Budget Camping vs Lodge Safari in Tanzania

What camping actually means

You sleep in a dome tent on a mattress at a public or special campsite inside or beside the park, with shared ablution blocks and a private cook travelling with your group. Tents, bedding and all camp equipment are provided and set up for you.

The food surprises people. Our cooks produce three hot courses on a gas stove in the middle of the bush, and dinner around the fire with hyena calling in the distance is the part most guests remember.

What lodges give you

A permanent room or luxury tent with an en-suite bathroom, hot shower, electricity, usually a pool, and a buffet dinner. On the Ngorongoro rim in July, when the night temperature drops to 8°C, this is worth a great deal.

The cost difference

Expect lodges to add roughly 35–45% to the total. On our three-day classic that is the difference between $690 and $950 per person in USD. On seven days it is $1,890 versus $2,650.

Choose camping if…

• ·You want maximum days in the park for your budget.
• ·You do not mind a shared bathroom block and a cold-ish morning.
• ·You like sleeping with only canvas between you and the sounds outside.

Choose a lodge if…

• ·You are travelling with young children or older parents.
• ·You are coming straight off a long-haul flight or a Kilimanjaro climb.
• ·A hot shower at the end of a dusty day matters more than the price difference.

A middle path

Many of our guests camp in the Serengeti, where the wildlife is closest, and take a lodge on the crater rim, where it is coldest. Tell us your budget and we will build the mix.