&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas A luxurious semi-permanent tented camp that moves within range of the Great Migration
The spirit of &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas
This is the ultimate in luxury camping, complete with a private butler service, chandeliers, silverware, crystal, ensuite flush w.c. and comfortable beds with fluffy duvets.
Experience a classic Tanzanian safari in spectacular solitude and soothing comfort – with only the canvas walls of your tent separating you from the wonder of the Serengeti. Carefully positioned for close proximity to the wildlife herds of the Great Migration, our two &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas camps provide the ultimate viewpoint for this amazing animal spectacle. With only nine tents nestled at each private campsite, enjoy the indulgence of complete comfort combined with the authenticity of nights spent in the African bush.
Why we love it
- Attempts to anticipate the movements of the Great Migration
- The rustic charm of camping combined with true comfort and luxury, including a private butler, hot bucket shower and flush toilet
- The ultimate remote getaway in the midst of the vast herds
- Seasonal sightings of the Grumeti and Mara River crossings
- Seasonal sightings of the wildebeest calving season at Ndutu
- Exceptional resident game
- Fantastic big cat sightings
- Unique wildlife includes topi, kongoni and Thompson’s gazelle
- Magnificent night skies
The camp
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas is a luxurious semi-permanent tented camp that moves around the Serengeti bringing guests within range of the massive herds of the Great Migration.
Using only private campsites, these mobile camps are entirely intimate and exclusive, featuring just nine spacious safari tents at each of its two campsites.
The guest areas include a dedicated sitting and dining tent, which provides deep sofas from which to contemplate the vastness and peace of the surrounding landscape. Custom made Indian rugs and polished brass samovars add a touch of elegance and romance.
Relax under the dark velvet night sky and sample hearty cuisine served on sparkling crystal and silver that reflects the twinkling light of millions of shining stars. Cluster around a roaring campfire to share stories of the day’s magic and listen to the African night come alive.
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Care of the Land, Wildlife & People
Understanding our impact
We show our commitment to “Care of the Land. Care of the Wildlife. Care of the People” by looking for ways to contribute and give more to wildlife spaces and …
Understanding our impact
We show our commitment to “Care of the Land. Care of the Wildlife. Care of the People” by looking for ways to contribute and give more to wildlife spaces and the communities that live adjacent to them. But we also believe that we can reduce our negative enviromental impact on the earth without compromising our guest experience.
We operate a high-yield, low-impact model by creating very small luxury lodges that can support enormous tracts of biodiverse land, which remains untouched and untrammeled. But, even though &Beyond ‘s footprint is very small (less than 450 bedrooms in total, which, in turn, support over 9 million acres of precious wildlife land), many of our lodges have a sustainability champion, who together with lodge managers, are custodians of our philosophy to “give more” and “take less”.
At every lodge and office we seek out small but meaningful ways of putting our values into action each day. We understand that delighting our guests is the most important thing we can do to sustain our business and thus sustain the wildlife areas we protect.
Over the years, &Beyond has introduced an environmental strategy to assess our lodges from a sustainability and conservation viewpoint. The lodges are annually subjected to an intensive sustainability audit to determine their environmental impact. This allows us to determine lodge-specified strategies to reduce that impact. Additionally, in order to understand and manage some of our impact, monthly measures are taken of the following eco-overheads:
- Water usage
- Electricity consumption
- Diesel and petrol consumption
- Gas and paraffin, charcoal usage (for illuminating and cooking)
- Firewood and charcoal
- Waste production and management
These statistics are collated and analysed in order to help identify problems, as well as to help lodges see how their innovations and savings have paid off. Efficiencies are identified and the lodges are set targets to improve and reduce their impact still further.
The champions and lodge managers look for new “take less “ ideas and, ways to reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions, recycling initiatives, conservation awareness drives, water efficiency, elimination of exotic plants, addressing erosion, re-greening and many more. They are the drivers who ensure that each department, behind the scenes, finds practical ways of reducing our impact and creating a better company in a better world.
