Strung around the bottom of our boulder-bound Serengeti base, this camp communes completely privately with the bristling plains of the north - annual site of the Migration crossings of the Mara River, gateway to the Lamai Wedge and a year-round arena of spectacular resident big game.
Life long learning & growth
Investing in education
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
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
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
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.
Our Northern Tanzania camps are in enviable locations that mean we can take you deeper into this epic wilderness and create life changing experiences.
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.
Yes we do have WI-FI at our camps - in the most remote locations the Wi-Fi can be limited to your tent or the main mess. We try to keep wi-fi in the tents so the mess and lounge area continue to be social and communal areas.
For peak seasons, between 9 and 12 months ahead is wise. This can vary depending on the places and camp you'd like to visit with some filling up earlier. The best camps and guides are worth planning for.
Lodges are more permanent, often with solid walls and more amenities available. Tented camp are light touch, with canvas walls, open air and the sounds of bush throughout!
Tanzania is a year round destination, especially in Northern Tanzania. So your visit often depends on family schedules or particular wildlife experiences on the bucket list. We love January to March in Ngorongoro and southern Serengeti Plains when the air is clear, nice temperatures and the migration arrives in town for calving season. This is an extraordinary time to be there.
Yes, English in widely spoken in Tanzania, especially in camps and by safari guides. Swahili is the main language and knowing a few words and phrases will always earn you a smile.
Many people underestimate how immersive a safari experience is. Time in the bush can be tiring – most mornings you will be up before sunrise as the wild wakes up your day continues into long evenings spent under the stars. If you’re travelling with children, we always recommend a private guide and exclusive vehicle (included as standard with Nomad) that means a lie in here and there is always possible.
There is no rule for the number of days on safari but we would recommend taking your time in each location and not rushing through safari parks. Give yourselves time to stop and immerse yourself in the area. Many travellers consider a pit stop at the beaches of Zanzibar or Mafia Island to re-charge post safari and before they head back to the real world.
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.