Situated in the more remote area of Kogatende, in the northern sector of the Serengeti National Park, Nimali Mara Camp is an intimate and cosy safari camp that consists of only 10 tents. Located approximately 30 minutes from the Mara River in a small kopje, the camp merges seamlessly with the surrounding environment, seeming very much at home amongst the trees and boulders that amass the area. The Camp has been strategically located away from the hustle and bustle of safari vehicles whilst retaining easy access to the Mara River and views of the amazing wildebeest migration crossings, complimented by a fine selection of additional safari activities. You can expect the finest of bush dining, with sumptuous meals prepared freshly each day from a variety of locally available produce, comprising three meals throughout the day and a lavish three-course meal in the evening. The wonders of the great migration await you, come see for yourself.
Kogatende Airstrip, Tanzania
The Tanzanian landscape is defined by an intrinsically diverse array of geography, comprising lush savannahs, arid deserts, stretching wetlands and mountainous terrain – as with Mount Kilimanjaro on the north-eastern border with Kenya. This is without mentioning the plethora of national parks and Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) that dot the landscape. The camp is accessible via 35 minutes’ road transfer from Kogatende Airstrip. Camp closed April & May. Temperatures are generally pleasant, with minimums of 13ºC / 55ºF and maximums of 29ºC / 84ºF.
- Luxury 5-star safari camp situated within the Northern Serengeti
- All-inclusive rates, including all standard food and beverages
- Fully furnished tented accommodation with en-suite facilities and amenities
- Pristine stargazing amid the unpolluted night sky
- Various safari activities led by experienced guides
- Opportunities to view the Mara River crossing and migration action
- Hot-air balloon excursions for arial game viewing
- Children of all ages welcome
Find yourself immersed in nature with glass fronted tents that offer spectacular views of the surrounding Serengeti. External walls of the suites are canvas white, with interiors eloquently furnished in the classic safari aesthetic. All 8 luxury tents feature a private plunge pool, lounge area, en-suite bathroom, double showers, a brass bathtub and a plethora of luxury amenities and creature comforts.
Amenities Include:
- En-suite bathroom
- Balcony / deck
- Veranda
- Lounge area
- King, double or twin beds
- Private plunge pool
- Shower
- Bath
- Mosquito nets
- Complimentary WIFI
- Dressing gowns
- Electrical outlets
- Fan
- Fireplace
- Hair dryer
- Laundry service (complimentary)
- Pure cotton linen
- Safe
These spacious, 5-star units share many features of the standard suites but have a greater capacity to accommodate larger numbers of guests. Whether you’re a small group or a honeymooning couple who relish in the larger tent space, these luxurious and versatile suites are sure to impress. Comprised of two interleading safari suites with a private plunge pool and lounge area that can be converted into an additional room when travelling with children, double showers, en-suite bathrooms, king, double or twin beds and a host of complimentary amenities, including WIFI.
Amenities Include:
- En-suite bathroom
- Balcony / deck
- Veranda
- Lounge area
- King, double or twin beds
- Private plunge pool
- Shower
- Bath
- Mosquito nets
- Complimentary WIFI
- Dressing gowns
- Electrical outlets
- Fan
- Fireplace
- Hair dryer
- Laundry service (complimentary)
- Pure cotton linen
- Safe
At Nimali Mara, you can expect no less than the finest dining experience the Serengeti has to offer. Featuring three meals per day, comprising a continental bush breakfast, midday picnic lunches and an indulgent three-course evening banquet. With all-inclusive rates, you’re free to indulge in a locally sourced range of alcoholic and none-alcoholic beverages at your own discretion. All meals and complimentary bites are included in the initial fee, allowing you to focus on the action at hand without worrying about your next meal. Communal dining is offered as standard, but private tables are available on request. Please note, cellar wines, premium spirits and champaign are charged additionally.
Embark on daily game drives amid the sprawling, fertile plains of the Serengeti. Experienced guides, familiar with the lay of the land and the abundance of wildlife that roams it will lead you safely through the lush landscape in search of the many staple safari creatures that depart on mass during the cycle of the Great Migration, featuring particularly high concentrations of wildebeest and other migrating plains game. Exotic Big 5 game viewing awaits your gaze, with regular sightings of all the big cats and predator and prey alike as you survey the landscape in open 4×4 safari vehicles.
Guided bush walks will allow you to soak up the intricacies of nature while traversing the land at a more intimate and insightful pace than conventional safari game drives. Knowledgeable guides will discuss with you the features of the land while pointing out local flora and fauna. Watch birds, walk in the footsteps of a lion herd or wildebeest, stalk the movements of the Great Migration, unravel the stories behind animal tracks or simply enjoy the vistas.
The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of Africa’s Endemic Bird Areas, featuring over 500 species waiting for you to discover. Bird watching in the Serengeti is phenomenal year-round, but at its absolute best during November through April. Not only is this when European and North African migratory birds are present, but it is also nesting time for resident species. Keep your eyes peeled for the likes of the black-headed gonolek, Fischer’s lovebird and Verreaux’s eagle.
Take in the atmosphere of the tantalising Serengeti night sky while gathered around a cosy campfire in the company of friends and family. Untarnished by light pollution, the remote areas of the Serengeti bush provide the perfect arena for a picturesque star-gazing experience. Marvel at the infinite sky, which features the Big Dipper in the northern hemisphere and the Southern Cross and Pointers in the south.
Traverse the skies of the Serengeti for an exclusive birds-eye view of the Great Migration below. Watch as vast mammal herds pass beneath you as the morning winds direct your course from the vantage of a basket high in the sky. This truly unique game viewing experience draws to a close with a delicious breakfast spread in the heart of the Serengeti plains, after which, you can choose to continue your adventure with a full day game drive or return to camp for a leisurely morning. Please note, hot-air balloon excursions are charged at additional fees and are accessible via external camp location.
