Ubuntu Camp

OVERVIEW:

Ubuntu Camp is owned and operated by Asilia Africa, a company aiming to provide the finest wilderness experiences on the continent! Its camps in the Serengeti alone include YZ favourites Dunia, Olakira, and Sayari. Ubuntu has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. The accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, scheduled open vehicle game drives, transfers between camp and the nearest airstrip, and a laundry service.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The camp moves three times every year to keep up with the huge herds of the Great Migration! From December to March, it’s in the southern Serengeti and accessed via road transfer from Serengeti South Airstrip. Come May, it sets up in the Western Corridor and is approached from the airstrip at Grumeti – it remains in this location until July. And if you travel to the park between August and November inclusive, your destination will be North Camp, close to the River Mara, and you’ll touch down at Kogatende.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT UBUNTU CAMP:

At all three camps, guest accommodation consists of eight tented suites, including one suite for family use. The family suite sleeps a maximum of two adults and two children aged 12 years and younger. All tents are Meru style – an outer layer of canvas extends over the inner layer to form a private veranda. This is set with campaign chairs and a small table, and it’s a lovely spot for relaxing with a drink and enjoying your views! Inside each standard tent, the bedroom and washroom areas are divided by a canvas wall, which has an opening to the left and right. The bedroom contains a king-size bed or twin beds, with lighting positioned on the headboard/s to save space. There’s a little day bed too. In the washroom area, you’ll find a separate flush toilet, washbasin within a vanity unit, and classic bucket shower. This area also has a storage unit, and free toiletries are provided. The family suite benefits from all the features of the standard suite, in addition to a second bedroom and a lounge linking the bedrooms. The lounge includes comfy armchairs and sofas, and it’s fab for family time!

The communal lounge and dining areas at Ubuntu Camp occupy one tent apiece, at a short distance from the guest tents. In the lounge tent, there are well-cushioned settees and chairs around coffee tables, as well as a well-stocked bar. A selection of reading matter is available, and the tent is open sided so you can marvel at the scenery! The dining tent is open sided too, and features a large table where everyone eats together. This is the setting for continental or full English breakfasts, and buffet-style lunches. Dinner is usually served in an al fresco location, such as Ubuntu’s fire-pit. You can request a packed lunch if you’re going to be out all day on safari, and kitchen staff members are happy to rustle up dishes for any guests on a special diet. Barbecues are often arranged too!

ACTIVITIES AT UBUNTU CAMP:

• The main focus at Ubuntu Camp is viewing the Great Migration on game drives, although a couple of extra activities are available while the camp is in the north of the Serengeti.
• Drives take place during early morning and late afternoon into evening, and what you’ll see of the huge herds depends on the time of year.
• From December to March, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles are in the south part of the park, grazing on the sweet short grasses.
• Calving season tends to fall in February, so this is the best time to visit Ubuntu if you’re interested in observing the little foals!
• May heralds the beginning of rutting season as the herds move into the Western Corridor, usually remaining here until July.
• Come August, the herds make their way to the northern region of the Serengeti and make frequent dashes across the crocodile-filled Grumeti river! Throughout these months, there’s plenty of other wildlife to view too, including at least four of the Big Five – lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – as well as numerous smaller predators and herbivores, and hundreds of birds.
• If you stay at North Camp, you can also enjoy hot air balloon rides and village visits, so the Kogatende area is our top tip for travellers seeking a greater range of activities.