Famed for the Great Migration and more diverse wildlife, the Serengeti harbors a complex ecosystem, which has been around for years and years. The spark spans 5,700 square miles, with different habitats – that’s vast (endless) plains, open woodlands, riverine forests, and rolling hills. Serengeti has four regions: eastern, central, northern, southern, and western regions, each with distinct vegetation and wildlife species.

The Central Serengeti is the most popular region of this park. And from our experience, many visitors end up visiting this region only. The reasons behind this are a tight schedule and the higher wildlife concentration that the central Serengeti has. Being the favorite among many, this region offers many accommodation options. In this article, we describe budget and midrange lodging options available in the Central Serengeti. Let’s dive in!

Budget Accommodations

This category features campsites, lodges, and tented camps, which offer budget-friendly stays. If you’re on a strict budget, these options can help you save money while offering an authentic safari experience.

Campsites

Seronera has three public campsites: Seronera, Pimbi, and Nyani. They offer basic services like toilets, bathrooms, a dining area, and a restaurant (for some). Guests have to bring food and hire a chef for their stay. Let’s have a look at Serengeti’s campsites:

1.    Seronera Campsite

This is at the heart of Serengeti, close to the Seronera Airstrip. Facilities available include a toilet, a bathroom, and a dining area. Common animals here include giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards, and the wildebeest migration (May-June).

2.    Pimbi Campsite

This is another campsite in Seronera with an authentic safari experience. Visitors can see animals and sleep to the sound of a roaring lion. It has a toilet, bathroom, dining area, and a restaurant.

3.    Nyani Campsite

It’s another camping ground central Serengeti. It offers a camping ground, a toilet, a bathroom, and a kitchen.

Budget Lodges and Camps

These are mainly private properties offering affordable stays to their visitors. Here, you can find permanent structures like lodges or temporary properties like tented and mobile camps. Here are some budget lodges and camps:

1.    Serengeti Wild Camp

It’s a permanent tented camp in the central Serengeti. This camp offers budget-friendly options, usually from $100 to $150, an ideal option for a backpackers’ safari experience. Being cheaper doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer. Guests can enjoy comfortable rooms, solar power available 24/7, en-suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and communal dining where you can eat your delicious meal.

2.    Serengeti Sound of Silence

Here, you meet a tented camp offering amazing views of the African savannah. The eleven tents are spacious, each with comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms. It serves delicious meals, tailored to you at its à la carte restaurant. On top of that, game drives, nature walks, and sundowners set the stage for exploration of the central Serengeti. And it offers all these without breaking the bank, ideal for budget safari-goers.

3.    Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

As per their rates, Kati Kati Tented Camp serves both budget and midrange travelers. Offers cozy, en-suite rooms, usually close to wildlife. Its canvas-walled tents allow the sounds of nature to penetrate, putting you asleep to the sound of a laughing hyena. Additionally, it offers short nature walks and well-prepared meals. It’s ideal for those who want relaxation and authenticity rolled into one experience.

Midrange Accommodations

Do you want a taste of luxury in the wild of the Serengeti at an affordable rate? You’ve got to try midrange accommodations? Your stay looks natural, but with a taste of luxury. Most lodges and camps under this category have their prices between $300 and $500 per person per night. Here are some of them.

1.    Thorntree Camp

Find it in the Seronera Valley, just a few miles from the Seronera Airstrip, Thorntree Camp offers more relaxing stays. Its location makes it a promising haven to stay due to constant wildlife views, and you can see big cats, the Big Five, and more. Its 15 beautiful tents can accommodate guests of all kinds, including families and solo travelers. There’s much to do at the lodge, like sundowning, campfire, and enjoying free Wi-Fi to catch up with world events. Its rates range between $300-$500 per night.

2.    Enkirari Wilderness Camp by Acacia

This camp perfectly lies in the wildlife-rich, central Serengeti. It’s home to 18 rooms, each with en-suite bathrooms beautifully designed to appeal in the wilderness. It also has a restaurant where you can enjoy delicious food and a campfire where you can sit under the African stars, exchanging stories with our guides. Families and friends traveling together can relax in their spacious family tents.

3.    Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge

This is a large, spacious tented lodge at the heart of the Serengeti. It has 25 spacious tents and offers facilities like a swimming pool, Wi-Fi, solar power, and it’s accessible to people with disability. Its location ensures that you enjoy drives around the Seronera, Maasai Kopjes, and Grumeti without getting tired. If you’re good at timing, you may witness large wildebeest herds on their way northwards towards the Grumeti River.

That’s a wrap! Lodges and camps have a large impact on your budget. So, depending on your budget, we can curate your safari to make sure it fits your budget perfectly. It’s simply by reaching out to our safari planners to start planning immediately. A pro tip to traveling on budget is to book your trip as early as possible; both budget and midrange lodges and camps always sell out months in advance.