If unconventional indulgence is what you desire, a champagne breakfast and all-round safari staple is sure to impress. No one is judging, as your time at Nimali Mara is one of indulgence. Feast yourself on a delectable array of sumptuous breakfast bites such as pastries, fruits, meats and other surprises, with the addition of a glass of champaign or sparkling white wine.
There are few better ways to conclude the eve of a riveting day’s safari adventure than a refreshing beverage while savouring the spectacular Serengeti sunset. Join your guide around the campfire as the lights begin to dim and exchange stories under stary skies, listen to tales of wildlife encounters and enjoy the atmosphere in good company. Enjoyed in-camp, by the pool, or have your private butler bring you favourite sundowner to the comfort of your own tent.
There are few ways better to unwind amid the eve of an exciting day’s wilderness adventure than indulging in a rejuvenating array of spa treatments and wellness therapies at Kuria Hill’s spectacular ‘Essence’ spa. Treat yourself to a well-deserved massage from your travels and absorb the sounds and melodies of your surroundings. Spas are a hymn to nature, intriguing to the senses, yet calming to the mind.
The Tarangear Trust is committed to the conservation effort of the Tanzanian wilderness and protecting the wildlife that inhabits it, educating the next generation of conservation leaders and protecting vulnerable members of the communities in which they operate, providing the support needed today to sustain and achieve a successful tomorrow. The Tarangear Trust depends largely on the generosity of individual and corporate donors. Their goal is to support and fund critical initiatives in Wildlife Conservation, Education and Neo Natal Care.
Funds are raised as an adjunct to the sales of products through mostly the generosity of individual and corporate donations. Of the total funds raised approximately 45% will be allocated to Wildlife Conservation initiatives, 30% to critical Neo-Natal programmes and 25% to community education efforts.
Tanzania is home to over 160 different tribes, each with their own character, attributes, uniqueness and pride. These tribes, which often contribute to the authentic travel experiences for the tourism industry, live in areas deprived of requisite education infrastructure for their children. The government has a limited allowance to run the whole school programme, which further burdens the education opportunities in these treasured communities. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic repercussions continue to threaten the survival of these rural schools. There are simply not enough classrooms for the students, leading to overcrowding and compromising the quality of education.
Nimali believe that it is important to uplift indigenous communities and provide the right educational opportunities surrounding wildlife areas in order to build knowledge of the significance of the wildlife and the benefits of tourism for the betterment and development of their communities. The goal is to ensure that adequate health standards are implemented, make necessary infrastructural improvements and provide the adequate tools to augment the learning process. The Tarangear Trust supports the need to invest in these children today to create the wildlife leaders of tomorrow.
The neo-natal intensive care unit at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) has, over the past 7 years, worked hard to demonstrate to Tanzanian healthcare workers and hospitals that critically ill and preterm babies are capable of survival. The premature survival rate in 2019 was 92.5%, with most deaths (75%) occurring among neonates with delayed transfer into the Nimali NICU from other hospitals. As the only facility of its kind in Tanzania, the ALMC NICU is also strongly focused on training and facilitating workshops around the country in the care of new-borns to further reduce mortality rates.
Nimali support them in their belief that “every breath counts”. Each year, the NICU sends over 250 healthy babies home, many of whom would not have otherwise survived. Each stay is an average of 23 days during which time both the mother and the baby require care, supplies and education. Namali’s commitment with Dr Swanson and his team will be to fund the care that is required to both the babies and the mothers of these most vulnerable members of the community.
Nimali’s hands-on, sensitive approach to ongoing conservation initiatives has proved hugely successful. It continues to aid local communities, which in turn, leads to local pride and confidence. The people who live in the villages surrounding the wildlife areas play an integral part of helping Nimali ensure that the wildlife in these areas is protected and in return, they help the community to prosper economically. By educating and employing those from the local communities, Nimali can provide them with opportunities to grow and gain economic independence.
In order to protect the wildlife, the land must also be protected. Tanzania has the world’s largest animal population per square kilometre, which includes over 400 species and subspecies. This large population of animals predominantly reside within the 12 national parks, 13 Nature Reserves and 38 protected areas in Tanzania, including the Serengeti, Africa’s largest nature reserve.
It takes well-trained personnel and continued investments in technology and supplies to patrol the 42,500 km² of wildlife habitat to enforce anti-poaching goals. It also requires consistent education efforts to engage the many rural communities to mitigate animal-human conflict. Without adequate funding, poaching incidents rise and land encroachments increase. As part of the Tarangear Trust initiative, their wildlife conservation goal is to fund the expenses associated with patrol officers and much needed training, supplies and technologies.
Nimali camps are intimately sized and specially designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, thereby limiting their impact on the land. They sustain themselves completely via solar power energy, which includes the use of solar water pumps, heaters and solar fridges. Nimali have implemented a no plastic policy and are introducing refillable water bottles for game drives to decrease the consumption of one-use plastic bottles. Particular attention is given to the recycling of materials. There is a recycling programme in place in Arusha which ensures that all items are returned from Nimali camps to this centre.
One of the biggest threats to wildlife today is human encroachment. With the growing human population and unregulated agricultural expansions, there is a serious strain both on the wildlife and the natural environment where they live. As part of our mission, we employ local people as part of our anti-poaching team to protect the wildlife whilst helping to ease the human-wildlife conflict, particularly for those villages on the front line. The Nimali team helps to educate the community to understand the direct benefit from tourism whilst protecting the wildlife and areas in which they operate.
Nimali Mara welcomes families with children of all ages. However, due to the potentially hazardous and sometimes unpredictable nature of the environment, children must be supervised by an adult at all times.