Reviews of Lamai Serengeti
Wildlife sightings and reviews
41 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Lamai Serengeti and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Lamai Serengeti review"
It is a very well run camp with a lot of charm.
We had great game viewing and the Serengeti to ourselves most of the time." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania
Buffalo
10 sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Eland
2 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
5 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
We were welcomed with smiles as big as the view!
The place is beautiful. Our room was beautiful.
The level of care and attention guests receive is extraordinary in every camp so far." See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Eland
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Leopard
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
John brought us to the lodge where we were met by Lawrence, the GM, and his lodge staff. The lodge sits on top of the Kogakuria Kopje amongst giant boulders. It is interesting that for most of the way, you drive in the savannah and then it turns into giant boulders culminating in the kopje that looks like someone left their giant stones in a pile. Amongst the giant boulders, you disembark the truck and are met by the lodge staff with welcoming smiles and a cool, moist towel. The path to the main lodge is through some boulders and after you enter the lodge, you are met with a spectacular view of the Serengeti plain and the Mara River in the distance. Over the three days here, the views from the deck were stunning: the sunrises, sunsets and view of the Serengeti plains never got tiring.
Our tent – After a quick lunch and lodge overview, we headed to our bungalow (number 8). Quite a hike from the main lodge but very private, with a great deck / balcony overlooking the savannah and river. One night it rained quite a bit and the trail filled with standing water and needed some maintenance the next day. Our bungalow is one of the lower ones down the kopje and closer to a meadow. Approaching the bungalow, it is a low and unassuming structure with light yellow washed walls, a thatched roof, and a split door (Dutch door) for allowing air in, but not let critters have access to your room. The room has solid walls on three sides and insect netting along a long wall facing the Serengeti plains.
Our food was outstanding. We ate bush breakfasts to get out on the trail early and ate at the lodge on our day that we left. Once we ate under a tree (John had to carefully check the tree because he said that leopards also liked hanging out here) and the other time we ate up on a hill watching the wildebeests decide when and where to cross. Lunch was buffet style, which was not only very good, but we also got to choose how much food to eat. Samwel was our steward and performed superbly. Once we ordered a lemonade and Samwel brought a Sprite. He noticed our surprised reaction and asked if that was what we wanted. We explained to him what a lemonade was, and he returned with half a glass of fresh squeezed lime juice and lime wedges. I think Samwel is on to something here! On one occasion we were greeted by a small black face Vervet Monkey. The monkey was a master at deception as he slowly came down from a tree right next to the dining area. He then walked along the wall heading away from the eating area. Then at the last moment, he snuck across an empty table, jumped to our table, swiped a piece of flat bread and was gone in mere seconds. Naughty monkey! We were stunned, so we just watched the event unfold. The staff usually watch out for monkeys, but the monkeys also watch for the staff and plan their mission when the staff isn’t looking. Dinner was an elegant affair with candlelight and plated entrees. On our last night, our table was decorated with small red lava rocks spelling out our names. What a thoughtful touch.
Outside the screen sided room, you walk out onto the deck, and you look around and you get the feeling you are all alone in the meadow with no one in sight around you, it’s that private. You don’t see the endless Serengeti plains because you are placed on one side of the meadow. You turn around and see how the bungalow was thoughtfully tucked in amongst the rocks. The walls are built into the rocks with some of the rocks becoming a feature of the room. Our steward told us that the lodge and its contents are all hand made and locally sourced and designed to blend into and merge with the kopje. We think they accomplished this very well. During our stay we had a solitary giraffe come near us in the meadow a couple of days in a row, so on the second day we named it ‘Jeffrey’. Back in the room, bungalow is well laid out, with lots of storage, seating areas with writing table and layout space. The bathroom is large, with two sinks. Hot water is best sourced for a shower after a morning drive. Once we left a split door in the bathroom open momentarily while we came in from the deck and when we turned around to go back outside, we were greeted by a rock hyrax. We were all surprised and the hyrax turned around and made a hasty exit. They sure are cute though.
