Namiri Plains

Namiri Plains is a tented camp in the eastern Serengeti, inside Serengeti National Park, on the Ngare Nanyuki River. The grassland around it is wide and open, and Asilia describes it as big cat country. Lion, cheetah and leopard are seen often here, with serval and caracal now and then, and plenty of plains game to draw them in.

Eleven Tents on the Grass

The camp has eleven guest tents, one of them a family tent. Canvas walls open fully to the plains, and each tent has sliding doors, a deck that extends the view and a freestanding bathtub outdoors. Inside, the walls are built from solidified volcanic ash, which holds off the heat of the day and the cold of the night. Bathrooms are en suite, with hot water.

Beyond the tents you will find a swimming pool with a shaded deck, a library, a bar and an information centre. A private spa offers massages. Power comes from solar panels with a generator as backup, and there is Wi-Fi and a place to charge batteries.

Days on the Plains

Game drives go out twice a day in open 4x4 vehicles. Photographers can ask in advance for a dedicated photographic vehicle. From 1 June to 15 February, guests aged 12 and over can add a walking safari, booked ahead and subject to weather and safety. Between drives, the pool deck and the spa give the hot hours somewhere to go.

The Great Migration reaches the camp at times, and in the season from about October to May full-day drives can take you south to the herds. February is drier and good for photography, the long rains arrive from March, and the calving season follows in the south. July to October is the dry, busier stretch, while November and December can bring a few afternoon showers.

Getting Here

The nearest airstrip is Seronera, about two hours away by road, and light aircraft carry a 15 kg baggage limit. Children aged five and over are welcome. The camp is open all year.

Namiri Plains suits travellers who would rather watch one cheetah work the grass than tick off a list of sightings.