Northern Serengeti &
Mara River Accommodations

The northern Serengeti is the crown jewel of the entire Serengeti ecosystem. This is where the Great Migration reaches its most dramatic climax — the Mara River crossings, where thousands of wildebeest gather on the banks before plunging into crocodile-infested waters in a desperate bid for survival. It is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth, and the lodges and camps scattered across this region offer front-row seats to the show.

But the northern Serengeti is not just about the migration. Outside the crossing season (August–October), this region offers some of the best year-round game viewing in the Serengeti. The landscape is wilder, the terrain more varied, and the wildlife less pressured by tourist vehicles. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes roam freely across vast open plains and wooded hillsides. The northern Serengeti is where the Serengeti feels most like it did before tourism — raw, untouched, and magnificently alive.

Mid-Range Accommodations ($180–$450/night)

Mid-range in the northern Serengeti means permanent tented camps with real beds, en-suite bathrooms, and excellent food — all at prices that make the Mara River crossing experience accessible to more travellers. These camps offer the authentic bush experience without sacrificing comfort.

Mid-Range

Mbuni Tented Lodge

Northern Serengeti

Perched on a rocky kopje with panoramic views across the northern Serengeti plains, Mbuni Tented Lodge offers a mid-range experience with a luxury feel. The tents are spacious with wooden floors, four-poster beds, and copper bathtubs. The lodge's elevated position makes it ideal for spotting wildlife from your private veranda — cheetahs, giraffes, and elephant herds are regularly seen from camp. During migration season, the Mara River is just a short drive away.

$250–$380

Per night · Full board · Game drives included

★★★★★

🏔️ Kopje Setting 🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🌊 Near Mara River 🦁 Wildlife from Veranda

12

Tents

5★

Rating

Kopje

Setting

Yes

Pool

Mid-Range

Olmorijo Tented Camp

Northern Serengeti

A classic mobile tented camp that positions itself in the northern Serengeti for the Mara River crossing season. Olmorijo moves three times a year — to the southern plains for calving season, to the central Serengeti, and to the northern Serengeti for the famous crossings. This means you are always in the right place at the right time. The tents are comfortable with proper beds, en-suite facilities, and a bush shower. The guides are among the most experienced in the Serengeti.

$300–$420

Per night · Full board · Follows migration

★★★★★

🔄 Mobile Camp Migration 🌊 Mara River Access 🦁 Expert Guides

10

Tents

5★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

3x

Moves/Year

Mid-Range

Friends Tent and Camps

Northern Serengeti

A community-owned camp that combines affordable safari accommodation with genuine cultural exchange. Friends Tent and Camps is run by local Maasai communities, and your stay directly supports education and healthcare projects in the area. The tents are comfortable with proper beds and shared bathroom facilities. The evening Maasai cultural performances and storytelling sessions are unlike anything offered by larger commercial camps. Authentic, meaningful, and affordable.

$180–$280

Per night · Full board · Cultural activities included

★★★★★

🏘️ Community-Owned 🎭 Maasai Culture ❤️ Supports Education 💰 Affordable

20

Tents

4★

Rating

Community

Owned

Yes

Cultural

Mid-Range

Serengeti Savannah Camp

Northern Serengeti

A mobile tented camp that follows the Great Migration through the northern Serengeti. Serengeti Savannah Camp positions itself near the Mara River during crossing season, giving guests front-row seats to the dramatic crossings. The tents are well-appointed with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and comfortable beds. The camp's intimate size — just 8 tents — means personalised service and flexible game drive schedules. The guides specialise in tracking the migration and know every crossing point along the Mara River.

$280–$400

Per night · Full board · Near Mara River

★★★★★

🔄 Mobile Camp 🌊 Mara River Proximity 🦁 Migration Specialists 🚿 Hot Showers

8

Tents

5★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

Yes

Bar

Mid-Range

Tanzania Bush Camp

Northern Serengeti

A classic bush camp that offers the most authentic Serengeti experience at a mid-range price. Tanzania Bush Camp operates in the northern Serengeti during migration season and moves to the central Serengeti during the off-season. The tents are traditional canvas with mosquito nets, comfortable beds, and bucket showers — the classic safari experience. The campfire dinners under the stars are legendary, and the guides share stories of the Serengeti that you will never forget. This is for travellers who want the real bush experience without pretension.

$220–$350

Per night · Full board · Classic bush experience

★★★★★

⛺ Classic Canvas Tents 🔥 Campfire Dinners 🚿 Bucket Showers 📚 Bush Storytelling

12

Tents

4.5★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

Yes

Campfire

Mid-Range

Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge

Northern Serengeti

Positioned on a hillside overlooking the Mara River valley, Kubu Kubu offers excellent mid-range accommodation with a prime location for migration crossings. The permanent canvas tents feature proper beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, and private verandas. The sundowner cocktails served at a kopje overlooking the plains are a daily ritual that guests love. During crossing season, the camp organises special early-morning drives to the river to catch the crossings before the crowds arrive.

