Best Serengeti
Accommodations

The Serengeti is not just a destination — it is a feeling. The endless golden plains stretching to the horizon, the thunder of two million wildebeest on the move, the silhouette of a lion against the sunset — these are images that stay with you forever. But where you stay shapes how you experience this extraordinary ecosystem. The right accommodation transforms a great safari into an unforgettable one.

From budget-friendly tented camps that put you right in the heart of the migration to ultra-luxury lodges where private butlers serve champagne as elephants drink from your infinity pool, the Serengeti offers accommodation for every taste and budget. This guide covers 20 of the best options across three tiers, with honest assessments, real prices, and the kind of insider knowledge that only comes from years of guiding safaris in this remarkable wilderness.

Mid-Range Accommodations ($150–$400/night)

Mid-range in the Serengeti means permanent tented camps and lodges with real beds, en-suite bathrooms, and excellent food — all at prices that do not require a second mortgage. These camps offer the authentic bush experience without sacrificing comfort.

Mid-Range

Kumbukumbu Tented Lodge

Central Serengeti

A beautifully designed tented lodge in the heart of the Serengeti, offering spacious canvas suites with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms, and private verandas. The lodge is named after the Swahili word for "memorial" — each tent is decorated with artifacts celebrating Tanzania's cultural heritage. The central dining area features a campfire where guests gather under the stars each evening. Excellent migration viewing from June to October.

$250–$380

Per night · Full board · Game drives included

★★★★★

⛺ Luxury Tents 🔥 Campfire Dining 🦁 Big Five Area 🍽️ Full Board

15

Tents

5★

Rating

Central

Location

Yes

Game Drives

Mid-Range

Mbuni Tented Lodge

Serengeti Plains

Perched on a rocky kopje with panoramic views across the 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. The bush breakfast served on the plains is a highlight.

$220–$350

Per night · Full board · Bush breakfast included

★★★★★

🏔️ Kopje Setting 🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🦁 Wildlife from Veranda 🍳 Bush Breakfast

12

Tents

5★

Rating

Kopje

Setting

Yes

Pool

Mid-Range

Olmorijo Tented Camp

Central Serengeti

A classic mobile tented camp that follows the Great Migration through the Serengeti. Olmorijo moves three times a year — to the southern plains for calving season (Jan–Mar), to the central Serengeti (Apr–Jun), and to the northern Serengeti for the Mara River crossings (Jul–Oct). 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.

$280–$400

Per night · Full board · Follows migration

★★★★★

🔄 Mobile Camp Migration 🦁 Expert Guides 🌅 Bush Showers

10

Tents

5★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

3x

Moves/Year

Mid-Range

Friends Tent and Camps

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.

$150–$250

Per night · Full board · Cultural activities included

★★★★★

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

20

Tents

4★

Rating

Community

Owned

Yes

Cultural

Mid-Range

Mbalageti Tented Camp

Western Serengeti

Nestled in the Western Corridor near the Grumeti River, Mbalageti is perfectly positioned for witnessing the dramatic Grumeti River crossings (June–July). The camp offers permanent luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms, a swimming pool, and a restaurant serving international and local cuisine. The guides specialise in tracking the migration and know every crossing point along the Grumeti. The camp's location also provides excellent year-round game viewing.

$260–$380

Per night · Full board · Grumeti River access

★★★★★

🏊 Pool 🌊 Grumeti River 🦁 Year-Round Game 🍽️ Full Board

30

Tents

5★

Rating

Yes

Pool

Western

Serengeti

Mid-Range

Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge

Central Serengeti

Located in the heart of the Seronera area — the big cat capital of Africa — Kubu Kubu offers excellent value for a central Serengeti location. The permanent canvas tents feature proper beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, and private verandas. The lodge's central location means short drive times to prime game viewing areas. The sundowner cocktails served at a kopje overlooking the plains are a daily ritual that guests love.

$200–$320

Per night · Full board · Sundowner cocktails

★★★★★

🐆 Big Cat Area 🍹 Sundowner Cocktails 🚿 Hot Showers 📍 Central Location

25

Tents

5★

Rating

Central

Location

Yes

Bar

Mid-Range

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Moru Kopjes

Moru Kopjes, Serengeti

Positioned among the dramatic Moru Kopjes — ancient granite rock formations that provide shelter for lions, leopards, and elephants — Ole Serai offers a mid-range camp with an extraordinary setting. The camp moves seasonally to follow the migration. Each tent is spacious with a private bathroom, and the mess tent features a library and bar. The kopjes themselves are fascinating geological features that make for excellent photographic backdrops.

$280–$400

Per night · Full board · Mobile camp

★★★★★

🪨 Kopjes Setting 🔄 Mobile Camp 📚 Library 📸 Photo Opportunities

12

Tents

5★

Rating

Mobile

Camp Type

Yes

Bar

Mid-Range

Serengeti Sopa Lodge

Western Serengeti

A permanent stone lodge built into the hillside overlooking the Serengeti plains. With 79 rooms, Sopa Lodge is one of the larger properties in the Serengeti, making it ideal for groups and families. The lodge features a heated swimming pool, a spa, and multiple dining venues. The location on the western edge of the park provides excellent access to the Grumeti River crossings and year-round game viewing along the western corridor.

