Tanzania Camping Safaris

Tanzanian camping safaris are the most complete and cost-effective way to explore the Northern Circuit's natural wonders. The accommodations are situated directly within the national park boundaries, often within tented facilities located on the same terrain where lions hunt their prey at night. Guests can wake to birdsong and the aroma of the bush before heading out on their first wildlife viewing tour.

Our camping safari itineraries take you to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, with options for safaris lasting between three and ten days. Each safari features dedicated vehicles and TANAPA-accredited guides. Browse our selection of safaris below or continue reading for more detailed information on what to expect from a Tanzanian camping safari.

Available Tanzania Camping Safaris

What Constitutes a Tanzania Camping Safari?

A Tanzania camping safari is an alternative form of safari that utilizes camping facilities either public or private located within or outside the parks. Visitors will rest in tents that have been erected for the safari, will eat meals prepared by a camp cook and will use the sanitation and bathing facilities available at the campsite. The Camping safari will still include the same wildlife observation activities as the lodge-based safaris, using the same private four-wheel-drive vehicles, experienced guides, access to the same national parks and the same wildlife viewing opportunities.

The two options differ in terms of their costs and immersive experiences. The camping safari experience is typically between 30 and 50 percent cheaper than lodge safaris. Also, sleeping within the national parks allows people to experience the natural sounds of animals like hyenas during the night, as well as discover elephant tracks outside of the safari camps in the morning. These are experiences that no lodge safari can provide, even if it costs more money.

Parks Located Along the Tanzania Camping Safari Circuit

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Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park has several public campsites scattered throughout, including Seronera campsite in the park's central area, Lobo campsite in the northern part along the Mara River, and Ndutu campsite in the southern part, used specifically for the calving season. One unique thing about camping in the Serengeti is sleeping in areas where lion prides live at night and waking up in the morning to see a clear view before any other vehicle arrives.

Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area

Public campsites along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater have incredible views over the vast 260 square kilometer caldera below. Simba campsite is on the rim and one of the most spectacularly placed campsites in Africa. Here visitors can wake up at dawn with the whole crater laid out before them before descending into the depression. The Olduvai Gorge route also starts from the rim, and in fact creates a crater rim encampment which is the best base for doing a combined exploration of the Olduvai Gorge and the crater itself.

Tarangire National park

The Tarangire campsites offer panoramic views of the Tarangire River and the old baobab woodland. The animals visit the campsites regularly at night. Finding fresh elephant footprints around your tents in the morning is normal. Tarangire camping is an unusual one. These facilities are a perfect beginning or end to any camping safari itinerary.

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Manyara Lake National Park

There are campsites located outside the park boundary around Lake Manyara. Manyara is not normally a stand-alone camping destination, and half-day wildlife expeditions here are often combined with overnight stays in Tarangire or Ngorongoro. It complements any complete camping itinerary with unique sightings of arboreal lions, flamingo flocks, and groundwater forest fauna.

Categories of Tanzania Camping Safari Experiences

Best Time for Camping Safaris in Tanzania

Camping safaris deliver amazing results year-round. However, there are seasonal considerations that differ from lodge safaris.

June to October (dry season) is the best time: clear nights, cool nighttime temperatures, sparse vegetation to make sightings easier, and Mara River crossings that take place in the northern Serengeti from July. Ngorongoro nocturnal temperatures during the dry season can be harsh (as low as 4-8 degrees Celsius) – high-quality sleeping bags are recommended.

January to March (calving season) is a fantastic time to visit the southern Serengeti and Ndutu areas. Cool nighttime temperatures, predator abundance, and minimal camping crowds are some of the things that mark this time of year. Nighthawks in the southern Serengeti during calving season include hyenas hunting prey and wildebeest's alarmed noises from the plains of Ndutu.

The long rains period (April to May) makes some campsites inaccessible due to rainwater logging. November is a good time. Water-resistant equipment becomes necessary during transitional-season camping safaris.

Components of a Camping Safari Package

The camping safari package that we offer in Tanzania involves the following components:

• • • The involvement of a qualified and experienced guide and driver who has proficiency in English;
    • The use of a specialized 4x4 safari car with a pop-up roof;
    • Costs of entrance fees into the national park and campsite accommodation;
    • Provision of camping gear including the tent, camp beds, linen, cooking facilities, and utensils;
    • Camping chef to prepare three meals per day;
    • Water provision for the whole trip; and
    • Transportation from Arusha airport or hotel.
    • The following things are not included in our package:
    • Sleeping bag (information on the thermal rating for sleeping bag in accordance with the season can be obtained);
    • Flashlight;
    • Flights;
    • Travel insurance;
    • Visas.

Camp Safari vs. Lodge Safari – Which is the Right Choice for You?

Choose a camp safari if: you want to get to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro in the most budget-friendly way possible; you would like to sleep in the protected areas themselves; you value true nature immersion over luxury hotel services; or you already have a background with outdoor adventure trips and know how to handle the conditions of a bush camp.

Choose a lodge safari if: you need air conditioning, a place to eat, good bath facilities, and a well-furnished bed with proper hotel linens after your long game drive; you are traveling with children who require good comfort measures; or comfort is of equal importance as wildlife watching.

The wildlife watching experience is exactly the same in either case: same guides, same vehicles, same parks, same game drives. It’s just that in the camping safari you don’t stay at the lodge.