This is a route that is well trodden in Tanzania, so it is important to us you see it as we did all those years ago.
Our Northern Tanzania bush camps, safari lodges and tented camps are in enviable locations that mean we can take you deeper into this epic wilderness. Let us transport you into our wilderness and show you the hidden gems on the roads less travelled.
Serengeti Safari Camp
Lamai
Mkombe's House
Kusini
Entamanu
Kuro
Charlie, Sanjan
Charlie, Southwest Serengeti
The Tarangire bush is scattered with baobab trees, this land’s standing stones, and spread amongst them are herds of elephant and buffalo, often in their hundreds. The habitat is rich and varied: great grassy swamps, dense woodland, tall grass, and the snaking Tarangire River, home to a plethora of animals and birdlife. Which makes it perfect lion, leopard - and Nomad territory.
With less distance to cover than in the Serengeti, this is safari slow time. In Tarangire, there is time to spend hours observing the natural world in intricate detail.
Full of heart and soul, and tucked into a grove of secluded riverside bush, it is so much at one with the wild that animals hardly look up as they do their thing around us.
We would always stand up for Tarangire, it is a big and bold but under the radar somewhat people rush for the Crater and Serengeti. Now is the time to slow down and start your safari in this hidden gem, you’ll not be disappointed – elephants in their hundreds, a birder’s dream with over 550 species and the Silale swamp is a magnet for all wildlife with the main source of water.
Recommended stay: 3 nights
Expect to pay: $865 - $1,350 per person per night
Easily accessible from Tarangire, the three-million-year-old Ngorongoro Crater was once a gigantic volcano that some suggest was even higher than Mt Kilimanjaro. The resident wildlife is diverse and easily tracked – cheetah, elephant, hyena, hippo, lion, leopard, and a vast array of bird life.
Entamanu and Entamanu Private sit on the remote north-western corner of the Crater rim, off the beaten track, in Maasai territory. We were adamant when we chose to nest up here that it would be a place to experience the Crater of old. Far from the crowds, tucked away and remote.
Expect to pay: $995 - $1,750 per person per night
There’s good reason the Serengeti is one of the best-known safari destinations in the world, even without the wildebeest, the density of animals is beyond belief. The wildebeest migration tends to be the headline act but in the company of a good guide you’ll get into wild areas and discover all aspects of this wilderness.
If any camp epitomizes Nomad’s light-footed, restless nature, it’s this one. The canvas home from home and indomitable crew are on the move, season by season to follow the herds, year-round. We up and move our camp guided by the migration and leave no trace. Think campfires, bucket showers and a camp light on its feet but rest assured you don’t go short on creature comforts while experiencing the super-herd of a million and half wildebeest.
Standing proud above the Kogakuria Kopje, you’ll find the Serengeti’s most stylish camp, just a few miles from the Mara River crossings.
Our vision for Lamai was ‘See, but don’t be seen’. Each room is carefully tucked away among the rocks with panoramic views of the northern Serengeti plains across to the Maasai Mara beyond.
It doesn’t get much better than this: hanging out together in the world’s greatest mammal habitat, completely free from other people and schedules. The African bush as your backyard and your Nomad private guide to get you out here.
Recommended stay: 3 - 5 nights
Expect to pay: $865 - $2,250 per person
We’re hugely proud of our guides. The are the best in the business., and most have been with us since the beginning. And where they stand is between you, and all the wild potential your adventure holds.
We’ve always said that a privately guided safari is the best safari you can have. Which is why every safari with Nomad gets a private guide, as standard.
We tailor all our safaris to your particular requirements, but we understand that it's useful to have an idea of what works best, what’s available and a ballpark cost. Have a flick through our safari itineraries and get in touch to get the ball rolling.
Firstly, you should only tip of you genuinely feel that the service you have received warrants it. Tips are never expected, but always appreciated. Tipping amounts very much depends on your experience but we tend to work with a range of 10-15 US dollars per guest per day. Equally, it's not unusual for a family or group to pitch in slightly below this as a group tip.
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.
From late November to May. It's a gorgeous time to be in Tanzania - expect dramatic skies, lush landscapes and superb wildlife. Also, less people.
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.
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!
Typically: accommodation, meals, drinks, park fees, your expert guide and activities.
Yes absolutely, Tanzania has superb transport links from the mainland to Zanzibar as well as neighbouring islands too. Many travellers choose to spend some time in the wild on safari before heading to the coast for some R&R.
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.
