Standing proud above the plains, around a tumble of giant boulders.

You can see from this outcrop, the Kogakuria Kopje, for miles and miles. Over a million wildebeest cross these plains on their annual migration through the Serengeti to the Mara River, just down the track. Above it all, our beautiful kopje watches over and is a sacred wildlife haven – and our mission is to act as its faithful guardians.

The beautiful mess area at Lamai Serengeti, with endless views over the Serengeti plains.

Everything in our camps is locally sourced and hand made in East Africa. We think it gives our camps that extra bit of flair that's uniquely Nomad.

Breakfast with endless Serengeti views from Lamai Serengeti.

The main bar at Lamai Serengeti, full of locally sourced and inspired interiors and the coolest place to hang out in the Serengeti.

Start the day with coffee from your veranda, with a view!

A morning cup of tea whilst you watch the sunrise

A curious lion cub surveying the plains in the Serengeti National Park.

Locally sourced, fresh, tasty, home cooking at Lamai Serengeti. It is a marvel what our superb camp chefs can rustle up in the middle of nowhere.

Cheetah making the most of a higher vantage point near Lamai Serengeti.

On foot in the Serengeti, walking from our camp Lamai

Breakfast as the sun rises over the Serengeti from Lamai Serengeti.

The rooms are light-filled, taking full advantage of the open front

Dining with endless views over the Serengeti at Lamai Serengeti.

A close up of the Maasai beading detail on a wall hanging.

Lamai Serengeti main mess on the rocks

A leopard in the Kogatende area around Lamai Serengeti.

Lamai Serengeti, sunset sundowners

Wildebeest thunder across the Mara River, dodging the jaws of giant crocodiles in their continual search for greener pastures. Credit - Trevor Holden.

Enjoy a sundowner whilst planning where to go next

Sunrise wake up

Local paintings from Tanzania decorate the walls at Lamai.

Master beadwork by local Maasai.

One of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet - the Great Migration.

The Mara River in the Northern Serengeti.

A cheetah keeping a close eye on the wildebeest herds in the Serengeti National Park.

Endless views for miles and miles from our iconic Lamai Serengeti.

All of our interiors at Lamai Serengeti have been designed and created by hand in East Africa.

The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National Park.

The rooms at Lamai Serengeti are designed to blend and complement our unique location on the Kogakuria Kopje.

Endless views from the Kogakuria Kopje - home to Lamai Serengeti and Mkombe

A klipspringer in the Northern Serengeti.

A young male lion in the Serengeti National Park.

Wildebeest thundering across the Mara River.

The beautiful private lounge area at Lamai Private.

The Mara River in the Northern Serengeti.

Breakfast at Lamai Private. Your own exclusive corner of Northern Serengeti.

Elephant in the Serengeti National Park.

Game drives in the Serengeti National Park.

Dining with endless views over the Serengeti at Lamai Serengeti.

The area surrounding Lamai Serengeti is home to incredible resident big game year round.

Three cheetah brothers scanning the plains in the Serengeti National Park.

The family accommodation at Lamai Serengeti is made up of two bedrooms joined by a shared bathroom. The adults room is open-fronted whilst the children

Dinner under the stars at Lamai Serengeti.

A cheetah stalks a herd of wildebeest in the Serengeti.

Buffalo on the Serengeti plains.

No comfort spared.

The swimming pool boasts amazing views over the Serengeti.

The main mess at Lamai Serengeti, decked out in all things unique and beautifully made by local artisans.

Dining al fresco at Lamai Serengeti.

Lots of light and everything you need in your en-suite bathroom.

There are four open fronted rooms at Lamai Private, all with beautiful views over the Serengeti.

An exclusive retreat for groups of friends and large families at Lamai Private.

The private swimming pool at Lamai Private, tucked away within endless Serengeti vistas.

The main mess are at Lamai Private, thoughtfully designed with small groups of friends and family in mind.

Lamai Private is tucked away along the edge of the plains at the base of the Kogakuria Kopje.

Lamai Private has it's own private crew of wonderful staff, determined to make you feel right at home in the heart of the Serengeti.

