Reviews of Olakira Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
73 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Olakira Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"A great safari experience"
The tents were first class and hot water always available when we wanted it. The food was and the ambience were excellent.
Our driver/guide Fazzo provided excellent serivce and we enjoyed all our time on safari." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
"One of many camps in Ndutu area"
Another concern was the filtered rather than bottled water we were given to drink which we believe caused tummy upsets; when we raised this with camp management we were given bottled water. We also found the alkaline water for washing unpleasant.
The food was excellent with good variety and we enjoyed dining together with the other guests. The service was very friendly and responsive to any requests.
Although we queried the camps location outside the Serengeti NP we were assured before we left this would not impact on our wildlife experience; in the event apart from one trip to Seronera, vehicles always kept outside the Park boundaries.
The standard of vehicles at the camp was very poor in our experience; both vehicles we used had mechanical problems. Most seriously we were driven to Seronera in an open vehicle suitable only for local game drives - there were no seat belts, a malfunctioning fuel pump and no protection from flying stones when passed by vehicles travelling at speed. As it happened we had a puncture on the return journey and it became apparent there was only the one spare tyre - again inappropriate for this type of journey.
However we were impressed by the skills of our driver guide; he had tried to get the vehicle changed but use of that vehicle had been decided by the Operations Manager (Julie) who happened to be visiting. The second vehicle allocated after Seronera had a faulty battery with the result the engine had to be kept running at all times." See all these reviews: 11n in Tanzania
Olakira are aware that the area around Ndutu can sometimes get busy during the migration season. Unfortunately this is one of the drawbacks of the Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Area, which is very accessible and can therefore feel crowded in the height of the peak season. However comments such as these do have an affect as to where exactly Olakira is placed each year.
The drinking water at Olakira is bottled and not filtered water, however they fill smaller aluminium bottles from larger plastic bottles. This is done to avoid too much plastic waste, and to reduce carbon miles transporting drinking water in and out of the Serengeti.
Olakira Camp is located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area between the months of December to March. The advantage of this location is that the game is abundant here during the migration, and vehicles are allowed off-road. That said, travellers can also easily access the Serengeti which is an extension of the same eco-system. Olakira is sorry that it appeared they didn’t want to go onto the Serengeti. They just believe that at this time of the year, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers a better wildlife viewing experience. However they will happily visit the Serengeti if requested - as with these travellers, who visited the Seronera area during their stay.
The owners of Olakira are very sorry about the problems that these travellers encountered with the faulty vehicles during their time there. Their vehicles usually have two spare tyres as well as seat belts, but there is one particular type of vehicle that doesn’t allow for this. Olakira are looking into whether they will still offer drives as far as Seronera in these types of vehicles at all. Generally we find the vehicles at Olakira in good repair, but this was not the case on this occassion. Olakira have apologised for this.
"Senior Africa Specialist"
"Olakira Camp review"
"Olakira Camp review"
The tents were lovely and spacious with a luxurious bed. The lights were adequate for evenings, but not strong enough to read by. The bathroom was large and we were delighted to have a flush toilet. They filled the bucket shower with plenty of hot water for both of us. We loved the nights there, even though we were awakened on our first night by a loud noise just ourside our tent. We could have used our walkie-talkie to call for help, but we decided to be brave and trust that there was nothing to be afraid of. We learned in the morning that it was a hippo passing through camp. What a first night's experience! We soon loved to hear the sounds of the night and missed those beautiful bird and animal sounds when we left Olakira.
We enjoyed having the open Land Rover to ourselves for the drives with Fadhil each day. We quickly learned to trust that he would find the most interesting things for us to see on each drive -- cheetahs, a large pride of lions, and even one of the elusive rhinos. The landscape is beautiful and varied, as is the wildlife. We saw amazing things, including two wildebeest river crossings and also watched a lioness kill one of those wildebeests as he emerged from the river. The camp staff was always there to greet us with a hot towel and wanted to hear the details of our drives.
We were happy to experience the evening campfires and communal dining at Olakira. We met interesting people each night to share stories with. We rated the food as excellent -- for a tented camp setting. It wasn't quite the same gourmet level as the food at the other permanent camps we visited, but we felt that they did a wonderful job preparing good food in a tent setting. Breakfast was varied, with a cold buffet each morning and hot food to order.
Olakira camp exceeded our expectations and is the camp that we will always remember." See all these reviews: 13n in Tanzania
"Olakira Camp review"
"Fantastic safari thanks to Olakira Camp"
The tents were luxurious, and enormous. (personal flushing toilet a dream). Staff were very very helpful. Safari guide excellent and of course the camp was positioned right in the middle of the Wilderbeast migration with all attendant animals around (eg lion).
The camp stays on this location for 4 months and then moves back up North to new location." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 7n in Zanzibar
"Great safari at Olakira Camp"
The camp was far more than we expected and wished we could have stayed longer. Mark and his staff were very helpful and always checking on us. Tents were unbelievable, very comfortable with solid ensuite toilet and hot showers. Felt guilty when we wanted to have hot shower, but was a wonderful pleasure after being out in the bush all day. Would recommend longer stay to anyone and wondered if other camps were as opulent.
