In the quiet south-east of Tarangire, beside Silale and Lormakau marshes, Oliver's Camp sits on a low, sandy ridge and is a lovely tented camp. Open from June to the end of March, the game is particularly good here in the height of the dry season when the marshes attract huge herds of buffalo, zebra and wildebeest.
Oliver's Camp is the sister camp to Olakira, Dunia and Sayari Mara, and guarantees the same good guiding and a friendly bush experience. The main mess tent is a cream, open sided tent which looks out into the surrounding bush and is furnished with comfortable leather armchairs, reclaimed dhow wood tables and campaign furniture. This all comes together to create a very traditional tented camp, which is stylish but still very authentic.
In front of the mess tent is a fire pit, surrounded by directors' chairs, where guests will gather before and after dinner to chat about the day and listen to the sounds of the bush.
The rooms are eight large, rectangular tents which are also very traditionally styled and widely spaced apart for privacy. The interiors are rustic but tasteful and practical: furniture made from the timber of former dhows, lampshades adorned with Masaai beads, leather-bound books, tree-trunk bedside tables, solar-powered lights and an open canvas wardrobe. In front of your tent are two sun loungers where you can relax and read, or perhaps sit and bird watch with a pair of binoculars.
There are no power sockets in the tents, but you can charge any batteries in the main office. Each tent also has mosquito spray, a radio to contact the office if you need to, a torch and a digital safe for valuables.
The ensuite bathroom is through the side of the tent in an adjoining clay rondavel. Here you will find a chemical toilet and open-air, bucket shower
Oliver's is a temporary camp but is currently located in a special wilderness area where walking and fly-camping are allowed, usually taking place on the plains or sand river. A guide training camp is being run in association with Oliver's, and most game activities will include scheme participants. The camp has three resident guides who can take you out on shared activities. Or you can opt to arrive with your own private vehicle and guide.
Oliver's is a lovely tented camp with a great location in far south of the park. The food, service and guiding here is very good and the camp offers a great wilderness experience.
Directions: Oliver's Camp is in the southern end of Tarangire National Park. It is a short drive to Kuro airstrip or about 3 hours to Arusha.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Key personnel
Owner: Property Chain - Asilia
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality: The food at Oliver's is of the same high standard found at its sister camps. Meals are tasty, fresh and beautifully presented.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Indoor Dining
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: Drinks included
Special interests
Birdwatching: Tarangire National Park is the best park in Tanzania for bird-watching and avid twitchers will enjoy sitting in the central 'mess tent' and looking out into the surrounding acacias which offer great bird-watching. You might spot flycatchers, superb starlings, morning thrushes, and even a pair of yellow-winged bats!
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for birdwatching in Tanzania
Children
Attitude towards children: Oliver's Camp will happily accept children.
Age restrictions: There is no walking for under 16s.
Generally recommended for children: Yes
Notes: Oliver's Camp is a small friendly camp that is welcoming to older children, though parents should be aware that this is a bush camp and it is not fenced. Parents should keep a close eye on their children and they are their own responsibility at all times.
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: Oliver's Camp has internet for office use only. There is also cell phone reception in the camp, though Oliver's requests that guests do not use their phones in the communal areas.
TV & radio: No
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: Oliver's Camp has links to flying docs and the managers and guides are all first aid trained.
Security measures: Askaris (guards) escort you around at night, as animals do wonder through the camp.
Fire safety: There is a fire break around the camp and all tents have extinguishers.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry at Oliver's Camp is included – but it is hand washed so no underwear. Soap is provided in the bathrooms for this.
Accepted payment: Oliver's Camp will accept cash and Visa and Mastercard, though there is a 5% charge for this. However Oliver's cannot accept Amex or Travellers' cheques.
Oliver's Camp review
I loved the Tarangrira, our guide was Masenga and was excellent. The Game viewing was amazing. We were surrounded by wild life in abundance. I am also interested in birds and this was also responded t...
Great to come back to after fly camping
Our first tent, number 6 was excellent with good running water. Our second tent, number 9 was not as good. The location was not as nice, and the water flow was not as good. Same accommodations, but...
We want you to understand more about Oliver's Camp. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Oliver's Camp's own website A stylish website which also has some good photos and a nice history of the camp.