The game viewing around Nomad Lamai was amazing. Thanks in large part to our guide, John, we saw many lions (some laying in the sun and some eating their lunch). John was able to find a lioness with her newborn cubs hiding in a secluded boulder strewn area for our evening drive.
We watched one crossing unfold in front of us on the Mara River while on another occasion, we just waited a few hours until we had to leave for lunch. So go the ways of the great migration. On our way to the airstrip, John found a leopard known to hang in the vicinity of the lodge. As soon as he found the leopard, we were joined by my other trucks.
The Serengeti is a very special place for game-viewing, and we recommend and look forward to returning to Nomad Lamai in the future." See all these reviews: 15n in Kenya; 9n in Tanzania
Buffalo
10 sightings
Eland
5 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Eland
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Oryx
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Cheetah
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
Kassim was our guide and we really couldn’t have asked for a better experience - with the wildebeest having already migrated, the density of all the other animals seemed incredibly high - we saw all Big 5 in one 24 hour span (up close too)!
One evening drive we spent about 45 minutes watching 2 two-month old lion cubs playing with mom nearby which was the highlight of our whole trip." See all these reviews: 11n in Tanzania
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Cheetah
3 sightings
Eland
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Oryx
Multiple sightings
Roan antelope
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
3 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
Another Nomad camp but, again, quite different in design and location from the other two camps we had stayed in. We arrived later than expected as the flight time had changed but lunch had been saved for us.
The lodge was spacious and provided everything we needed. As elsewhere we had early morning tea delivered, ample supply of drinking water and hot water bottles at night (not really needed but a thoughtful touch!)
Throughout our 4 night stay, we experienced great service and enjoyed all the meals. The managers were around to chat in the evening and Laurence joined us for dinner one evening where we heard about his journey into camp management.
The site is uneven and there are unmarked steps in the communal area and on the decking round the lodge so you do have to watch your step. The staff are good at reminding you about this.
We enjoyed the views from our lodge and had visits from klipspringers, rock hyrax and agama lizards during the day and munching buffalo at night as well as hearing more distant calls of hyenas.
We were lucky again to have a great guide in Jairo. He delivered us four Mara crossings, hyena and crocodile kills and on one drive we encountered 16 lions. We loved the varied scenery and ventured as far as the Kenya border on a drive.
The afternoon drives tended to be quieter but it was still enjoyable to experience the peace and space around us. Towards the end of our last drive, we were treated to sundowners on a rocky outcrop." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania
Buffalo
4 sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Eland
4 sightings
Elephant
6 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
2 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
5 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
The staff were the most attentive out of all the Nomad camps we stayed at and very conscious of food allergies. The open-sided rooms created stunning views and all the sounds of the Serengeti at night! Rooms were well-appointed with hot and cold running water for the dual-vanities and shower. The common areas offered gorgeous views and the staff provided tea and snacks during the late afternoon. This location provided the best game viewing on our trip!
In one day we saw the Big Five, a serval cat, and a Wildebeest river crossing-just spectacular! The camp is set at a perfect location near creeks and kopjes that big cats and other game frequent. It is close to the Mara River, so river crossings aren't far away, depending on the time of year. For our early-October trip the bugs were not bad, even with the migration herds right on the doorstep.
Yasin, our safari guide, was outstanding! He made sure to prioritize the animals we wanted to see and planned the day accordingly while also adding in stops and viewings that he recommended. He always kept his ear to the radio, while still interacting with us the whole time, in order to ensure we would have the best experience. Compared to Tarangire, Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater, we enjoyed the landscape and scenery here the most. The green, lush rolling hills with kopjes, trees, and granite rock jutting out was a sight to behold!
