Places to Stay in Southern Serengeti
Places to Stay in Southern Serengeti
No doubt the Serengeti is (or has previously been) on your bucket list. Yes, you’re one of the folks dreaming of watching the wildebeest migration, the Big Five, or the sheer number of animals. While there are countless options for staying during your Serengeti safari, many of them are concentrated in the central region. Currently, the number of permanent camps in the south is just two, significantly less than those in other regions like the Western Corridor, Northern Serengeti, and Central Serengeti (Seronera).
Wide-open savannahs, acacia-dotted woodlands, and kopjes characterize the south of the Serengeti. Plains stretch from as far as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti. And because of their fertile grounds, grazers like wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, and gazelles call them home. The migration is in this region between December and March, when the plains erupt with baby animals everywhere.
Practically, driving (with en route game viewing) from the central region to the south is possible, but very difficult. You will spend most of your time driving from the central region to the south and then returning for an overnight stay. For this reason, we recommend staying in one of the permanent camps: Sanctuary Kusini Camp and Ndutu Safari Lodge. Let’s explore them.
Sanctuary Kusini Camp.
If you are opting for a 3-day stay in the remote south of the Serengeti, we strongly recommend Sanctuary Kusini Camp. Perched on rock outcrops a few meters from the border of Maswa Game Reserve, Kusini is the only permanent camp in southern Serengeti. That means you can go there anytime, any moment. And it’s an affordable option if luxurious mobile camps are out of your reach.
Facilities
The camp features 12 luxurious tents, each fitted with en suite bathrooms and, of course, hot showers. All tents are spacious and carefully elevated on a wooden deck to offer a front-row seat to the calving season. On top of that, each room also features a private balcony perfect for watching large prides of lions, buffalo, elephants, and giraffes. In-room amenities also include Wi-Fi, mosquito nets, laundry services, and hair dryers. There are communal areas, such as a lounge, dining area, library, and campfire.
Activities
Sanctuary Kusini Camp sits in the best place for game viewing. So, the main activity here is to drive through the short-grass plains in search of lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Big game like elephants, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and buffalo also usually make frequent appearances during game drives and even when you’re at the lodge.
Between December and April, Sanctuary Kusini is transformed into a base for witnessing the wildebeest migration. You will see hundreds of thousands of calves being born every day. As baby animals take their first steps, predators gather in large numbers, seizing every opportunity that may arise—wobbly newborns or weak adults.
There are other adventures worth adding to daily game drives. Stargazing is elevated, and you’ll discover all the patterns of the African Milky Way. Between game drives, you can indulge in spa treatments to unwind your body or catch the news from the palm of your hand. Other activities included guided bush walks and exclusive bush meals like breakfast and candlelit dinners.
Accessibility & Rates.
Sanctuary Kusini is easily accessible by flights and drives. Guests can fly into the Serengeti South airstrip, followed by a 5-minute drive to the camp. Landing at Ndutu Airstrip and then driving an hour to the camp is an additional option. The rate is around $850 per person, but there’s a 30% discount for every 4-day stay.
Ndutu Safari Lodge.
Ndutu is actually found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, but right close to the southern Serengeti. But you can make it your base when exploring the Serengeti, especially during the calving season. So, when mobile camps move following the Great Migration, Ndutu Safari Lodge stays.
Facilities.
Opened in 1968, Ndutu claims the title of Tanzania’s oldest safari lodge. It was interestingly simple when it started, but it was refurbished and expanded over time. Currently, Ndutu has 34 safari cottages. There’s a variety of rooms, including triples, doubles, and an interconnected quad room.
Each of the cottages has a private verandah where you can chill during afternoons and evenings. On top of that, there’s an en suite bathroom with hot showers for every cottage as well as a sink and a flushing toilet. The lodge has recently (in 2023) added a spa and a gym to elevate guests’ experience, especially during downtimes.
Activities.
Like we said, Ndutu Lodge is a wonderful base for witnessing the calving season. While there’s no start and end, the birthing of over 500,000 calves in Ndutu and Southern Serengeti can be called the beginning of this spectacular event. You will see other animals, even when the migration is not there. Common animals include giraffes, elephants, buffalo, resident zebras, and wildebeest. You can also visit the Ngorongoro Crater.
Accessibility & Rates
Ndutu Lodge is highly accessible by flight as well as by driving. The lodge is just one kilometer away from Ndutu Airstrip. And you can simply drive with en route game viewing from the central Serengeti to this lodge. Its rate is around $700 per person.
Here are some other camps to consider staying in while visiting the Southern Serengeti.
Since only a few guests go to the remote south, these permanent camps are enough to cater to them. But things get tight when the calving season is in full swing—slots become rare and much more expensive. The good news is that mobile camps are in the region, adding to the number of places to stay. Please note that many of these camps are luxurious, though affordable options are present.
Mobile Camps include Asilia’s Olakira and Ubuntu Migration Camps, &Beyond’s Serengeti Under Canvas, Serian’s Camp, Nyikani Migration Camp, Ndutu Under Canvas, and Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp.
No matter when you’re planning to go for your safari in the south of the Serengeti, there’s always a suitable place for you to stay. Be it a camp, lodge, or mobile camp, the experience is off the radar. Our guides will make sure you enjoy every step of your journey. Call our expert to start planning.