$250–$380

Per night · Full board · Pool & spa

★★★★★

🏊 Heated Pool 💆 Spa 👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Friendly 🍽️ Multiple Restaurants

79

Rooms

4★

Rating

Yes

Heated Pool

Yes

Spa

Luxury Accommodations ($500–$1,200/night)

Luxury in the 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

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Central Serengeti

Built into the rim of an extinct volcanic crater, Serena Lodge offers one of the most dramatic settings in the Serengeti. The 66 stone-built rooms are decorated with traditional African motifs, each with a private balcony overlooking the crater floor. The infinity pool seems to float above the plains, and the lodge's cultural boma offers traditional Maasai dance performances. The Serena brand is synonymous with consistent luxury across East Africa.

$600–$900

Per night · Full board · Game drives included

★★★★★

🏊 Infinity Pool 🎭 Cultural Boma 🏔️ Crater Rim 🦁 Game Drives

66

Rooms

5★

Rating

Yes

Pool

Yes

Cultural

Luxury

Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge

Central Serengeti

An upgraded version of the mid-range camp, Kubu Kubu's luxury wing offers large canvas suites with hardwood floors, copper bathtubs, four-poster beds, and private decks with daybeds. The lodge's central Serengeti location provides excellent access to the Seronera River valley — the best area for leopard sightings. The infinity pool overlooks a waterhole that attracts elephants and buffalo throughout the day.

$550–$800

Per night · Full board · Game drives & walking safari

★★★★★

🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🐆 Leopard Territory 🏊 Infinity Pool 🥾 Walking Safari

12

Luxury Tents

5★

Rating

Yes

Pool

Yes

Walking

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.

$800–$1,100

Per night · All-inclusive · Follows migration

★★★★★

🔄 Mobile — Follows Herds 🛁 Copper Bathtubs 🦁 Expert Guides 🍷 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 (July–October). 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.

$750–$1,050

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.

$700–$1,000

Per night · All-inclusive · Private hot tub

★★★★★

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

12

Suites

5★

Rating

Yes

Hot Tub

Yes

Pool

Super Luxury Accommodations ($1,200–$3,000+/night)

Super luxury in the 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

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Central Serengeti

The only property in the Serengeti with a rooftop infinity pool overlooking a watering hole — a pool where elephants, buffalo, and giraffes come to drink while you float above them. The 77 suites and villas feature floor-to-ceiling windows, deep soaking tubs, and private terraces. The spa is world-class, with treatments inspired by African healing traditions. The lodge's conservation centre offers behind-the-scenes tours of their anti-poaching and research programmes. This is where A-list celebrities and royalty come to experience the Serengeti in absolute luxury.

$1,500–$3,000

Per night · All-inclusive · Game drives & spa included

★★★★★

🏊 Rooftop Infinity Pool 🐘 Watering Hole Views 💆 World-Class Spa 🚁 Helicopter 🔬 Conservation Centre

77

Suites

6★

Rating

Yes

Helicopter

Yes

Spa

Super Luxury

Singita Faru Faru Lodge

Grumeti Reserve, Western 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 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.

$2,200–$3,000

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

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.

$1,800–$2,500

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

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.

$1,500–$2,200

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.

$1,400–$2,000

Per night · All-inclusive · Kopje setting

★★★★★

🪨 Kopje Setting 🛁 Freestanding Bathtubs 🔥 Fireplaces 🏊 Heated Pool

12

Suites

6★

Rating

Kopje

Setting

Yes

Heated Pool

How to Choose the Right Serengeti Lodge

For budget travellers who want an authentic bush experience, Friends Tent and Camps offers cultural immersion at the lowest price point. Kumbukumbu and Kubu Kubu offer excellent mid-range value with proper en-suite facilities.

For migration watchers, position is everything. Mobile camps like Olmorijo, Nomad, and andBeyond Under Canvas follow the herds, ensuring you are always in the right place. Fixed lodges in the northern Serengeti (Sayari, Lamai, Bushtops) are best for Mara River crossings (July–October).

For honeymooners, the luxury tier offers romance without compromise. Singita Faru Faru, Nomad Serengeti, and Legendary Serengeti Camp offer intimate settings with just 6–8 tents. For the ultimate splurge, Four Seasons' rooftop pool with elephant views is unmatched.

For families, Serengeti Sopa Lodge and Serena Lodge are the most family-friendly, with interconnecting rooms, kids' programmes, and heated pools.

For wildlife purists, the Singita and andBeyond portfolios offer the best guides, the best vehicles, and access to private concessions where night drives and walking safaris are permitted — activities not available in the main national park.

The Serengeti is not just a place to see wildlife — it is a place to feel it. The right accommodation does not just give you a bed for the night. It gives you a front-row seat to the greatest wildlife show on Earth. Choose wisely, and the Serengeti will reward you with memories that last a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions