Serengeti - Amala Destinations

TANZANIA | SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Stretching across 10,000 square miles of wilderness, the Serengeti is arguably Africa’s most famous safari destination. Classic scenes of lone acacia trees silhouetted across endless grass plains, and of vast rolling hills interspersed with rocky outcrops, or kopjes, epitomises Africa for many.

The sheer magnitude of wildlife that this vast and diverse ecosystem supports is unparalled, including the epic spectacle of the Great Migration, the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet.

The thundering hooves of over a million wildebeest, zebra and gazelles in perpetual movement in search of seasonal pasture and water, closely followed by their predators, bound together in a cycle of life and death.

REGION HIGHLIGHTS

The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. But that is not where the game viewing ends; large prides of lions, elephants and giraffes in grasslands, gazelles and eland to mention but a few.

This remote part of the Serengeti is bisected by the perilous Mara River, where once a year, between July and October, over a million-strong wildebeest and zebra throw themselves across its crocodile-infested waters, heading for where the grass is greener. This makes for spectacular predator and prey viewing on the banks in the late dry season.

What is less known about this part of the Serengeti ecosystem are the very healthy concentrations of lion, leopard and buffalo to be seen all year round. We head out into the plains for big mammal discovery, and fantastic photographic opportunities.

When the grass is short and safe to move through, we slip out of the lodge, where small valleys, river lines and rocky kopjes make for frequent changes of scenery...and provide perfect cover for approaching wild animals.

From the ground, the vastness of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem can sometimes be underestimated, and a hot air balloon safari provides the perfect opportunity put things into perspective and truly appreciate the sense of scale. Take to the skies as the first golden flickers of a new day dawns, and float over the endless plains, forests and rivers of the Maasai Mara.

ACCOMODATION

These are a selection of lodges that we feel combine well for this journey. However we do also have a range of options to consider in each region, and can tailor them to you preference.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge

Singita Sasakwa Lodge rambles along a rocky promontory perched above the rolling plains. It is among the most deluxe accommodations ever built in East Africa. The entrancing view from on high is an ever-changing tapestry of grasslands, clouds and wildlife as they move across the landscape. The view within of long elegant hallways and inviting sitting rooms is faithful to the architecture and furnishings of the most splendid colonial era homes. Were Karen Blixen, the author of Out of Africa, to arrive at Sasakwa today, she would recognise a spot imbued with the same aesthetic that she lavished on her beloved home in the Ngong hills outside Nairobi.

Singita Faru Faru Lodge

Situated in the western corridor of the legendary Serengeti, Singita Faru Faru Lodge overlooks a natural waterhole and the tree line of the Grumeti River. The nine stone, canvas and thatched suites have the air of a classic safari camp, yet the interiors offer the ultimate in contemporary chic with panoramic glass windows. Due to the natural watering hole on-site, guests needn’t ever leave, as here, the safari comes to you. The surrounding grassland is so awash with wildlife that guests can lounge in the swimming pool overlooking the waterhole, recline in the Lodge's elevated viewing decks, or unwind in the comfort of your luxurious room and watch as predators and prey are drawn right up to the lodge.

Singita Sabora Tented Camp

Sabora Tented Camp represents a return to an enchanted time. For those who had the adventurous spirit and the means to go on safari in their grandest manner, the 1920s and 30s were a golden age. Now at Sabora, that bygone era lives on in a setting of overwhelming grandeur: a plain that spans the horizon, a great blue vault of sky overhead and the age-old passage of wildlife beyond numbering. To be so close to such an elemental and primordial world is unforgettable. To experience it in such comfort and style is the unique promise of Sabora. The camp consists of nine luxury tents, viewing deck and dining room.

SingitaTanzania_Serengeti_ Mara River Tented Camp

Singita Mara River Tented Camp

Situated in the northern most tip of the Serengeti National Park, Lamai Triangle, Tanzania, Singita Mara River Tented Camp offers guests the chance to spend time in this stunning yet remote area, with one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Serengeti National Park. With endless views of the Mara River, and with the camp built to have a minimal impact on the environment, it provides guests with an intense closeness to nature. The camp is closed in March & April when there are long rains (good grass and game viewing after this). Otherwise this area is superb throughout the rest of the year. There is prolific game viewing in the Serengeti National Park from June until March with the best months for the migration being July to November.