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Rates & Offers
Family Tent Rate
Family Tent Rate
Each camp at &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas has one family tent that can accommodate a maximum of two adults and two children. The bedroom area of the tent can be separated by a net for privacy. The bathroom is at the back of the tent, and features two bucket showers, a flush loo, and basin.
When available, families can book a private safari vehicle, which allows for tailor-made game drives that cater for needs of children; leaving and coming back to the lodge at any time. A swimming pool is available for families to enjoy.
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Tent Rate
Tent Rate
The luxurious tented camps of &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas move around the park year-round, attempting to anticipate the movements of the Great Migration and exploring the remote and beautiful corners of the Serengeti with excellent resident game. Using only private campsites, these mobile camps are entirely intimate and exclusive, featuring spacious safari tents, each with a double bed, ensuite bathroom, separate w.c and al fresco bucket shower. Redolent of classic safari style, custom-made Indian rugs, crisp linens, sparkling crystal and polished brass lend flair to the simplicity of camping.
The camp boasts spacious tents. With an additional two metres (almost seven feet) in length, each tent features an indoor sitting area, thus giving guests more privacy. The day bed in the sitting area converts into a comfortable bed for children under the age of 12. With additional lighting, double shower, storage chest, luggage racks and safety deposit boxes, these are by far the most luxurious tents in the Serengeti.
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Fly me around East Africa Explore the classical safari landscapes of East Africa and save up to USD3520 per stay
Fly me around East Africa Explore the classical safari landscapes of East Africa and save up to USD3520 per stay
Take advantage of…
Fly me around East Africa – discover the scenic highlights of East Africa for less. Book seven nights at any combination of &Beyond’s lodges in Kenya or Tanzania and all flights between camps are on us. Ultimate flexibility at a fixed price – you chose which of our East African properties you would like to include and we will fly you there.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Tanzania long stay offer Stay longer for less
Tanzania long stay offer Stay longer for less
Take advantage of…
Savings up to 15% per person per night off our published rates with longer than 3 night stays at a combination of &Beyond’s East African lodges and camps.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Kenya long stay offer Stay longer for Less
Kenya long stay offer Stay longer for Less
Save up to 15% per person per night off our published rates with longer than 3 night stays at a combination of &Beyond’s East African lodges and camps.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Our favourite lodge experiences
Frequently asked questions
Why visit the Serengeti National Park?
With a name that means ‘endless plains’ in the Maasai language, the Serengeti National Park has become famous as a scenic and classical safari destination. Stretching along a vast plateau …
Why visit the Serengeti National Park?
With a name that means ‘endless plains’ in the Maasai language, the Serengeti National Park has become famous as a scenic and classical safari destination. Stretching along a vast plateau between the eastern arm of the rugged Rift Valley and the huge expanse of Lake Victoria, the park covers an immense 14 800 km² (5 700 square miles) on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya. The park is famous for its vast, open grasslands, which allow for excellent sightings of the abundant wildlife. Tanzania’s oldest game reserve, it is also one of the oldest ecosystems on earth and its climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years.
While the Serengeti boasts incredible numbers of resident wildlife, it is perhaps best known as the site of the annual Great Migration, when an estimated three million antelope – mostly wildebeest — migrate to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. One of the greatest spectacles in the natural world, the migration follows the seasonal rains, spending the wet season on the south eastern plains of Tanzania and the dry season in the woodlands of north western Kenya. Between January and March the wildebeest give birth on the short grass plains of the south eastern Serengeti. This time of year attracts a vast plethora of predators, from lion to hyena, leopard and cheetah. As the grazing runs low in this area the wildebeest move to the central Serengeti and then the Western Corridor before crossing the Grumeti and Mara Rivers on their journey south in Kenya. Braving the jaws of some of Africa’s largest crocodiles, the river crossings are always a dramatic and emotional sight.
