Lemala Nanyukie

OVERVIEW

Fifteen tents, a plunge pool on every deck and the Serengeti’s plains rolling out to the horizon. Lemala Nanyukie is a small, private base for exploring the Eastern Serengeti.

Part of Lemala’s expanding collection, Nanyukie sits in the Eastern Serengeti, a 45-minute drive east of the Seronera Airstrip. The camp stands on open, grassy savannah dotted with rocky kopjes and shaded by giant acacia trees, some of them ancient.

The views are wide and uninterrupted. Elephant, giraffe and zebra regularly wander past the property, so you can watch a good part of the safari without leaving your seat.

Each of the 15 canvas-roofed tents is spaced well apart, so privacy is built in. Every tent has a generous bathroom with a bath, plus a hairdryer, mini-bar, outdoor shower and wifi.

The real draw is the deck: wooden, with sunken seating and a private plunge pool. It is where you will watch a herd at midday and the stars after dinner. Cool off in the water while the plains stretch out in front of you, or settle in with a book and let the wildlife do the entertaining.

One tent is a two-bedroom suite made for families, which makes Nanyukie a practical choice for a family safari.

Beyond your tent, the central lounge, dining area and outdoor viewing deck lead down to a larger swimming pool. Dinner can be served outdoors by lantern light, and a separate spa tent tucked among the trees offers massages. Cuisine is part of the experience, so come hungry.

This part of the Serengeti is crossed by the annual wildebeest migration. Game viewing is high-density, and the area is especially well known for its large concentration of cats.

The migration follows the seasons rather than the calendar, so the herds are not always in the same place at the same time. If seeing them is a priority, tell us early and we will help you choose dates that give you the best chance.

Game drives and safari walks are led by Lemala’s experienced guides, whose local knowledge helps you find the cats and the best stretches of plains. For an aerial view, you can also take a balloon safari.

Days follow an easy rhythm. Mornings start early with a hot drink and a game drive while the cats are active. Lunch is unhurried, and the hottest hours belong to the pool or your plunge-pool deck. The afternoon brings a second outing or a safari walk, and dinner follows, indoors or out.

Families are well looked after. Lemala Cubs offers children under 12 a wide range of activities that bring the bush to life, and with animals on the doorstep, it is easy to keep young travellers engaged.

Photographers will love the open plains, kopjes and acacias as a backdrop, and birdwatching is part of the experience.

Couples get privacy and a plunge pool of their own. Families get space and a dedicated kids’ programme. First-time safari-goers get easy access to big game, and returning guests find a quiet corner of the park.

Getting here is straightforward: fly into Seronera Airstrip, then drive 45 minutes. Nanyukie combines well with Tanzanian stops such as the Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire, and with a Kenya extension into the Masai Mara. Our Untamed Tanzania and Kenya Safari shows one way to link the two countries.

Tell us your dates, your group and what you most want to see, and we will come back with options for Lemala Nanyukie and the stops around it. Get in touch with the Nziza team to start planning.