Seronera Central Serengeti · Safari Lodge
Sametu Camp
Tented camp by the Ngarenanyuki River in central Serengeti, anchored on year-round big cat country.
About
Sametu Camp sits on the banks of the Ngarenanyuki River in the central Serengeti, a few minutes' drive from the leopard-dense Seronera River Valley and within the migration's southern annual swing from December through April. The camp's location is its biggest asset: central Serengeti is the one zone of the park that holds resident wildlife year-round, which means you don't need to chase the herds to get a full safari.
The Seronera River Valley is Africa's premier leopard hotspot. A single morning game drive routinely turns up two or three cats on the lower branches of the sausage trees. Lion prides hold the surrounding kopjes (the granite outcrops that inspired Disney's Pride Rock). Cheetah hunt the open plains east of Seronera, and elephant herds drift through the camp's riverine setting all year.
Sametu runs sixteen canvas tents along a low ridge above the river, plus a Family Suite for parties of four. Each tent has hardwood floors, a private viewing deck, and an en-suite bathroom with hot water. The dining tent looks over a watering hole that draws elephant, buffalo, and the occasional resident lion at dusk. Meals are full board; house beverages are included.
Best for guests who want the Serengeti without the long drives. Flights into Seronera airstrip put you 30 minutes from camp, and the central plains let you stay put for three to five nights without circling back to logistical hubs. Also a strong base for migration-tracking trips during the December to April calving season, when the herds drop into the southern Serengeti from Kogatende.
Access is by short bush flight from Arusha to Seronera airstrip (1hr 15min including the road transfer JRO to Arusha Airport), or by a long drive day from Karatu (5 to 6 hours through the Crater highlands and across the western corridor).
Signature experiences
Seronera River Valley game drive
Africa's most reliable leopard country. Morning drives routinely turn up two or three cats in the sausage trees, plus lions on the surrounding kopjes.
Migration tracking (Dec to Apr)
When the herds swing through the southern Serengeti for the calving season, Sametu is a base for following them across the short-grass plains east of Ndutu.
Hot-air balloon safari (Mar to Oct)
Dawn flights over the Seronera plains from a launch site 20 minutes from camp. Three-hour experience with champagne breakfast on landing. Booked through a Serengeti operator.
Honeymoon enhancement
Sparkling welcome, turn-down service with flowers, and a small gift from the camp.
Amenities
- All-Inclusive Package
- Premium Beverages
- Laundry Service
- Riverside Setting
- Year-Round Game Viewing
Best for
- First-Time Safari
- Big Cat Sightings
- Family
- Photography
- Migration
Wildlife you might see
- Seronera River Valley: Africa's Premier Leopard Hotspot, Year-round
- Resident Lion Prides On The Kopjes East Of Camp
- Cheetah Hunting On The Open Plains
- Migration Herds Dec To Apr During Southern Calving Swing
- Elephant Herds And Buffalo At The Camp's Riverine Watering Hole
Best time to visit
May
Location & access
Seronera Central Serengeti
Fly-in: Approximately 2hr 30min total: 1hr JRO to Arusha Airport (ARK) by road, then a 1hr 15min Cessna Caravan to Seronera airstrip, then a 30-minute game-drive transfer to the camp. Karibu's vehicle meets guests at the airstrip.
Drive: Approximately 8 hours total: 1hr JRO to Arusha, then 2hr Arusha to Karatu (Ngorongoro highlands base), then 5hr Karatu through the Crater conservation area, across the western corridor and into central Serengeti.
Room types
Single Tent
Solo en-suite tent with hardwood floors and a private viewing deck over the riverine bush.
Double Tent
Twin or king-bed en-suite tent with a wood-floored deck and an outdoor bucket shower for full bush immersion.
Triple Tent
Three-bed configuration with the same canvas-and-deck design as the doubles, suited to friend or family groups.
Family Suite
Two interconnecting rooms with a shared lounge, sleeping up to five guests.
What's included
Included
- Full Board (3 Meals Daily)
- House Drinks (tea, Coffee, Water, Juices, Soft Drinks)
- Daily Laundry
- TDL (Tanzania Development Levy)
Not included
- Park Fees
- Concession Fees
- Game-drive Vehicle And Driver-guide
- Premium Drinks
- Flying Doctors / Medical Evacuation
- Travel Insurance
- Bush Flights
- Tips And Gratuities
- Items Of A Personal Nature
Reviews
Frequently asked
How many rooms does Sametu Camp have?
Sixteen en-suite tents plus a Family Suite. Maximum capacity around 35 guests.
When is the camp open?
Year-round. The central Serengeti holds wildlife in every season, so Sametu operates without seasonal closures.
How do guests reach Sametu Camp?
Most commonly by 1hr 15min Cessna flight from Arusha Airport to Seronera airstrip, followed by a 30-minute game drive to the camp. The drive option from Arusha takes a full day (8 hours via Ngorongoro and the western corridor).
Are families with children welcome?
Yes. The Family Suite is built for four to five guests. Karibu charges children aged 5 to 14 at 50% of the adult rate, with children under 5 free when sharing with a parent.
What's included in the rate?
Full board, house beverages, daily laundry, and TDL. Excluded: park fees, concession fees, premium drinks, the game-drive vehicle, flying-doctors cover, bush flights, tips, and personal items.
What is the best time to visit?
Central Serengeti delivers wildlife year-round, but June to October offers the driest conditions and the easiest tracking. The southern migration season (Dec to Apr) brings the herds within reach for calving-focused trips.
What's nearby
- Moru Kopjes45min drive south. Rock paintings, ancient Maasai sites, and a black rhino population. Combined with a game drive en route.
- Ndutu (calving season)2.5hr drive south of camp. The migration's calving grounds in Feb to Mar; one of the world's great wildlife spectacles.
- Hot-air balloon launch20min from camp. Dawn balloon flights over the central plains with champagne breakfast on landing.
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