To see and not be seen on this sacred site was a huge challenge, but we took that to be where nature leads, beauty and style would follow. And so it did.
Lamai’s open fronted bedrooms are peppered around the Kogakuria Kopje, a tumble of giant boulders that stand proud above the northern Serengeti grasslands.
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Lamai sticks its head above the rest both literally and figuratively.
Our mission here is to be the guardians of this magnificent sacred kopje and create a lodge that did no harm here was no mean feat. The camp was meticulously designed to mould to the kopje and blur lines between nature and us.
Lamai has an understated style that combines light-touch brilliance with resourceful creativity. Beautiful furniture and artefacts are made by skilled Tanzania artisans while one-off pieces discovered in remote markets across Tanzania are painstakingly upcycled. We are scrupulous about working with local suppliers, so everything is made or sourced in-country. The light-filled rooms channel immense views of the Serengeti while remaining all but invisible to the outside world. This is all about treadling lightly. Seeing, but not being seen.
Lamai Private is hard to beat if you’re traveling with your family. The small and intimate lodge is right at the heart of the safari action, so days are filled with adventure; the Mara River crossings are just a couple of miles away while the area is a hotspot for resident lion, leopard and rhino plus endless other species of bird and animal. Retreat to the lodge during the heat of the day and you’ll find the perfect place to kick off your shoes and relax while enjoying incredible views over the Serengeti. A dedicated team, wonderful fresh food, drinks galore, comfortable sofas, sun decks, open rooms. All the ingredients for every member of the family to have the perfect holiday.
Open
June to mid March
2
separate lodges
12
open-fronted rooms
8
rooms in main lodge
4
rooms in private lodge
All with verandahs and views
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.
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.
Quiet, wild and wonderfully different. Enjoy your festive dinners under the stars with lion calls in the distance - what a gift for the family.
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.
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.
It depends, some are short hops, others can be full-day journeys. Often, the journey is the experience and can become the ultimate game drive as you traverse different areas of National Parks.
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.
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.