Obviously people talk about “bucket lists” and you might have read that I don’t like that term. However I’ve just ticked off “sleeping in the Serengeti” from my list of things I’ve done on my travels. Camping out is something I’m pretty accustomed too, having spent a few months in my tent while living in Australia, especially in Poatina in Tasmania as well as a load of hikes such as the Inca Trail, Volcan Tajumulco etc. However camping out in a jungle in the middle of nowhere surrounded by African animals in their natural habitat surely has to top the lot. Here’s my experience from sleeping in the Serengeti!
So after a great day which saw us leave Tarangire National Park with the excellent tour company Shadows of Africa, we got to see leopards and lions in the Serengeti (report to follow). Just before sunset, our driver Timo drives us to our campsite, which is run by Osupuko Lodge, run by local entrepreneur Henry who saw a timely gap in the market for luxury camping experiences and hotels with character.
We arrive and I’m shown my tent. It’s well equipped. Double bed, safari view, lights, a toilet, a sink and wait for it…a HOT shower!! Yes they have a tank of hot water which is boiled each day and when you want a shower you can get 5 minutes of hot water in the Serengeti! Amazing eh?! Check out some of my photos from the inside of the tent…
After having a shower, settling in and seeing some gazelles and hyenas just out the front (we’re in the Serengeti remember!), it’s fire time.
A fire is lit and I choose an ice cold Safari lager bottle to join my two travel buddies, Raymond Walsh AKA Man on the Lam and Annette White, the lady behind Bucket List Journey.
We enjoy the fire as the sun sinks over the horizon leaving us in complete darkness. It’s dinner time…
We have a feast – this lodge is well equipped. There’s a kitchen and dining hall (tent).
I choose beef, rice and veg and after drinking my Safari Lager, I opt for a Serengeti – why not.
It’s getting late and we have an early start on our game drive so we’re all asleep by 11pm in the darkness of a jungle full of hyenas, lions, gazelles and giraffes.
I’m awoken at 4am by a mouse in my room! Yes a mouse is going through my bag eating peanuts. I had to laugh of all the animals in the wild and I find a tiny mouse in my room! We are up for breakfast (tea/coffee and cereals/bread) and off out. This was a special night camping out in the Serengeti and I will never forget it!
Booking Your Luxury Tent in the Serengeti
I thoroughly recommend at least one night of luxury in the Serengeti. We slum it enough as backpackers and this is special…a hey a ma ma ma hey…in the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight…
To book and get latest rates email – [email protected]
Getting there to the Osupuko Campsite
The camp is located in the peripheral of Central Serengeti on the slopes of Rongai Hills. It’s about 320-Kms from Arusha town, about 50-Kms from NABI Gate and about 28-Kms from Seronera. By road drive from Arusha takes approximately 8-10 hours with game drives en-route. By air it takes about 60 minutes from Arusha to Seronera Airstrip which is about 26-Kms to the camp. – Serengeti Camp.
My videos from my time camping in the Serengeti:
Looks amazing! I certainly would love to camp in the Seregenti!
Poi recently posted…8 things we can’t live without whilst on the road!
Too true Poi and Kirsty – and having a beer at the campfire yards from hyenas? Amazing. I’d recommend the luxury tent for one night as well – totally different from my usual slumming it! Safe travels. Jonny
This camping trip in Serengeti was definitely one HUGE check off of my bucket list! I am just so grateful that the mouse was not in my tent!!!! Great post Jonny.
Annette | Bucket List Journey recently posted…See the Street Art in Freak Alley in Boise, Idaho
Totally Annette! LOL about the mouse. Safe travels. Jonny
Looks incredible, Jonny! Always wanted to stay in a luxury tent on safari. Always wanted to do a safari, actually. There are just so many things on my list I want to do! Incredible though (and slightly scary?) about the hyenas around the front of your tent. Just sounds amazing!
Katie @ Second-Hand Hedgehog recently posted…Is Time Travel A Dying Art?
Hi Katie – not so scary actually – the hyenas stay well away – they are scavengers rather than predators and the tents have locks! I also fed hyenas mouth to mouth in Ethiopia by the way! Safe travels. Jonny
This looks so brilliant, I would love to be sat outdoors with a beer by a campfire knowing that on the open plains around me are loads of different animals that I have admired on various BBC documentaries. Shame I don’t think I will get to do this – I can never have a yellow fever vaccination while I have my kidney transplant, so any country that requires this jab is a no go 🙁 Great article Jonny
This was so much fun! I recommend this to anyone who’s going on safari — you’ve gotta do a luxury tent at least once!
Raymond @ Man On The Lam recently posted…South Africa’s Gondwana Game Reserve
Totally agree Raymond – great experience! Safe travels. Jonny
Hi Paul – ouch – that’s harsh so best of luck with your operation. Yes – at the airport you ARE asked for your Yellow Fever certificate, so you’ll have to wait a while or head overland where they might not check. Best wishes. Jonny
[…] my recent post reflecting on my safari in Tanzania – my night in the Serengeti, I aim to get more of my cool African back catalogue up and running. When I backpacked through […]
[…] I loved my recent safari in Africa and the Serengeti in Tanzania was a perfect spot for camping. Imagine sleeping with laughing hyenas, running gazelles and even a field mouse (which crept into my tent) all around you. A beer for sunset and an awesome safari from Shadows of Africa make this one easily in my top 5 camping moments. Camping in the Serengeti. […]
[…] sleeping next to hyenas, gazelles and lions. Yes that’s what it was like when I went for some camping in this world famous jungle. I stayed in a much more luxurious tent than I was used to though, and we had an ace barbecue with […]