Identifying Top Safari Camps
Watching Elephants at Makubi Camp in Nyerere National Park (Photo Credit: Tendekayi Guni)
5 Things to Look For in a Top Safari Camp
Selecting the right safari camp or lodge is one of the most important decisions in planning your African adventure. The choice will significantly impact the quality of your experience, whether it becomes extraordinary or falls short. Time is precious, and there’s no room to experiment—especially when you’re in one of the most beautiful and untamed places on Earth. Price alone doesn’t always correlate with quality, so here are the top 5 things to consider when selecting the perfect camp for your safari:
1. Location
Staying inside a national park is more expensive, but it provides a far more authentic experience. The sounds you’ll hear are nature’s own: lions calling, antelope galloping away, hippos grazing near your tent under a sky full of stars. Inside the park, you’ll have access to remote areas that day-trippers never see. The best game drives happen at dawn and dusk when animals are most active and the light is perfect for photography. Staying inside the park ensures you don’t miss the best part of the safari experience.
The location of your camp within the park matters too. The best camps are in areas with abundant wildlife, far from the crowds, ensuring an exclusive and intimate nature experience. The camp’s guides move through the surrounding terrain almost every day, gaining an intimate understanding of the ecosystem and the animals that inhabit it.
Also, consider the park itself: The famous Serengeti, which is roughly the size of Connecticut or half the size of Belgium, accommodates over 300 lodges and camps. Ruaha National Park, on the other hand, which is 30% larger than the Serengeti and is home to 10% of the African lions, only accommodates 9 lodges and camps. Naturally, Ruaha feels wilder and more untouched. Check out the Destinations section of this website to learn more about Tanzania’s different parks.
2. Guide
A good guide is at the heart of your safari experience. Great camps invest heavily in selecting, training, and retaining exceptional guides who are passionate about nature and deeply knowledgeable about the ecosystem. They don’t just memorize facts—they understand and can convey how every part of the ecosystem is interconnected.
Their experience allows them to understand animal behavior in context, often predicting movements and actions. They interpret animal sounds and gestures with precision, responding thoughtfully and professionally. Guided by strong ethics, they approach wildlife with deep respect, ensuring a safe environment for observation.
Unfortunately, not all "guides" meet these standards. Many are merely drivers who focus on showing tourists the Big Five without a true passion or respect for nature. At best, they chase radioed sightings, racing to crowded spots for a glimpse of a lion, leaving you with not much of an authentic nature experience. A good guide, however, will track a lion by skill, not by following the masses, and a good guide is sensitive to his clients’ needs and wishes.
3. Camp Type and Size
The smaller, the better. Tented camps, often made from canvas, offer a more immersive experience, allowing you to hear the sounds of nature right outside your tent. They range from rustic to luxurious, with tents equipped with everything you need, including spacious beds and private bathrooms. You needn’t worry about predators tearing through your tent. This may be a Hollywood trope, but in reality, it’s a far cry from the truth. Feel free to reach out, and I’d be happy to elaborate.
Most tented camps have between 6 and 10 tents, making them intimate and ensuring a more personal connection to nature. Here are some images to give you a sense of the range of safari camp tent setups, from rustic simplicity to luxurious comfort:
Some lodges creatively use and even upcycle local materials, creating solid structures that are both aesthetically pleasing and reminiscent of cozy cabins. Ideally, they avoid glass to allow you to remain immersed in nature’s sounds. Like tented camps, the best way to stay in harmony with nature is at small lodges, with no more than 10 units. Here are some examples:
In contrast to Southern Africa or Namibia, camps in Tanzania are not fenced, and I see this as a huge advantage. It allows you to truly become part of the wilderness. Animals are always nearby, especially at night. It’s not uncommon for predators, elephants, or hippos to pass through camp—an unforgettable experience if you’re awake to witness it. Of course, this means you must move with care. For those seeking a bit of relief, many camps offer pools—a refreshing way to unwind after a day in the bush.
4. Safari Vehicle
Open safari vehicles are the best way to truly experience Tanzania’s wilderness. The unobstructed view and the open-air feeling bring you closer to nature. Lions will walk by just inches away without paying you any mind. Wild animals view safari vehicles and their passengers as one unit, not as a threat, and so they simply choose to ignore them. Again here, I’m happy to elaborate. For longer transfers, pop-up-roof vehicles work well, but for game drives, open vehicles offer the most immersive experience.
5 Going the Extra Mile / Camp Spirit
Great camps distinguish themselves through attention to detail and a spirit of generosity. Their staff, often drawn from local communities, offer a rich cultural experience alongside a wilderness one. These camps go the extra mile—whether it’s personalized welcomes, homemade treats, or serving meals made with local, sustainable ingredients. They go out of their way to make special requests happen, ensuring your stay becomes unforgettable.
Great camps also have strong ethical values. They treat their staff with respect, minimize their environmental footprint, and contribute to the local community. These camps ensure that every part of your experience—food, service, and activities—reflects the love they have for nature and the people they work with.
I carefully select the lodges and camps I recommend based on these criteria to ensure you have an unforgettable experience. And, of course, the food is exceptional, prepared with the best local ingredients by skilled chefs.
Want to discuss which lodges and camps fit your journey? Let’s talk. Contact me—either by email at conrad@shaukuafrika.com or via WhatsApp at +49 173 100 9055.
