Esirai Migration Camp: Our full report
Previously the Matembezi mobile camp, Esirai now falls under Matembezi’s sister company, Entara Camps and Lodges.
This has not changed the camp’s unique character, operating as an efficient and comfortable migration mobile camp.The camp’s location when it is set up in northern Serengeti is a welcome change from iconic plains. Palm trees that pepper the river banks inspire an image of the tucked-away oasis in the heart of a quaint acacia woodland. A delightfully intimate camp, Esirai blends in with its natural surroundings and is also located close to the Rhino protection area of the Nyamalumbwa hills.
The camp is made up of two separate main tents and eight guest tents. A quaint cube-shaped lounge tent with an eye-catching woven awning which fills the back wall of the lounge tent gives it a cosy and homely feel. Maps are hung on the canvas wall, directly above a small library filled with nature books and an interesting rock collection, all of which can be enjoyed from the comfort of the small sofas, leather pouffe cushions and deck chairs placed around the lounge tent. As the camp is powered by solar, charging of all devices is done at a central charging station, which is located in the lounge.
All the tents face towards the Bologonja river, which allows the camp a view of the lush riverine vegetation of palms. and exquisite birdlife.
The dining tent is just a few steps from the lounge tent. On one side there is a large buffet table, which throughout the day is stocked with tea, coffee and other drinks. Dining is usually private, however, when we visited a large table had been set up for a large group, lined with leather deck chairs draped with traditional Maasai shukas and an impressive display of palm leaves in a recycled glass vase.
The guest tents are situated on either side of the communal areas, spaced out to offer an element of privacy. The interiors are simple and sufficient for a mobile camp experience, however large enough to adequately accommodate a large double or twin beds which are decorated with terracotta tie dye, woven blankets and throw pillows. Leather strap luggage racks are provided alongside a wooden hanging rack, fitted with a simple canvas shelf and foot rack.
The bathroom facilities are in keeping with the mobile camp tradition of compost loos and bucket showers of 50 litres – plenty of water for a good shower. Just order your shower whenever you want it and an attendant will fill the tank with warm water.
The family unit consists of two standard tents, linked by an enclosed corridor.
The main activites at Esirai are game drives in open game-viewing vehicles. However, the camp plans to start offering walking and fly-camping which complement this camp very well.
Esirai is located in the northern Serengeti from June to November, before following the migration south, where its location is near Naabi from December to the end of April.
Our view
Esirai is a great option for travellers who are keen to keep up with the migration and who enjoy a taste of traditional safari. With its minimal frills, we feel Esirai offers comfort and convenience, while retaining the under-canvas experience that so many travellers appreciate.
Country manager: Tanzania
Geographics
- Location
- Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- 3-plus nights
- Directions
- In the north, the camp is around 40km from Kogatende Airstrip. When it is in the south, it is close to Naabi Hill
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- We had lunch during our visit in 2023, which was a lovely honey mustard glazed chicken, herb rice and avocado, with a side of butternut and spinach stew. The ingredients were deliciously fresh and the serving portions were just right
- Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service is available.
- Drinks included
- Soft and house alcoholic drinks are included in your stay.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children friendly provide board games and small nature walks around the camp with a member of staff
- Equipment
- None
- Notes
- Children must be supervised by parents
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Esirai Migration Camp
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Esirai Migration 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
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100% success
100% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a back-up generator
- Communications
- Wifi is available in the main areas only. There are charging stations only in the lounge, not in the guest tents.
- TV & radio
- Nones
- Water supply
- Transported in
- Water supply notes
- Water is sourced from the Bologonja spring. The showers at Esirai are safari (“bucket”) showers, with warm water brought in quantity to your tent whenever you request a shower. They operate just like ordinary showers, with the proviso that you should be sure. to rinse off before your water runs out.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- The nearest doctor is at the Four Seasons.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Askaris patrol the camp during the night and escort guest to and from the tents.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in all the tents and main areas and a firebreak around the camp.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included in your stay at no extra charge, however underwear will not be accepted and soap provided to wash your own.
- Money
- There are no room safes. Any valuables that you cannot keep on your person should be given to the manager for safe-keeping.
- Accepted payment on location
- Credit cards are not accepted. Cash can be used for an extras – US Dollars, Tanzanian Shillings, or UK Pounds.
Other lodges in Serengeti Migration Area
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Olakira Camp
Comfortable, friendly and relaxed, Olakira Camp moves between the Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Sayari Camp
In the northern Serengeti, near the Mara River, luxurious Sayari Camp offers excellent wildife all year – boosted further by the wildebeest migration.
Nomad Serengeti Camp
Serengeti Safari Camp is a well-appointed tented camp that moves several times a year to follow the predicted path of the migration.
Dunia Camp
Dunia Camp is well located for the migration from December to March, and has excellent game viewing for the rest of the year.
Namiri Plains Camp
Namiri Plains is one of the best camps in the Serengeti and its remoteness ensures a fantastic wildlife experience away from the crowds.
Lamai Serengeti
Set high in the kopjes with fantastic views, Lamai Serengeti offers top service and guiding and good migration sightings from Jul-Oct.
Ubuntu Camp
Ubuntu Camp has several locations in the Serengeti, following the wildebeest migration, so it is often in a great location to see the herds.
Kati Kati Camp
Kati Kati is a small, very simple bushcamp, which is well-positioned to explore the wildlife-rich Seronera area.
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Large and economical, but not luxurious, Ndutu Safari Lodge is well located in the southern Serengeti, so book early to get space.
Serian Serengeti
Serian Serengeti is a mobile tented operation run by Alex Walker which moves between two locations following the wildebeest migration.
