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OVERVIEW:
Lemala Mara Tented Camp is a great property that’s worth the upgrade if you want to splash out slightly. Considered one of the first of the Serengeti’s luxurious mobile camps, it is a seasonal camp that moves twice a year. It is Lemala Mara Tented Camp when it is set in the northern Serengeti. It is located here from June to October before closing for two weeks and then reopening at Lemala Ndutu in the south. We think this mobile camp has a great location, offers excellent guiding for the price, and is of course ideal for watching the Great Migration.
The company, Lemala, owns and operates authentic camps and lodges throughout north Tanzania – in Arusha, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park, as well as the Serengeti. The accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and all activities, unless otherwise specified.
Due to the wild nature of this unfenced camp, parents must keep a very careful eye on children at all times.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
The camp is accessed via 20 minutes’ road transfer from Kogatende Airstrip.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT LEMALA MARA TENTED CAMP:
Guest accommodation consists of twelve tents, all positioned on either side of the communal lounge and dining tents. The guest tents are Meru style – an outer layer of canvas extends over the inner layer to create a shady veranda. On the veranda, you’ll find seating and a small table, making it a super spot for relaxing and enjoying your views! Inside each tent, there are two queen-size beds, and sufficient space to add a third bed if required. Other furnishings include bedside tables and lighting, a writing desk and chair, an easy chair, a classic explorer’s chest, a wardrobe, and a luggage rack. The en-suite facilities are accessed through a canvas partition to one side of the tent, and comprise separate flush toilet, washbasin within a vanity unit, and step-up bucket shower. The palette throughout each tent features warm orange on a base of neutrals and browns.
Lemala Mara has two communal tents – a lounge tent and a dining tent, rigged up at roughly the centre of the site. The lounge is surprisingly sumptuous for a mobile camp, with its leather sofas, glass-topped coffee tables, plush rugs, and chandeliers! The camp’s bar is also found in the lounge tent, and in common with the guest tents there’s a pleasant veranda where you can enjoy a drink or two while marvelling at the scenery. In the dining tent, there’s a long table flanked by campaign chairs – this is usually the setting for communal meals, although guests can also opt to eat al fresco. Finally, the camp’s fire-pit, located just a short stroll from the lounge and dining tents, is the place to be for pre-dinner drinks and canapés. It’s also fantastic for connecting with your fellow travellers, swapping stories about your days on safari!
ACTIVITIES AT LEMALA MARA TENTED CAMP:
Lemala Mara Tented Camp specialises in Great Migration viewing:
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Expertly guided game drives
- These outings take place during early morning and late afternoon, although you can opt to go out for the whole day with a big picnic. -
Great Wildebeest Migration
- The highlight of your safari will be watching the huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles crossing the mighty Mara River! This is a spectacular show, not only for the sheer volume of plains game, but also for the element of danger they face due to the presence of crocodiles within the rushing river. The presence of big cats also constitutes a significant threat to crossing wildebeest and zebra. -
Wildlife spotting
- Among additional wildlife species you can expect to see are hyenas, jackals, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, an astonishing assortment of antelopes, and hundreds of birds. -
Activities for children
- There’s also the Lemala Cubs programme, for children aged 11 years and younger. Things to do include animal tracking, spear throwing, and making bows-and-arrows.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
