Lodges & partnersSeronera Central Serengeti

Arukore Simba Camp by Simba Portfolio

Twelve tented suites in the heart of the Seronera plains, in some of the richest big cat country in the Serengeti.

From $257 per person per night

01 / 06
Tier
Premium
Location
Seronera Central Serengeti

About

About Arukore Simba Camp by Simba Portfolio.

Arukore Simba Camp lies in the heart of the central Serengeti, about 25 km from the Seronera airstrip and named for the nearby Arukore River, where the ancestors of the Ikoma people once hunted. It is the newest camp in the Simba Portfolio, and one of its most refined.

The central Serengeti around Seronera is famous for resident big cats. Lion prides hold the kopjes year round, cheetah work the open plains, and leopard rest in the riverine trees, which makes this one of the most reliable corners of the park for predator sightings in any season.

Twelve permanent tented suites are decorated with local fabrics and hardwood, each with an ensuite bathroom, an outdoor shower and open views across the savannah. A swimming pool with a sun deck, a spa, a lounge and a campfire sit at the centre of camp, all running on solar power.

Game drives head straight out onto the plains from camp, and guests return for a swim through the heat of the day and a fire under the stars at night. It is an intimate, polished base for the central Serengeti.

Signature experiences

Why guests choose it.

  1. Big cat game drives

    Daily drives across the Seronera plains and kopjes, among the most reliable big cat country in the Serengeti.

  2. Swimming pool on the plains

    A pool and sun deck overlooking the savannah, a rare luxury deep inside the central Serengeti.

  3. Spa treatments

    A quiet break between drives with treatments in the camp spa.

  4. Bush breakfast and campfire

    Breakfast out among the plains game and an evening fire under the stars.

Room types

Where you will sleep.

Tented Suite

Permanent tented suites with an ensuite bathroom, an outdoor shower and a private outlook over the savannah, decorated with local fabrics and hardwood. Available as single, double, twin or triple.

At a glance

The essentials, in brief.

Amenities

  • Swimming Pool With Sun Deck
  • Spa
  • Restaurant
  • Lounge
  • Free WiFi In Common Areas
  • Campfire
  • Outdoor Showers
  • Solar Power

Best for

  • Couples
  • Honeymoon
  • Wildlife Photography
  • Big Cats
  • First Time Safari

Wildlife and nature

  • Resident lion prides on the Seronera kopjes
  • Cheetah On The Open Plains
  • Leopard In The Riverine Trees
  • Year Round Big Cat Sightings
  • Plains Game And Rich Birdlife

Best time to visit

When to go.

  • January: best
  • February: best
  • March: not a best month
  • April: not a best month
  • May: not a best month
  • June: best
  • July: best
  • August: best
  • September: best
  • October: best
  • November: not a best month
  • December: not a best month
Best months

Best months: January to February and June to October.

Location & access

Getting there.

Location

Seronera Central Serengeti

Arriving by air

Fly to Seronera airstrip, served by light aircraft from Arusha and across the Serengeti, then about a 40 to 45 minute game drive transfer to camp.

By road

A full day overland from Arusha across the northern circuit to the central Serengeti, roughly 6 to 8 hours of driving. Most guests fly in.

On the map

Where it sits.

2.237° S, 34.829° E

What's included

What the rate covers.

Included

  • Full Board (3 Meals Daily)
  • Tea And Coffee
  • Bottled Water In The Room
  • Bed levy, VAT and service charge

Not included

  • Game Drives
  • Airstrip Transfers
  • Concession Fees
  • Park Entry Fees
  • Drinks other than water in the room
  • Laundry
  • Travel And Medical Insurance
  • Flights And Airport Taxes
  • Transfers
  • Gratuities
  • Items Of A Personal Nature
  • Tanzania inbound travel insurance, 44 USD per adult (children 3 to 17 half price, under 3 free), compulsory from 1 October 2026 and bought online before travel

Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

Where is Arukore Simba Camp?

In the heart of the central Serengeti, about 25 km from the Seronera airstrip, named for the nearby Arukore River.

How many tents does it have?

Twelve permanent tented suites, available as singles, doubles, twins and triples.

What wildlife can I expect?

The central Serengeti around Seronera is big cat country, with resident lion, cheetah and leopard and excellent sightings throughout the year.

How do guests reach the camp?

Most fly to Seronera airstrip, about a 40 to 45 minute game drive from camp. Overland from Arusha is a full day drive.

Is there a pool?

Yes. The camp has a swimming pool and sun deck overlooking the plains, along with a spa, which is unusual this deep in the central Serengeti.

What is included in the rate?

Full board with three meals daily, tea and coffee, and bottled water in the room. Park fees, concession fees, game drives, airstrip transfers and drinks other than water are charged separately.

Is there electricity in the tents?

The camp runs on solar power, which also heats the water. Charging is best done in the main area, and the operator asks guests not to use hair dryers because they overload the system. A head torch is worth packing for moving around after dark.

Is there wireless internet?

Free wireless internet in the common areas rather than in the tents. Signal around Seronera is better than in much of the park, but treat time in your tent as time offline.

What medical cover should I arrange?

Travel and medical insurance is not included in the rate, so bring cover that includes emergency air evacuation. Seronera airstrip, about forty five minutes away by game drive, is the route out for anything serious, and evacuation flights depend on weather and daylight.

What is the central Serengeti like outside the migration months?

Seronera holds resident lion, cheetah and leopard all year, which is why it reads well in the green months from March to May when the herds are elsewhere and the park is quiet. The grass is long, the light is at its best for photography and the country is green rather than dusty.

Do I need travel insurance to visit?

Yes. From 1 October 2026 visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold the government inbound travel insurance, 44 USD per adult and valid for up to 92 days, covering emergency medical care, evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage. Children aged 3 to 17 pay half and infants under 3 are free. It is bought online before you fly or on arrival, and residents of Tanzania and of East African and SADC countries are exempt. If you land in Zanzibar first, the Zanzibar policy covers you instead. It is paid by you directly and is not part of our quote.

What's nearby

Worth the short trip.

  • Seronera Valley

    The big cat heartland of the central Serengeti, a short drive from camp and productive in every season.

  • Serengeti hot air balloon

    An optional dawn balloon flight over the plains, arranged separately, followed by a bush breakfast.

  • Retina and Maasai kopjes

    Granite outcrops that lions favour for shade and vantage, classic central Serengeti scenery.

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