Klein's Camp
Klein's Camp, in a private area of the northern Serengeti, sets high standards. Activities include walks, nights drives and Maasai village visits.
Kimondo Camp
Kimondo Camp is based in the remote Lamai Wedge in the northern Serengeti from Jul–Oct, and on the southern Kusini plains from Nov–Mar.
Serengeti under Canvas
Two of the three Serengeti under Canvas camps move through the Serengeti National Park every few months to follow the wildebeest migration.
Grumeti River Camp
Grumeti River Camp offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with top service, first-rate food, expert guiding and an excellent location.
Lemala Kuria Hills
Lemala Kuria Hills is a luxury permanent camp that is ideally located for wildlife all year around, but especially during the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Mara-Ndutu
Lemala Mara-Ndutu is a semi-permanent camp that moves between the north and south of the Serengeti to witness the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Nanyukie
Lemala Nanyukie is a comfortable and stylish tented camp that opened in 2018 in the central Serengeti.
Lemala Ewanjan
Lemala Ewanjan is a comfortable and stylish tented camp in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti National Park.
Kubu Kubu
Kubu Kubu is a contemporary, tented lodge, well located in the central Seronera area of the Serengeti National Park.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
The large Lobo Wildlife Lodge has simple, functional rooms in a stunning location. It's a good base for exploring the north-eastern Serengeti.
Kusini Camp
Kusini Camp is permanent, luxury camp located on a beautiful kopje in a quiet, wildlife-rich corner of the south-west Serengeti.
Mbalageti Lodge
Mbalageti is a well-run lodge in a quiet part of the Serengeti's western corridor – an ideal location during the Apr-Jun migration.
Serengeti Serena
The Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is a large, hotel-style lodge and a good family-friendly base from which to explore the central Serengeti.
Serengeti Walking Mobile
This fairly simple camp offers only walking activities, but it's very well done and combines well with more conventional camps or lodges.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Serengeti Sopa Lodge is an international-style hotel offering good-value accommodation in the central Serengeti, with lovely views of the plains.
Singita Mara River
Singita Mara River Tented Camp is a luxurious camp in the isolated and rewarding Lamai wedge region of the northern Serengeti.
Serengeti Green Camp
Serengeti Green Camp is a comfortable camping experience, in your own private safari camp and at the heart of a great wildlife area.
Migration Camp
Serengeti Migration Camp is a smart tented camp, good for the wildebeest migration from Jul–Aug, or to explore the Lobo Kopjes any time.
Mkombe's House Lamai
Mkombe's House Lamai is a fully staffed private house in the Wogakuria Kopjes district of Serengeti National Park.
Faru Faru Lodge
On the north bank of the Grumeti River, Faru Faru is a small, chic hideaway in this exclusive corner of the Serengeti.
Sasakwa Lodge
On a hill looking over the Serengeti plains, Sasakwa Lodge is grand, luxurious safari camp, one of the most opulent properties in Tanzania.
Kirurumu Migration Camp
Kirurumu is a rustic tented camp which moves around the Serengeti twice a year to follow the wildebeest migration.
Sabora Tented Camp
Sabora Tented Camp is a smart tented camp – one of the most luxurious, professional and stylish properties to be found in Tanzania.
Olmara Camp
With just eight guest tents, including two family tents and three signature stargazer tents, Olmara is a simple, family-friendly camp with a wonderfully attentive team. The camp captures an authentic bush experience, welcoming travellers of every kind.
Ndutu Kati Kati
Ndutu Kati Kati is a seasonal tented camp, based in the southern Serenget from Dec-Mar, ideal for the migration as it passes through.
Olduvai Camp
Olduvai Camp lies between Ngorongoro and the southern Serengeti plains. It's a good base for the southern plains during the rainy season.
Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is a permanent luxury camp in the northern Serengeti, with spacious and private tents with their own hot tubs.
Mara Mara
Mara Mara is a smart tented camp in the northern Serengeti, situated on a small hill close to the Mara River.
Mwiba Lodge
Mwiba Lodge is a luxurious property located on a private concession on the edge of the southern Serengeti.
Nimali Mara
Nimali Mara is a luxurious safari lodge in a quiet region of the northern Serengeti with good access to the wildebeest migration.
Four Seasons Serengeti
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the only hotel in the Serengeti offering international facilities such as a gym, spa and children’s club.
Lake Masek Tented Camp
Ideally located for the wildebeest migration from Dec–Apr, Lake Masek Tented Camp is a good, mid-market safari camp.
Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Seronera Wildlife Lodge is large hotel-style safari lodge in the heart of the Serengeti, offering good value and a great location.
Mara Kati Kati
Mara Kati Kati is a simple bush camp in the northern Serengeti, based from Jul-Oct near the Mara River for the wildebeest migration.
Kirawira Camp
Set high on a hill, in the Serengeti's western corridor, Kirawira is a relatively large tented camp in the Serena group.
Mbuzi Mawe
Mbuze Mawe is a comfortable tented camp in a convenient, central-north location when driving through the Serengeti.
Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Serengeti Pioneer Camp is a luxurious tented camp in the central Serengeti, styled on African explorers' camps of the early 20th century.
Taasa Lodge
Taasa Lodge is a slightly quirky option offering guided walks and night game drives, which are not permitted in Serengeti National Park.
Nimali Serengeti
Opened in July 2017, Nimali Serengeti is a smart, permanent tented camp located in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Nomad Expeditionary Walking Camp
Nomad Expeditionary Walking Camp is a simple camp of up to three tents, plus infrastructure, that changes location to allow guests to do substantial walks between campsites.