Why Visit?
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The National Park is 1.5 million hectares.
- Undoubtedly one of the world’s most celebrated wilderness areas and is an ongoing source of inspiration to writers, filmmakers and photographers.
- It is Tanzania’s oldest game reserve, renowned as the site of the annual Great Migration, when an estimated three million antelope – mostly wildebeest — migrate to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. This epic, seasonal journey is a deeply moving experience and a wonderful photographic subject.
- Big Five National Park with a huge concentration of cats.
It has been immortalized in film and literature and continues to inspire writers, photographers and travellers from all over the world. Its prides of lion, the teeming multitudes of its Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra and the infinite expanses of open grasslands combine to form the most powerful and alluring vision of Africa.
Here keen photographers crouch over telephoto lenses as the sun turns the scene to gold. Here a family stares in hushed excitement at their first encounter with a towering bull elephant. Here the horizon fills with the dust of millions of hooves and the timeless drama of predator and prey takes centre stage.
Climate
Summer
Min 24°C/75°F Max 32 C
Winter
Min 8°C/46°F Max 23°C/73°F
Long rains: April to May (Monsoon)
Short rains: November to mid December
Tanzania – what should I pack?
With only 13.5lbs (20kgs) to spare you may need assistance with your packing list
Tanzania – what should I pack? With only 33lbs (15kgs) to spare you may need assistance with your packing list
Casual, comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. Due to the high altitude on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater it can be cold at night (even in summer) therefore it is very important to pack warm clothing for the nights. The most practical items to pack are:
- Khaki, brown, white and beige colours
- Light cotton tops and cotton trousers/shorts in summer
- Long sleeved blouses/shirts for game drives Safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
- A fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for game drives (and at the Ngorongoro Crater)
- Swimwear is a must for the beach A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Thermal underwear, light layers, sweater, warm jacket, good socks and sturdy, comfortable walking boots for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Depending on your journey it may be easier to reference our useful Packing checklist.
How do I find the Great Migration?
The Great Migration traditionally follows the rain as animals migrate towards better pastures…
How do I find the Great Migration? The Great Migration traditionally follows the rain as animals migrate towards better pastures
The annual movement of wildebeest and other herbivores across the Serengeti– Mara ecosystem consists of more than 1.5 million wildebeest, 400 000 zebra, 18 000 eland and 200 000 Thompson’s gazelle. The Migration is rarely the same in terms of precise timing and direction.
JANUARY – MARCH
The animals gather on the southern Serengeti plains, dropping their calves. The plains are a short drive from &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas.
APRIL – MAY
The herds move north, towards the central Serengeti plains and the Seronera area. The &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas camps follow.
JUNE
The herds move northwest, towards &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp. The luxury tented camps of &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas re-position themselves.
JULY – OCTOBER
The herds start heading northeast, followed by the &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas camps. The wildebeest must cross the Mara River before they reach Kenya’s Masai Mara, to the west of &Beyond Klein’s Camp. As the animals continue to move backwards and forwards across the river, the excitement can also be viewed from &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp and &Beyond Bateleur Camp.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
Crossing back into the Serengeti, the Migration moves south, passing &Beyond’s Klein’s Camp and Serengeti Under Canvas.
The wildebeest migration follows the year’s annual rainfall so its appearance in Tanzania and Kenya is weather dependent. Our travel experts are updated weekly by our guides in the field who closely monitor the location of the wildebeest migration throughout the year. This enables us to advise you on the best destination to visit during your particular time of travel.
How do I get to and around Tanzania?
Tanzania has several airports, although the most common access points are Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam) on the coast and Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north-east of the …
How do I get to and around Tanzania? The gateway to Tanzania is Dar es Salaam. Limited international scheduled flights also fly directly to Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania has several airports, although the most common access points are Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam) on the coast and Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north-east of the country or connections are available from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (Nairobi, Kenya).