$280–$400

Per night · Full board · Early crossing access

★★★★★

🌊 Mara River Valley 🍹 Sundowner Kopje 🌅 Early Crossing Access 🚿 Hot Showers

20

Tents

5★

Rating

Valley

Setting

Yes

Bar

Luxury Accommodations ($600–$1,400/night)

Luxury in the northern Serengeti means expansive canvas suites with designer furnishings, private plunge pools, world-class dining, and game drives included in your rate. These are properties where every detail has been considered and every moment is designed to create lasting memories.

Luxury

Nomad Serengeti Camp

Mobile — Follows Migration

One of the most exclusive mobile camps in the Serengeti, Nomad moves with the migration to ensure guests are always in prime wildlife territory. With just 6 luxury tents, the camp offers an intimate experience that larger lodges cannot match. Each tent features a handmade four-poster bed, copper bathtub, and private deck. The guides are among the most knowledgeable in the Serengeti, with decades of experience tracking the herds. During crossing season, the camp is positioned within walking distance of the Mara River.

$900–$1,200

Per night · All-inclusive · Follows migration

★★★★★

🔄 Mobile — Follows Herds 🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🌊 Walking Distance to River 🍷 Premium Drinks

6

Tents

6★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

6

Max Guests

Luxury

Legendary Serengeti Camp

Northern Serengeti

A luxury mobile camp positioned in the northern Serengeti for the Mara River crossing season. With just 8 luxury tents, Legendary offers an exclusive and intimate experience. The tents feature handmade furnishings, copper bathtubs, and private verandas. The camp's location near the Mara River means you can witness the famous crossings — thousands of wildebeest plunging into crocodile-infested waters — from the comfort of your camp. Outside migration season, the northern Serengeti offers superb year-round game viewing.

$800–$1,100

Per night · All-inclusive · Northern Serengeti

★★★★★

🌊 Mara River Access 🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🦁 Northern Serengeti 🍷 Premium Drinks

8

Tents

6★

Rating

Northern

Location

Yes

Mara River

Luxury

Serengeti Bushtops

Northern Serengeti

A luxury tented camp in the heart of the northern Serengeti, offering spacious canvas suites with private hot tubs, four-poster beds, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The camp's location near the Mara River puts you in prime position for the famous wildebeest crossings. The main lodge features a bar, library, and dining area with panoramic views. The sundowner drinks served at a private airstrip overlooking the plains are legendary among repeat visitors.

$750–$1,050

Per night · All-inclusive · Private hot tub

★★★★★

🛁 Private Hot Tub 🌊 Mara River 📚 Library 🍹 Sundowner Airstrip

12

Suites

5★

Rating

Yes

Hot Tub

Yes

Pool

Luxury

Lolebezi Safari Camp

Northern Serengeti

A luxury tented camp positioned on the banks of the Lolebezi River — a tributary of the Mara River — in the heart of the northern Serengeti. Lolebezi offers just 6 luxury tents, each with private plunge pools, copper bathtubs, and verandas overlooking the river. The camp's location provides excellent game viewing year-round, and during migration season, the wildebeest herds pass directly through the camp's private concession. Night drives and walking safaris are included in the rate — activities not permitted in the main national park.

$700–$1,000

Per night · All-inclusive · Night drives included

★★★★★

🏊 Private Plunge Pool 🌙 Night Drives 🥾 Walking Safari 🌊 River-Front

6

Tents

6★

Rating

Yes

Plunge Pool

Yes

Night Drives

Luxury

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Moru Kopjes

Moru Kopjes, Northern Serengeti

Positioned among the dramatic Moru Kopjes — ancient granite rock formations that provide shelter for lions, leopards, and elephants — Ole Serai offers a luxury camp with an extraordinary setting. The camp moves seasonally to follow the migration. Each tent is spacious with a private bathroom, copper bathtub, and deck with daybeds. The kopjes themselves are fascinating geological features that make for excellent photographic backdrops. The sundowner cocktails served on the kopje at sunset are unforgettable.

$650–$900

Per night · Full board · Kopje sundowners

★★★★★

🪨 Kopjes Setting 🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🍹 Kopje Sundowners 🔄 Mobile Camp

12

Tents

5★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

Yes

Bar

Super Luxury Accommodations ($1,500–$3,500+/night)

Super luxury in the northern Serengeti is an experience that transcends accommodation. These are properties where every detail is curated, every meal is a culinary event, and every moment is designed to create memories that last a lifetime. Private butlers, infinity pools with wildlife views, world-class spas, and helicopter transfers — this is the pinnacle of African safari hospitality.

Super Luxury

Singita Faru Faru Lodge

Grumeti Reserve, Northern Serengeti

Part of the legendary Singita portfolio, Faru Faru Lodge occupies 350,000 acres of private concession in the Grumeti Reserve — the most exclusive wilderness area in the northern Serengeti. The lodge offers just 9 suites, each with private plunge pools, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and handcrafted furnishings. The wine cellar is one of the finest in Africa, and the Singita wine tasting experience is unrivalled. Night drives and walking safaris are included — activities not permitted in the main Serengeti National Park.