Our open sided vehicle was a treat during our game drives. Two full days of game drives gave us all we could possibly see, Africa's big five and more; large male leopard, honey badger, Eland, Marsh Owls, Secretary Bird, Lake Masek and its vistas of migration and entrance to gorge.
Fabulous sunrises with breakfast (box meal to go were very good and the coffee was even better away from camp) out on the Serengeti, storms at night, visits to tent at night by Hyennas, and those scary Zebras. Noises at 2:00 am seem loud enough to be in your tent and are not the scary animals you think. Will miss early morning coffee and vistas of migration and late night campfires with a blanket of stars above.
A dream come true." See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 4n in Rwanda
"Olakira Camp review"
Go there if you can." See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania
"Olakira Camp review"
Food of good quality but not as good as we have experienced elsewhere for example with freshly baked bread and pastries.
Good accomodation in terms of size and facilities in tent. Could have been a few more rugs in tent.
Our only real complaint was in relation to the camp's vehicle. in contrast to the vehicles supplied to all other guests individually by their tour companies this was open sided with overhead shelter only. This led on two occasions to us gettign extremely wet and cold with only "ponchos" as shelter which we thought was inadequate.
We were told there was no alternative available; it was implied that part of the reason was additional cost of bringing in another vehicle, which bearing in mind the cost of the stay was not an appropriate response. It would have been unsuitable for any serious photographer needing to rest lenses on doors/roof bars as we saw with others. Any guest needing that facility should be warned to make their own arrangements" See all these reviews: 4n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar
We spoke to the camp about the elusiveness of the ‘owners’ and were told that the guys in camp were actually the field operations manager, and a Sokwe founder. They were there to give guidance to some of the ops team, rather than to work in a managerial way. Olakira have said that they find it best if people working in behind the scenes situations don’t interferer with the managing of the camp and the general team. This allows the team who are looking after guests to so their jobs more efficiently. They are sorry if it came across that these individuals were not interested in communicating with guests as this was not their intention.
In regards to the type of vehicles available on safari – in Northern Tanzania there are two options:
a) Closed 4x4 vehicles, with pop-top roofs (for standing to view game) are generally best when trips include drives between parks covering long distances. They offer protection from dust, which hugely improves comfort when you are drive from Arusha to the Serengeti – as there are some busy, dusty roads on that route. We usually use these vehicles for longer driving itineraries.
b) Open 4x4 vehicles, like the ones used for these travellers – are the traditional safari vehicles used across Africa. These are usually the best vehicles for exploring the bush and viewing wildlife because they give passengers open and unobstructed views. You can see more, smell and feel more, and they’re much easier for taking photographs. (These are, for example, the only vehicles used for game-viewing in Botswana and Zambia!) We will usually use these vehicles when travellers are flying into a camp, and the drives are mostly game-drives.
These travellers flew straight into the Serengeti, and so had an open vehicle for their game viewing which, under most normal circumstances, is definitely the preferred option.
However, in this case it’s clear that it was wet and cold ... and they were unhappy to be in a more open vehicle. Whilst the vehicle did carry water-proof ponchos for its travellers, it seems these didn’t completely solve the cold or rain issue. We passed this feedback onto the camp who has said that they are working on constructing canvas flaps, with clear plastic windows that can be dropped down in bad weather. Hopefully this will resolve the problem for future travellers – whilst retaining the open nature of the vehicles which is so valued for the vast majority of the year.
The closed vehicles that these travellers saw with other guests would have been used for visitors who had driven out to the Serengeti from Arusha with their guides – as part of a much longer itinerary incorporating much more driving.
We have also noted the comments about photographers – and recommend that a gorilla or mono-pod would be a handy bit of kit to take with you. We will make this clearer in our literature for future travellers.
"Excellent base to explore central Serengeti"
However lots of excitement, caused by torrential rain causing flooding in the approach area and rendering the nearby river crossing almost impassable on our return one afternoon and also a kill only 50 metres away from the tents one evening as we were sitting chatting with our 'sundowners' before dinner. We didn't hear anything (too busy laughing and talking) but the staff told us a lion had just killed a zebra, so we had to take extra care not to go anywhere without an escort. The rain did make the camp area a bit of a quagmire, but it dried up relatively quickly when the sun came out.
Sleeping in a tent out in the bush was fantastic; being able to hear the various noises and trying to imagine what animals were making them from the warmth of a huge comfy bed - made more cosy by a most welcome hot water bottle - was an experience not to be missed.
The camp was a good base for game drives. We saw a great variety of animals in profusion, although at times there was a large number of other vehicles around, but we were aware that this was the price of staying in a popular area of the Serengeti. As we did see so much, it seemed a price worth paying as this was our first safari." See all these reviews: 11n in Tanzania
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Other lodges in Serengeti Migration Area
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
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.
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.
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.
