moving south through the park in November and December. Outside of the migration, the best months for weather and driving conditions are usually from late June through to October. Rains are possible from November to April, but this coincides with the best months for bird watching.”

Serengeti Reviews

4.9/5 412 Reviews

Expert

Mark Eveleigh –

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for CNN Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

In northern Serengeti only the wildebeest travel in crowds

5/5

A lot has been said about the justifiably famous Serengeti ecosystem, home of the world’s greatest wildlife show. The great migration attracts hordes of wildlife-watchers that are topped in numbers only by the herds themselves. As with...

Full Review

Expert

Tim Bewer –

Tim is a travel writer who has covered 10 African countries for Lonely Planet's Africa, East Africa and West Africa guidebooks.

As good as it gets

5/5

Talk about the Serengeti almost invariably revolves around the ‘great migration,’ where some 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and other ungulates follow a primeval circuit in search of grass and water. No...

Full Review

Jellen Goossens –

Reviewed: Mar 22, 2023

5/5

The wideness, the greatness of space and diversity of the Serengeti is difficult to describe. Just come to enjoy it. The popularity might become a problem in some periods of the year when there will be more jeeps than good for the...

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Linda S –

Reviewed: Feb 25, 2023

5/5

We spent the night at :Embalakai Camp in the Serengeti, so we had 2 days to explore. The huge expanse of the park meant you might drive quite awhile before seeing animals. But, they are all there and the drivers communicate to bring...

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George Thomas –

Reviewed: Sep 4, 2022

5/5

Plenty of wildlife. In the central part one can see lions, leopards, buffalo and elephants. The northern part is where the great migration of wildebeest across the Mara River takes place. Giraffe, zebras, gazelle and impala are everywhere....

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Jan Robertson –

Reviewed: Aug 22, 2022

5/5

Top notch safari destination. Saw everything there including a lion kill, and the great wildebeest migration of thousands of animals across the Mara River. HOWEVER, there was a huge wait at the entrance to the park while our guide had to...

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Serengeti Camping Safaris

7-Day Serengeti Budget Camping Safari

8-Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Special Package

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5-Day Close to Wild Camping Safari

6-Day 5-Night Camping Safari

4-Day Safari to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

4-Day Camping Safari Tarangire Ngorongoro and Serengeti

7-Day Camping Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti

4-Day Northern Parks Adventurous Camping

7-Day Best Northern Circuit Safari

12-Day Machame-Route Lake Manyara Ngorongoro Tarangire

5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti , Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara

5-Day 4 Parks Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

5-Day Best National Parks of Tanzania (Camping)

4-Day Northern Tanzani Group Budget Sharing Safari

3-Day Authentic Short Safari

5-Day Tanzania Big Five Migration Safari

5-Day Camping Safari from Zanzibar to Bush Then Zanzibar

5-Day Porini Under Canvas

9-Day Tanzania Wildlife Camping Safari

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5 Questions About Serengeti Camping Safaris

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About Serengeti Camping Safaris

What are the pros and cons of a Serengeti camping safari?

What facilities can I expect in the campsites in the Serengeti?

How much do Serengeti camping packages cost?

Is a camping trip to the Serengeti safe?

What is the best time of year for camping tours in the Serengeti?

Serengeti Reviews

In northern Serengeti only the wildebeest travel in crowds

As good as it gets