We chose to do a balloon safari here with Serengeti Balloon Safaris and it was one of the highlights of our trip!" See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Buffalo
7 sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Eland
5 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
8 sightings
Hippo
7 sightings
Leopard
4 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
Buffalo
5 sightings
Cheetah
2 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
5 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
5 sightings
Roan antelope
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Lamai Serengeti review"
It helped that we were the only guests the 2 out of the three nights we were there. James and the whole staff were just phenomenal- Baraka the waiter was super sweet and very attentive. The property is gorgeous and tucked into a hill. Rooms are beautiful and the beds were super comfy. We loved being able to see buffalo, zebras, and even giraffes in our “front yard.” I wouldn’t even think about staying anywhere else in Serengeti after the experience we had - one of my all time best stays anywhere in the world. It’s that special.
I would be remiss if I didn’t commend our amazing guide, Lazaro. He really went above and beyond to do his best to make sure we were able to see everything we wanted.
We hadn’t seen any cheetah, so we spent a whole day looking for them - didn’t find them on the first drive of our last day (though we had some great lion sightings including a recent kill and one month old cubs). Lazaro must have put in calls to everyone he knew in the park - as soon as we got in the truck for our last evening drive he said there’d been a cheetah sighting so we raced over there and got to see her lounging (a lion had stolen her kill and was eating it nearby). On the way back we saw a ton of elephants and giraffes, and a gorgeous leopard. It was like a speed safari in a little over two hours and just a fantastic and really special way for us to end our trip." See all these reviews: 11n in Tanzania
Buffalo
10 sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Eland
2 sightings
Elephant
8 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
7 sightings
Leopard
3 sightings
Lion
5 sightings
Spotted Hyena
4 sightings
Wild dog
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
Holiday styles & special interests in Tanzania
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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.
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.
Sayari Camp
In the northern Serengeti, near the Mara River, luxurious Sayari Camp offers excellent wildife all year – boosted further by the wildebeest 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.
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.
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 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 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 Ewanjan
Lemala Ewanjan is a comfortable and stylish tented camp in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti National Park.
Lemala Nanyukie
Lemala Nanyukie is a stylish camp located in the quieter part of the central Serengeti.
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.
Mkombe's House Lamai
Mkombe's House Lamai is a fully staffed private house in the Wogakuria Kopjes district of Serengeti National Park.
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.
Kusini Camp
Kusini Camp is permanent, luxury camp located on a beautiful kopje in a quiet, wildlife-rich corner of the south-west 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kirurumu Migration Camp
Kirurumu is a rustic tented camp which moves around the Serengeti twice a year to follow 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.
Nimali Mara
Nimali Mara is a luxurious safari lodge in a quiet region of the northern Serengeti with good access to the wildebeest migration.
Lake Masek Tented Camp
Ideally located for the wildebeest migration from Dec–Apr, Lake Masek Tented Camp is a good, mid-market safari camp.
Mara Mara
Mara Mara is a smart tented camp in the northern Serengeti, situated on a small hill close to the Mara River.
Esirai Migration Camp
A season migration camp, with only 8 tents and 1 family tent and plenty of character. Esirai is ideally placed for excellent wildlife and enjoys a simplistic and comfortable under-canvas experience.
Mwiba Lodge
Mwiba Lodge is a luxurious property located on a private concession on the edge of the southern Serengeti.
Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is a permanent luxury camp in the northern Serengeti, with spacious and private tents with their own hot tubs.
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.
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.
Nasikia Naona
Naona Camp is a small tented camp, located in the Moru Kopjes, west of the Serengeti central area
Kirawira Camp
Set high on a hill, in the Serengeti's western corridor, Kirawira is a relatively large tented camp in the Serena group.
Nyikani Central
Nyikani Central is a comfortable tented camp located in the game-rich Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Mbuzi Mawe
Mbuze Mawe is a comfortable tented camp in a convenient, central-north location when driving through the Serengeti.
Laba Migration Camp
A luxury mobile camp that moves between the Western Corridor, Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
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 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.
