Unlike your typical holiday where you can jump on Booking.com or Airbnb for all your lodging needs, a safari comes all inclusive of your meals and accommodation. Therefore, where you stay plays a big role in your overall budget.
Our recommendation is to try a mix of tented camps, mobile camps and lodges for the ultimate safari experience!
Tented camps have permanent tents as big as a hotel room with an attached bathroom and are furnished with a proper bed, bedside tables, coffee table and chairs. The hot water for the shower is usually brought "on demand." There is electricity but appliances such as hairdryers are typically not supported. The evenings are enjoyable while gathered around a bonfire, and guests typically fall asleep while listening to the pleasant (or terrifying, depending on the person!) sounds of animals in the area.
We stayed in a tented camp in Tarangire National Park.
A mobile tented camp is the same as above but are not permanent. Usually mobile camps move to another location every 3-6 months. They typically don’t have fences or gates either. All meals are provided by the on-site restaurant.
We stayed in a mobile tented camp in Serengeti North.
Lodges have proper walls, restaurant and reception - similar to hotels that we all know - often with a garden and a pool. Lodge accommodation is recommended for guests who prefer the comforts of home. Lodges offer good WiFi and also electricity at night.
We stayed in luxury lodges at Lake Manyara and in Serengeti Central, and a standard lodge in Ngorongoro.
For those on a tight budget (or if you really like camping!), there are also options to camp in basic tents, where you will have to bring your own sleeping bag. We definitely did not feel brave enough for that, but we can imagine it would be such an experience!
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