$2,500–$3,500

Per night · All-inclusive · Private concession

★★★★★

🏊 Private Plunge Pool 🍷 Africa's Finest Wine 🌙 Night Drives 🥾 Walking Safari 350,000 Acres

9

Suites

6★

Rating

350K

Private Acres

Yes

Night Drives

Super Luxury

Sayari Camp

Northern Serengeti

Perched on the banks of the Malaika River in the northern Serengeti, Sayari occupies one of the most exclusive locations in the park. With just 15 suites, each with private plunge pools and floor-to-ceiling windows, the camp offers intimate luxury with panoramic river views. The swimming pool is the longest in the Serengeti, stretching 25 metres along the riverbank. The spa offers treatments using locally sourced ingredients, and the wine list features rare South African vintages. During migration season, wildebeest cross the river directly in front of the camp.

$1,800–$2,500

Per night · All-inclusive · River-front location

★★★★★

🏊 25m Pool 🌊 River-Front 💆 Spa 🍷 Rare Wines

15

Suites

6★

Rating

25m

Pool Length

Yes

Plunge Pool

Super Luxury

Lamai Serengeti

Northern Serengeti

Built into the rocks of a kopje in the northern Serengeti, Lamai offers 12 stone and thatch suites that seem to grow naturally from the landscape. Each suite has a private deck with valley views, a freestanding bathtub, and a fireplace for cool evenings. The lodge's location provides front-row seats to the Mara River crossings, and the guides are legendary for their tracking abilities. The main lodge features a heated pool, a wine cellar, and a dining room where seven-course dinners are served under the stars. Lamai is where the Serengeti's wild beauty meets understated luxury.

$1,600–$2,200

Per night · All-inclusive · Kopje setting

★★★★★

🪨 Kopje Setting 🛁 Freestanding Bathtubs 🔥 Fireplaces 🏊 Heated Pool

12

Suites

6★

Rating

Kopje

Setting

Yes

Heated Pool

Super Luxury

andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas

Mobile — Follows Migration

The ultimate mobile safari experience. Just 9 luxury tents move across the Serengeti three times a year, following the Great Migration to ensure guests are always in prime wildlife territory. Each tent features a chandelier-lit bedroom, crystal glassware, copper bathtubs, and a private deck with a campfire. The all-inclusive rate covers premium drinks, game drives, bush walks, and a hot air balloon safari. This is camping reimagined for the most discerning traveller.

$2,000–$2,800

Per night · All-inclusive · Balloon safari included

★★★★★

🎈 Hot Air Balloon 🔄 Mobile — Follows Herds 🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🍷 Premium All-Inclusive

9

Tents

6★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

Yes

Balloon

Super Luxury

Singita Sasakwa Lodge

Grumeti Reserve, Northern Serengeti

The crown jewel of the Singita portfolio, Sasakwa Lodge is a grand manor house perched on a hilltop overlooking the Grumeti Reserve. With just 10 suites, each with private infinity pools, butler service, and handcrafted furnishings, Sasakwa offers the most exclusive safari experience in East Africa. The wine cellar contains over 4,000 bottles, and the dining experience rivals the finest restaurants in Paris. The private concession offers night drives, walking safaris, and horseback safaris — activities not available anywhere else in the Serengeti. This is where the world's most discerning travellers come for the ultimate African experience.

$2,800–$3,500

Per night · All-inclusive · Most exclusive in East Africa

★★★★★

🏊 Private Infinity Pool 👑 Butler Service 🍷 4,000 Wine Bottles 🐴 Horseback Safari 🌙 Night Drives

10

Suites

6★

Rating

4,000

Wine Bottles

Yes

Horseback

How to Choose the Right Northern Serengeti Lodge

For migration crossing watchers, position is everything. Mobile camps like Olmorijo and Serengeti Savannah follow the herds. Fixed lodges near the Mara River (Sayari, Lamai, Bushtops) are best for August–October crossing season.

For year-round game viewing, the northern Serengeti's private concessions (Singita Faru Faru, Singita Sasakwa) offer the best experience — night drives, walking safaris, and fewer tourists than the main park.

For honeymooners, Lamai Serengeti's kopje setting and Sayari's river-front infinity pool offer unmatched romance. For the ultimate splurge, Singita Sasakwa's private infinity pool with reserve views is the pinnacle.

For budget travellers who want the crossing experience, Friends Tent and Camps and Tanzania Bush Camp offer authentic mid-range accommodation near the Mara River at a fraction of luxury prices.

The northern Serengeti is where the Serengeti reveals its truest self — wild, untamed, and magnificently alive. Whether you witness the chaos of a Mara River crossing or the quiet drama of a leopard stalking through the bush, this region will change how you see the natural world.

Frequently Asked Questions