Breakfast at Lamai Private.

The view from Lamai Private stretches out across the Serengeti plains.

Each of the rooms at Lamai Private have endless views over the Serengeti.

Light, airy en-suite bathrooms at Lamai Private still make the most of the incredible views over the Serengeti plains.

Our interiors at Lamai Private are all locally sourced, organic and all handmade.

Dawn over the Serengeti from our exclusive little Lamai Private.

Your own private camp for you to do as you please. Lamai Private offers unbeatable Serengeti privacy for groups of friends and families.

A zebra glowing in the morning light in the Serengeti National Park.

A quiet corner to contemplate the Serengeti at Lamai Private.

Iconic scenes with iconic giants and endless horizons in the Serengeti National Park.

There is nothing quite as dramatic as a Serengeti sunset.

Lamai Private

Lamai’s little sister, exclusively for private groups. Our private camp comes with all the appeal and flair of our main camp, plus the benefit of privacy for you and yours.

Tanzania's Leading Safari Lodge winner for the 7th year in a row

Enhancing lives at Lamai

From enhancing dynamic careers to working with local communities and conservation projects, here are some inspiring stories from our award-winning camp in Northern Serengeti.

Life long learning & growth

Creating career paths

Poacher turned walking scout

Not only does his smile light up the world, but’s he’s a Nomad walking scout, on his way to becoming a guide. His incredible wilderness skills come from his previous life as a bushmeat poacher. We count ourselves very lucky indeed to have him among our Nomad herd.

Life long learning & growth

Creating career paths

Paulina’s journey to Lamai

Nomad sponsored Paulina’s journey through vocational training and an internship in camp – and she’s now a full-time part of the Lamai team.

Life long learning & growth

Investing in education

Finding talent in key conservation areas

Living and farming on the edge of the Serengeti means human-wildlife conflict is inevitable. Kichawi is determined to help his family and community deal with the challenges that come from living alongside wildlife.

Life long learning & growth

Investing in education

Free school meals in Mbilikili

Knowing the importance of the best start to early learning, we have launched our meal-a-day programme into Mbilikili, a remote village on the edge of northern Serengeti. This provides over 100 children one square meal a day and the best possible start on their education journey.

Conservation & environment

Sharing our love of the natural world

Conservation support for Serengeti De-snaring

Nomad is very proud to be one of the first operators to engage with this conservation programme. For each night spent at Lamai we donate $1 to the programme and look to top-up with further donations from our shop and massage profits. To date, we have donated over $10,000 but more importantly facilitated a programme that is making a serious dent in the illegal trapping and poaching of wildlife in the Serengeti.

Life long learning & growth

Investing in education

Style and substance across our camps

Since we started, we've always made a point of using local suppliers and artisans to furnish our award-winning camps. Comfy sofas and shaggy lampshades that adorn Lamai’s lounge are made by a lady named Eliza. She is a local basket weaver whose talent was spied by Jo Cooke, Nomad interior designer extraordinaire. Jo worked with Eliza to perfect her design and workmanship, and now our camps are filled with pouffes, placemats and woven wonders of all sorts. Not only do they represent local craftmanship, but they also support a mother who can now send her children to school.

Conservation & environment

Sharing our love of the natural world

Eco-friendly sisal brushes made with love

Small details that make a big difference.

We're immensely proud of these humble cleaning devices: the next step on our mission to get our kitchens plastic-free.

We met Fatma, a lovely lady who works in a sisal factory in Tanga on the Tanzanian coastline. She introduced us to Abdul, who is a woodworker. We set them the task of creating the perfect scourer and brush with handle and interchangeable head - and after a bit of back and forth, they nailed it.

Northern Tanzania safaris

Our Northern Tanzania camps are in enviable locations that mean we can take you deeper into this epic wilderness and create life changing experiences.
 

Reviews

M. Hausherr

Review for lamai

Unforgettable Stay

A wonderful, authentic Lodge with a wonderful view. Lawrence, Jonathan and their crew make the stay unforgettable.

Camps visited:

S. Huber

Review for lamai

Great Team, Great Service

S.H excellent!Great team, great service!

