Sametu Camp
The central Serengeti is not short of places to stay. What is hard to find is a permanent camp that does everything well and has no obvious weak spot — good position, comfortable rooms, steady service, and a price that has not been pushed out of reach. Sametu is that camp.
Why we chose it
There are many hotels in the central Serengeti, but few meet all of our requirements at once: a good position, real comfort, dependable service, a property that is not tired, and a price that has not been inflated. Sametu is the one we picked out of that field. It sits in the eastern part of the central Serengeti, in excellent game country, while staying clear of the most tourist-dense areas, so the game viewing is comparatively quiet. The camp is unfenced — animals pass through regularly, and the sense of wilderness stays intact even while you are in camp.
More to the point, Sametu is markedly more comfortable than a traditional mobile camp: the rooms are spacious, with full bathrooms, reliable hot water and power, and there is a pool in the public area. That matters to us — you stay in the heart of the Serengeti without having to accept rough conditions as the price of the position. Service and food are consistent strengths too; the operation is mature, the staff attentive, and guest feedback has been good for a long time.
What to know
It is comfortable, but it remains a tented camp in the bush rather than a masonry building — sound insulation and warmth are naturally not those of a brick-and-mortar room, you will hear the wind and the animals at night, and in cool weather the room can be on the chilly side.
The camp is also unfenced, so after dark you cannot walk around on your own and a staff member escorts you. All of this simply comes with sleeping in the heart of the Serengeti, and for most guests who came for the wildlife it reads as part of the authenticity.
If it is full
Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge — a Signature-tier camp in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti, our usual stand-in when this one is full.
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