The Namiri Plains Experience

With your closest neighbour over an hour’s drive away, you may be excused for thinking that Namiri Plains belongs to you. The camp – created for safari enthusiasts seeking comfort and exclusivity in secluded surroundings – is elegant, contemporary and blissfully comfortable. Let us take you on your best Serengeti safari.

Namiri Plains faces north which maximises viewing of the seasonal riverbed. Spend time relaxing in the newly reimagined main areas which use stretch canvas awnings to create the shade required to regulate the temperatures indoors. The main area is much larger than before; it offers the option to open up entirely to allow cooling breezes to make their way through the area. Sit back and relax while you watch the wildlife roaming over the surrounding Serengeti plains. In the evenings, our guests gather to recount the day’s adventures beside the campfire, charmingly framed by two beautiful acacia trees, it is the perfect place to unwind. Dinners are served in the spacious dining tent or under a glittering canopy of stars.

Accommodation

This small and exclusive haven comprises ten elegant tented suites with sweeping 360-degree views of the plains.

The guest rooms at Namiri Plains have undergone a significant upgrade. Boasting a substantial increase in size, the newly built suites offer sliding doors which run the full length of the room and open out on a full-length viewing deck. The rooms are constructed from the natural calcrete from the area, they are strikingly beautiful but also plays an important role in regulating the temperature in the suites. The bathroom offers full views of the seasonal riverbed from your shower. Large, glass sliding doors give you access to the deck right from the shower. A private bathtub made entirely of resin is located on the deck, offering exceptional views from the tub as you relax.

Eco-friendly practices were followed throughout the entire update; an example of this would be the plastics used in designing the decks and floors which are 100% recycled. Décor in camp features hand-woven materials and artefacts that have been handcrafted by local Tanzanian women and tell a story about the area’s traditional people.

A camp library caters to all interests, while a fascinating Information Centre provides guests with in-depth information about the area, a variety of informative artefacts, and engaging maps. Another brand new feature at Namiri Plains is the pool and its impressive deck area. A shady pergola offers unobstructed views of the seasonal riverbed, allowing for wildlife viewing from the pool. A mobile bar ensures that refreshments are always close at hand.

The spa, another new feature at Namiri Plains, is tucked behind a grove of acacias in a quiet and private corner of the camp. An array of treatments is available and can be enjoyed both at the spa as well as in the comfort of your suite.

Location

The new camp is located along the Ngare Nanyuki River in the arid and remote eastern Serengeti, an area that is popular with travellers who seek the uncrowded experience that Namiri Plains offers.

The area has many natural water sources around the camp, making it one of the few places in the eastern Serengeti with a permanent water source. The seasonal riverbed, located in front of the camp, is a favourite gathering place for wildlife who come to drink and cool off. Of course, big cats are never far behind such easy pickings. The plains surrounding the camp are famous for their lion and cheetah numbers, in part due to the permanent water source, but also as a result of the short grasses which make excellent hunting grounds. These grasslands are characterised by an absence of trees and shrubs, owing to the presence of a hard calcrete layer beneath the topsoil.

The plains surrounding the camp were closed for 20 years to encourage and support the growth of cheetah populations which were in serious decline at the time. Thanks to this, these plains of the eastern Serengeti are now a haven for cheetah who roam the plains freely and thrive. Other big cats also frequent the area, and lion and leopard are often found lounging on rocky kopjes, enjoying the sunshine while keeping an eye out for their next meal. One other feature about the area that makes it so appealing is the underground pockets of permanent water sources that derive from the Ngare Nanyuki underground river. These pockets of water mean that high concentrations of resident plains game are always found hanging around in the area throughout the year.

If you’re visiting us between October through to May, it won’t be unusual for you to be greeted by herds of wildebeest each morning. During this time of the year, the plains are blanketed with newly sprouted grass shoots, a favourite snack for the migratory herds. Thousands of animals make their way to this area to feast on the lush grasses, and Namiri Plains has a front-row seat to the epic attraction that is the Great Wildebeest Migration. Explosive action is around every corner as big cats have an abundance of prey to feast on, too.

As the months of April and May draw closer, so do the rains. The region becomes an attraction for the highest concentration of hyenae in Africa. You’ll have the opportunity to see clans of up to 30 hyenae scavenging the area for fresh kills. Other resident game are found here throughout the year include zebra, Thomson’s gazelle and eland which can be seen roaming the plains close to camp.

Activities

The grasslands of Namiri Plains are vast and almost entirely unspoiled. The resident wildlife of the area is much less indifferent to the presence of humans compared to those found in high-density tourist areas which means that your sightings and experiences are much more rewarding.

Game Drives

Two game drives are offered each day from Namiri Plains. You will head out with one of our knowledgeable guides and explore the surrounding areas. This is big cat heaven so you’ll have the opportunity to study and photograph the big cats at your leisure. Impressive herds of wildebeest make this area their home for a few months of the year as they embark on their migratory route through East Africa.