Camps visited:

A. Ahdut

Review for lamai

Unforgettable Lamai Serengeti

Lamai Serengeti was unforgettable. The setting is absolutely stunning, with incredible views over the Serengeti, but the team is what made it so special. Everyone was warm, thoughtful, and made the whole stay feel personal and effortless. The game drives, food, sunsets, and lodge were all amazing. I...

"C. Wood"

Review for lamai

Special People and Places

There are special people and places in this world, that still devote themselves to their country and culture, this camp is one of those places.

E. & M. Hutchinson

Review for lamai

Incredible Lamai Camp

Lamai camp exceeded our expectations, after a long game drive and transfer from another camp pulling into Lamai was magical. From the greet from all the staff when we arrived till we got in our room was pure magic. The staff is incredible and very friendly, they will assist you with anything. Great ...

FAQs

What to wear on Safari in Tanzania?

Pack lightweight is the first tip. Next neutral colours are great - khaki, beige and olives - however not every item needs to be khaki by any means. There is no harm in a splash of colour in the bush. Long sleeves and trousers are a necessary addition to protect you from the sun and insect or mosquitoes in the evening. You are on the move a lot so always have a pair of comfy, sturdy shoes whether that be walking boots, trainers or safari style boots. This is especially important if you are embarking on a walking safari. Bring a light, warm jacket for those early mornings and sometimes even a beanie may be required depending on the time of year. Finally, do bring a good hat - wide brimmed or just a baseball cap - needed to protect you from the African sun.

What is the luggage weight limit for internal Tanzanian flights?

Usually it is 15kg per person in a soft-sided bag. This is not a hard and fast rule so do check with your tour operator or aviation company. These are small bush planes, and is a good way of making sure you pack light.

What is a typical daily schedule on safari?

Early starts with golden light as the bush awakens, and a fresh cup of coffee by the morning camp fire. Either breakfast in camp or take a bush breakfast to go. Enjoy early morning game drives to observe wildlife before the day gets too hot. In the heat of the day, find a shady spot for a siesta go. After tea, its time for an afternoon foray and sundowners with a view. Evenings are quiet, firelit, and full of stars.

What is the most popular safari in Tanzania?

Northern Tanzania is probably the most well known part of the country with the world famous spectacle, the Wildebeest Migration, drawing travellers year round. A full northern circuit brings incredible wildlife from Tarangire to the Ngorongoro Crater and that's before you even get to the Serengeti. Prepare for a density of wildlife like nowhere else in Africa. That being said, the south offers a quieter safari experience in Ruaha and Nyerere. Here you can get off the beaten track in explore some superb game areas. And for us, the ultimate safari combo comes in the west - a big game, wilderness experience in Katavi combines with jaw dropping chimpanzee encounters in Mahale. Over 7-days this safari will blow you away.

Can children go on safari?

A safari with your family is a magical way to spend quality time with your children, immersed in the wilderness and surrounded by wildlife. Time on safari with your family allows all to disconnect from your busy daily lives. Tailor your family safari with a private guide and vehicle plus make sure you look at family specific properties such as Mkombe's House. When inside the national parks, most camps have age restrictions with 8+ being a general guide. 

Much depends on the age of your children, if on the young side then we'd advise not trying to cram too much in to your days but plan your safari in bitesize chunks bringing new excitement around every corner.

What I wish I knew before going on safari

Always take a good pair of binoculars. And slow down. Take time to enjoy and area or the safari camps. There is sometimes nothing more special than spending the afternoon or early morning on your veranda and letting the wildlife come to you.

Are there age restrictions for safaris?

Yes, some camps have minimum age limits, in camp and especially on walking safaris. But there are many brilliant private or family properties that can tailor the age restrictions.

How do you get to your safari lodge?

The transport networks in Tanzania are very good with internal flight schedules across the country. It is possible to fly into the parks and land at one of the bush airstrips. From there, most lodges will arrange for a transfer journey from airstrip to the lodge. Depending on the lodge location, this can vary in journey time. Or, if you opt for a driving safari in northern Tanzania, your guide (included as standard with Nomad) will transport you from location to location.

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