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

E. Foale

Review for lamai

Extraordinary Serengeti Experience

Lamai is one of the truly great places on earth, an extraordinary way to experience the majesty of the Serengeti. Impossible to recommend it too highly.

Camps visited:

L. Crombie

Review for lamai

Magical Place

The most magical place, this was the real highlight of our trip. Wonderful staff, incredibly good food and all in a truly remarkable setting.

A. Bromfield

Review for lamai

Amazing Staff and Guides

Cannot recommend this place more highly. The staff and guides are amazing and the position of the camp is absolutely beautiful. Very different to a lot of other African holiday spots. This is right up there. You should definitely venture to Lamai!

Camps visited:

M. Levandovsky

Review for lamai

Magic Experience

Magic experience ! We will never forget our day in Lamai Serengeti.

C. Hammond

Review for lamai

Incredible Nomad Lamai Experience

Our stay with Nomad Lamai was absolutely incredible. The experience, the service, and the flexibility were all bar none- and learning as we went how much they invest in and utilize local communities continually reinforced our decision. The location and animals are the best you can find- and it was...

C. Rouleau

Review for lamai

Lieu Magique

Expérience inoubliable dans un lieu magique! Félicitations à toute l’équipe du Lamai

Camps visited:

FAQs

What is the typical food when on safari?

Fresh, locally sourced, and surprisingly varied given the remote locations of some camps. Imagine homemade bread, seasonal veg, cooking with delicious Swahili spices. All accompanied by far-stretching views or enjoyed under a shady tree.

What's included in a safari?

Typically: accommodation, meals, drinks, park fees, your expert guide and activities.

Do I need a visa to travel to Tanzania?

Not all travellers into Tanzania require a visa. You must have a single entry tourist visa or business visa, is the general rule but there are country exemptions from this. On the most part, single entry or business visas can be obtained on arrival but we recommend where possible, to process the visa online ahead of travel - just make sure you allow enough time to do so!

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.

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.

How much driving is involved in a Tanzania Safari?

The driving distances on a Tanzania safari can vary depending on the area you are visiting and also your appetite for driving. Northern Tanzania allows for a full driving circuit with National Parks within reasonable distances. We love to drive when we can as we believe it allows for an exciting adventure through towns and villages and you learn so much about Tanzania and its wonderful people.

What is the difference between Serengeti National Park and Nyerere National Park?

The first difference is terrain. The Serengeti is all vast plains and iconic kopjes, whereas Nyerere is riverine wilderness where variety in activity becomes ever possible, boating, fishing etc. Both areas are wild with superb game but very different in landscape.

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