Guests heading out on safari can fly into either destination and link up with scheduled light aircraft flights to airstrips in the wilderness areas. A typical route would be to arrive at Kilimanjaro, where your safari operator would be waiting to drive you to Arusha, where you would spend the night. Early the next morning, you could catch any of a number of flights that depart from Arusha heading out onto the safari circuit. In the south, guests arriving in Dar es Salaam can connect to light aircraft flights to Arusha or into the southern parks of Selous or Ruaha, depending on their arrival time. If you are travelling to the remote western parks, flights depart only twice a week and take up to five hours to reach their destination.
Flights
SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
The gateways to Tanzania are Dar es Salaam and Nairobi in Kenya. (Limited international scheduled flights also fly directly to Kilimanjaro.) Daily scheduled domestic flights link these gateways with Tanzania’s wildlife areas.
SHUTTLE/CHARTER FLIGHTS
Daily flights link the international airports with Tanzania‘s wildlife areas via Arusha Airport using a reliable network of light aircraft flights sold on a scheduled seat in plane or private charter basis. Please note the luggage limit on these aircrafts is 15 kg (33 lb), packed in soft bags.
Transfers
SELF-DRIVE
Self-drive is not recommended in Tanzania as it is a vast country with varying road conditions, and 4×4 transport is required for most areas.
GUIDED DRIVING SAFARIS
We have a fleet of vehicles and can tailor-make itineraries throughout the country.
TRAVEL TIMES
When travelling through Tanzania it is useful to have the correct expectation as to how distance and time relate. Please reference our guidelines below when calculating how far you can travel in a given amount of time.
What to remember when travelling around Tanzania
Tanzania is a vast country and the distances between attractions can be considerable. It is therefore advisable that you consult a tour operator to help you organise flights and transfers. Keep in mind that some of the attractions, like the Selous Game Reserve and the Ruaha National Park, are quite remote locations and you will need to arrange air transport if you wish to visit them.
Road conditions are variable, there are long distances to be covered and 4×4 transport is required for most areas. This method of travel is not recommended in Tanzania. If you decide to travel by road, be prepared for a long, dusty and potentially exhausting trip.
When should I visit Tanzania?
While it is best known for its exceptional wildlife experiences, Tanzania has a great deal to offer travellers. Home to the endless plains of the Serengeti, as well as a …
When should I visit Tanzania? Tanzania is a year round travel destination where each season has its own reason to visit
While it is best known for its exceptional wildlife experiences, Tanzania has a great deal to offer travellers. Home to the endless plains of the Serengeti, as well as a selection of extraordinarily picturesque wildlife areas, the country is one of Africa’s most well-known safari destinations. It is also home to the continent’s highest mountain, the spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro, which offers a relatively easy ascent and is popular with climbers. The country is also one of the few places in the world where chimpanzees can be seen in the wild. Boasting a golden coastline washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is also an outstanding beach destination.
With a well-developed tourism industry and a number of attractive destinations, it is easy for our Tanzania tour packages to cater for one or more of these interests.
Your reason to come may depend on your need to escape the cold, your desire to experience turtles hatching or your quest to receive the best value for money.
Journeys to inspire
What other people say about us
2016 – Gentry Destinations Magazine
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas, Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp and Bateleur Camp all featured in Gentry Destinations Magazine – Picture Prefect feature
2016 – Gentry Destinations Magazine
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas, Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp and Bateleur Camp all featured in Gentry Destinations Magazine – Picture Prefect feature
AA Green Rooms
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas is featured in AA Green Rooms’ 100 Eco-Friendly and Ethical Places Around the World 2008
TripAdvisor
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas is awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014
Resorts
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas is one of Resorts magazine’s Top 100 Places to Stay 2012
Condé Nast Traveler
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas is featured at #19 in Top 30 Resorts in Africa at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2015
The Gentleman’s Journal
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas is named one of The Gentleman’s Journal’s Five Best Luxury Camps for Witnessing the Wildebeest Migration 2015