Little Oliver's Camp: Our full report
Since it opened in 2013, Expert Africa has visited Little Oliver’s Camp, in southern Tarangire, on many occasions.
We've always found it to be a high-quality, very well run camp. Little Oliver's is a smaller sister camp to the popular Oliver's Camp, located just around the corner from Little Oliver's and built in an almost identical, but slightly larger scale.Little Oliver's consists of just five luxury tents which are almost exact replicas of the tents at Oliver's Camp. They are well spaced to allow for privacy, and one is further away than the rest, which is used for honeymooners. The rooms are raised up on wooden platforms, which extend at the front to form a deck with two sunloungers looking out into the surrounds. The camp is elevated on a small hill so there are good views here, and game can be spotted without even leaving camp.
The rooms are simple but high quality and practically designed, furnished with chunky wooden beds made from the timber of former dhows, Maasai bead lampshades, leather-bound books, and tree-trunk bedside tables. Each tent also has mosquito spray, a radio to contact the office, a torch and a digital safe, and there are sockets in the cupboard for charging batteries.
Separating the bedroom from the bathroom is a canvas wardrobe, which doesn't completely cross the room. While it shields the view of the bathroom, it is not completely private, so friends travelling together might wish for something more substantial. The bathroom consists of a sink, toilet and indoor shower, while through a door is a plumbed outdoor shower surrounded by a wooden fence for privacy.
The main area at Little Oliver's is an open sided space, shaded by thatch and furnished with plenty of comfortable leather armchairs and chunky wooden coffee tables covered with books. The look is stylish and welcoming, and an inviting place to relax with a cup of tea or a G&T. The adjoining dining area has a communal table, adding to the sociable and friendly atmosphere. There is a very pleasant decking area which would alos be well suited to sundowners.
Little Oliver's would work well for large groups of friends and families who are looking for a small camp to rent out exclusively, or those who want the quality and location of the main Oliver's Camp, but with a slightly smaller set-up.
Activities at Little Oliver's include walking, usually on the plains or in the sand river. Resident guides can take you for game drives, including night drives (which are an extra cost of US$115 per person in 2018). At the time of writing, walking safaris are priced at $75 per person. Currently fly-camping is no longer possible from Little Oliver's.
Our view
Little Oliver's is an excellent small tented camp in Tarangire - like Oliver's main camp, it is very well run, with high quality guiding, food and service, but with a little more peace and privacy.
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- 2-3 nights
- Directions
- Little Oliver's Camp is a 45 minutes' drive from Kuro airstrip. If driving in from Arusha, allow 4-6 hours in total depending on what wildlife you spot whilst travelling through the park. The parks main gate is around 2 hours drive from Arusha.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- On our last visit to Little Oliver's in October 2018, we did not have time to eat, but on previous visits we have found the food to be of a very high standard, as with other Asilia properties. Breakfast is served with both hot and cold options with a buffet of cereals, fruit, and yoghurts on offer as well as cooked eggs, bacon, sausage and vegetables, which can be ordered at your table.
Most of the time, guests – including us – take a box lunch on a full day game drive. However, if eating lunch in camp, this is usually served in two courses – oftern family style at the table. Usually there is a selection of salads and cooked meats, followed by a light, often fruit-based dessert. The camp can also arrange for bush lunches on request.
Dinner is served as a three-course meal at a communal table, which is set outside under the stars most of the time. In the past we have enjoyed a butternut squash soup as a starter, followed by a peppercorn-encrusted beef fillet for a main course, and a rich chocolate mousse for dessert.
It is worth to mention that the menu at Little Oliver's Camp is identical to Oliver's Camp. - Dining style
- Group Meals
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- No
- Drinks included
- Most drinks are included. Fine wines, champagne and imported spirits will cost extra.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Oliver's Camp will happily accept children from the age of 6.
- Property’s age restrictions
- Children under 12 are not permitted to walk in Tarangire National Park.
- Special activities & services
- None
- Equipment
- Even though the tents are quite far apart, children’s tents can be connected to their parents’ tent by radio.
- Generally recommended for children
- This camp is best suited for older children aged 12 and above.
- Notes
- Oliver's Camp is a small friendly camp that is welcoming to older children, though parents should be aware that this is a bushcamp and that it is not fenced. Parents should keep a close eye on their children, who are their responsibility at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Little Oliver's
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Little Oliver's Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
75% success
75% success
75% success
75% success
50% success
50% success
33% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a back up generator if needed.
- Communications
- Little Oliver's Camp has WiFi in the bedrooms. There is usually cellphone reception in the camp, though Oliver's requests that guests do not use their phones in the communal areas.
- TV & radio
- There is no TV or radio in camp.
- Water supply
- Borehole
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- The managers and guides at Little Oliver's Camp are all first aid trained, and the camp has links to the flying doctor service.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Askaris (guards) escort you around at night, as animals do wander through the camp.
- Fire safety
- There is a firebreak around the camp and all tents have fire extinguishers.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry at Oliver's Camp is included – but it is hand washed so no underwear is accepted. Soap is provided in the bathrooms for this.
- Money
- There are safes in all the tents for storing valuables.
- Accepted payment on location
- Little Oliver's Camp will accept payments in cash, as well as Visa and MasterCard. They cannot accept Amex or travellers' cheques.
Other lodges in Tarangire National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Oliver's Camp
Oliver's Camp is a small, intimate, luxury tented camp in a great location in northern Tanzania's Tarangire National Park.
Kuro Tarangire
Kuro Tarangire is a stylish tented camp, located in a quiet and remote area deep in Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire Safari
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Lemala Mpingo Ridge
Lemala Mpingo Ridge is a stylish camp in Tarangire National Park, with a beautiful location and elevated views over the park.
Tarangire Sopa Lodge
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Oliver's Fly-Camp
Get back to basics at Oliver's Fly-Camp, exploring Tarangire National Park on foot and sleeping out in the wilderness.
Swala Camp
Swala Camp is a stylish camp for exploring the southern Tarangire, either with a private driver-guide, or using the camp's vehicles and guides.
Tarangire Treetops
Tarangire Treetops is a lovely, high-quality lodge on the outskirts of Tarangire National Park, offering game drives, night drives and safari walks.
Chem Chem
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Kirurumu Tarangire
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Maramboi Tented Camp
Maramboi Tented Camp is a family-friendly tented lodge located between Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park.
Nimali Tarangire
Nimali is a small camp built in contemporary style on the outskirts of Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania.
Maweninga Camp
On an isolated kopje on the western side of Tarangire National Park, Mawe Ninga is an inexpensive, basic safari camp.
Forest Chem Chem
Located in the Chem Chem Concession and close to Tarangire National Park, Forest Chem Chem is a high-quality tented camp which is booked on an exclusive basis.
Olkeri Camp
Olkeri is a comfortable tented camp, located in the Randilen Wildlife Management area, bordering Tarangire National Park; ideal for those looking for pristine wilderness.
Little Chem Chem
Little Chem Chem is a stylish option near Tarangire National Park, offering real relaxation combined with a variety of safari activities.