Lamai Serengeti

Lamai Serengeti sits tucked amongst the rocks of Kogakuria Kopje with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, only a few miles from where the wildebeest cross the Mara River. For roughly a quarter of the year, between late July and October, this is where you'll find the migration. Right here, on our doorstep. For the rest of the year, it is wild Serengeti with all the resident game of the Masai Mara but without the people. Each of the rooms is designed to fit into the complex geometry of the kopje and to make the most of this sensational location, its views and its natural space and light. The rooms are a blend of canvas, plaster and natural poles.

Serengeti Safari Camp

Nomad Tanzania's Serengeti Safari Camp was the first of it’s kind. It was designed with a purpose in mind; to be in the best possible location to view the wildebeest migration as it covers hundreds of miles of the Serengeti National Park each year. So it should come as no surprise that it really hasn't changed much since it's early pioneering days. The wildebeest move and this is what our Serengeti Safari Camp is all about - understanding the Serengeti seasons and game movements and mirroring them. Each year, this little camp casts off from Lamai Serengeti and begins its own odyssey. Covering hundreds of miles and moving every couple of months (not during your stay) along a route that the herds have travelled for hundreds of years, Serengeti Safari Camp is where you come for your migration fix.

Sayari Camp

Sayari has been carefully designed to include two mess areas, so you can always find a tranquil, intimate spot to relax and enjoy the attentive, personal service. Each has a peaceful lounge and stylish indoor and outdoor dining areas. Framed by natural rock formations, the infinity pool has impressive Serengeti views – it is the perfect spot to spend a lazy afternoon gazing out over the game-filled plains. In the evenings, retire to the warmth of the fireplace or the quiet library with a whiskey and share safari tales late into the night. After relaxing in such superb comfort in the world’s premier wildlife reserve, you’ll be rested and ready for all the adventures the next day will bring.

Olakira Camp

Fine linens, fine dining and a touch of nomadic romance are the hallmarks of this superb safari camp, which all but disappears into the surrounding African bush. Combined with unbeatable hospitality and highly knowledgeable guides, Olakira treats you to an unusually personal and authentic East African wilderness experience. The mess and dining tents echo the style and ambience of the rooms, with panoramic views of the sprawling Serengeti plains. Spend the afternoon relaxing in an armchair in the mess area or get comfortable under the shade of the surrounding trees and simply watch the game pass by. When darkness falls, dinner is served either under canvas or beneath a glittering canopy of stars in a small clearing close by, accompanied by the night sounds of the bush.

Serian's Serengeti Lamai

The open plains of the Lamai Wedge are incredibly beautiful and abundant in game. The landscape is reminiscent of scenes from Out of Africa, and there is plenty of freedom to roam and explore. The camp is situated opposite Crossing Point 4, midway among all crossing points along the river – and is perfectly positioned to spectate the wildebeest river crossings. Away from the river, this area of rolling savannah, boulder-strewn hillsides and fig-tree groves, is littered with inconceivably enormous herds of wildebeest, topi and zebra – as well as all the predators that gorge on this movable feast. Needless to say, the game-viewing we have access to is world-class. Cheetah, lion and elephant especially make for fantastic sighting, but it’s not unheard of to see the Big Five in a day.

Namiri Plains Camp

With your closest neighbour over an hour’s drive away, you’d be excused for feeling as though you have the eastern Serengeti all to yourself. Namiri Plains’ upgraded design maximises views of the seasonal riverbed in front of camp. There are 10 spacious rooms with full-length decks, providing the perfect setting to view wildlife from your room or from the outdoor bath on the deck. This secluded region of the eastern Serengeti is the ultimate big cat territory. A few months a year the Great Migration herds fill the plains close to camp on their way to begin calving in the south.

Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp

Situated in one of the prime game viewing areas in the Serengeti, this tented camp is where guests can enjoy uncrowded year round game viewing, and magnificent lion sightings. Rustic yet sophisticated, the tents combine hues of natural grey and accents of stone and bone, reflecting the colours of its seasonal hippos. The whimsical sweep of flamboyant safari tents hides a blaze of colour in the delightful interiors, with quirky touches and tongue-in-cheek surprises. Al fresco showers are open to the sun and stars, while the calls of hippo provide a nightly serenade. Dinner is prepared in traditional fires, jikos and outdoor ovens and served under a billion stars.