Kikoti Safari Camp - Tarangire, Tanzania

Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, East Africa

Kikoti, in the Maasai language, means "the place where life began", and is the name given by the local Maasai to an ancient pre-Jurassic kopje in the Tarangire eco-system, which lies adjacent to the camp. A luxury tented camp, Kikoti Safari Camp echoes the luxury of the traditional safari camps of a bygone era, defined by superior service and campfire hospitality rather than modern conveniences and an anonymous welcome.

Kikoti's proximity to Tarangire National Park also allows the guests to enjoy a wide choice of exploratory game-drives through the classic African savannah and acacia parkland of this undiscovered wilderness. Moreover, its position in the migratory corridor just outside the park provides a range of activities that are forbidden elsewhere in the game lands of Northern Tanzania. These include; nature walks, foot safaris and extended bush trekking with rangers, all of which offer unique opportunities to revisit nature in her primeval state.

Located on a community conservation area, a portion of all accommodation rates goes to the local community, who use it for community-chosen development projects such as schools, water boreholes, roads and dispensaries.

"The canvas seemed to smell of Africa, earthy and tropical and redolent of adventure*. The ever-attentive staff were ready to follow my slightest whim, indulging my every request with a smile, my experience in the Maasai village and the sights, smells and sounds of the night drive will stay with me for a long time. Thank you, Kikoti, for fulfilling my African Dreams." - Lois Williams, Texas, U.S.A

The Tarangire National Park
Tarangire, named after the Tarangire River which runs through it, is an arid haven, peppered with ancient baobab trees, towering termite mounts, and home to huge herds of elephant. Only 30km from the Rift Valley escarpment, this national park falls outside the nutrient-rich volcanic belt and therefore its annual rainfall is very low (550mm). As a result, much of the national park is semi-arid, dominated by baobabs, acacias and Doum Palms, often festooned with the nests of African palm swifts.

About luxury tented safari camps in Tanzania
When on safari in Tanzania, the traditional luxury safari camp offers a selection of canvas-sided safari tents, usually with thatched roofs, often raised on a timber platform with private verandah. Usually, the luxury safari tents feature comfortable double or single beds with mosquito netting, electric lighting (generator or solar powered) and luxury en-suite safari bathrooms (flushed WC, hot and cold running water, shower and vanity unit).

Tanzania luxury safari camp: location
The camp is only 10minutes away from Tarangire National Park (transfer from Arusha available). The camp stands on Boundary Hill, just outside the eastern boundaries of the park. 1 km from Tarangire National Park boundary and three hours drive from Arusha, it lies on the migration route for the plains game and offers a diverse array of wildlife.

Tarangire is 114km from Arusha, Tanzania. The national park lies around 7km off the main Arusha-Dodoma road. The Tarangire National Park lies at the core of the much larger Tarangire Conservation Area (TCA), which extends across the Maasai Steppes. This area was once used for trophy hunting until it was restored to the traditional Maasai owners in the late 1990s.

Your Tanzania luxury camp safari
Kikoti Safari Camp is part of the African Conservancy Company portfolio, a company known for their dedication for quality, excellent service, warmth and friendliness. The camp is run by Jen and Pete, who have lived in Tanzania for over five years. Jen has over thirty years experience working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Africa, running lodges and camps.

Pete works as a retired professional hunter, ensuring the safety of the guests amid a wild environment. Both have a deep knowledge of their surroundings; plants, birds, wildlife and tracking. A share of the profits of Kikoti goes towards the African Nature Conservation Trust, a non-profit organization. As well as building a school and a clinic for the local community, the Trust's goals are to maintain and conserve the extraordinary ecosystem in Tarangire-Manyara, part of one of the world's most outstanding habitats, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Tarangire is famous for its large herds of elephants (there are over 3,000 elephant in the park), also for its large numbers of lions (which can often be seen digging for water in the dry riverbeds), leopards, African buffalos, and lesser and great kudus. Tarangire is also world-renowned for its birds, boasting some 450 recorded species. Of the 60 raptor species that occur in Tanzania, 49 occur in Tarangire. What is more, the national park's open habitat (especially in the northern sector), dotted with leafless trees makes for ideal bird-watching conditions.

Kikoti Safari Camp, Tarangire wildlife highlights
Plains game is abundant in the dry East Africa season. East Africa mammals include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, zebra, lesser kudu, eland, and buffalo. Birds: Tarangire national park offers more than 450 species of birds.

When to visit Kikoti Safari Camp
Kikoti Safari Camp is open all year round and offers plentiful game viewing experiences in all seasons. Perhaps the best time to visit Tarangire, however, is in the East Africa dry season (July to October), especially to see large numbers of ungulates (at this time, many ungulates in the more famous Serengeti have migrated north to Kenya). Second only to the Ngorongoro Crater as a dry-season (June/July) sanctuary for vast herds of migratory creatures, the national park's wildlife tend to follow clearly defined seasonal patterns.

First to move north-east out of the national park, often as far as Lake Natron, are the zebras and wildebeests, which begin their trek in October. After them, trek the gazelles, buffaloes, elands, oryxes and hartebeests. Finally, the elephants move out of the national park. The Defassa waterbucks, impalas, giraffes, lesser kudus, Kirk's dik and warthogs, meanwhile, remain resident. The return of Tarangire's migratory species begins in June and July; firstly with the oryxes and elands, then the elephants; and finally, the zebras and wildebeest.

Accommodation: Tanzania luxury safari camp
The camp offers 18 luxury tented chalets (8 double beds, 10 twin bedded), each with en-suite bathroom (hot and cold running water, showers, flushed WCs, 24-hour electricity, laundry, library). Built on raised wooden platforms built entirely from natural materials, the chalets are presented in the style of classic ‘Out of Africa' safari tents with natural wooden beds, woven rugs, wickerwork furniture and wide private verandahs. Wildebeest, water buffalo, hyenas and zebra have been known to graze beneath the rooms.

Dining and bars: Tanzania luxury safari camp
The restaurant offers fresh local produce, freshly baked bread, fruits and vegetables in season and great home cooked meals. A breakfast buffet is served between 6:30am - 9:00am, with breakfast boxes provided for early morning game drives. Packed lunches can also be arranged but for the guests in camp, lunch is served between 12:30pm - 2:30pm, and dinner between 7:30pm and 9:00pm. The Kikoti Camp menu will typically include a wide selection of East Africa, Tanzania and traditional safari choices as well as numerous international choices.

After dinner, a performance of traditional Maasai dance is offered. The comfortable bar area is constructed from local woods and features carvings from African ebony and jacaranda. At night, the central dining and bar area are lit by traditional safari lanterns and drinks are served around the campfire. A short drive away from the camp the Kikoti rock, an ancient rock formation made from limestone. It's an easy hike to the top, with stunningly beautiful views of the bush and plains below, the ideal place for a sundowner.

Conferences and events: Tanzania luxury safari camp
The camp does not offer specific conference facilities but will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings. A wide range of Tanzania incentives can also be arranged in or around the national park.

Weddings and honeymoons at Kikoti Camp
The camp makes an ideal Tanzania wedding destination.

Child-friendly facilities at Kikoti Camp
The camp welcomes children and will be pleased to supply additional beds.

What to see and do on your Tanzania luxury camp safari
Activities at Kikoti Camp:
Night Drives
At night, Kikoti takes on an otherworldly feel, lit by moonlight and thousands of stars bright and clear in the African sky. As Kikoti is outside national park grounds, night game drives are permitted, allowing you to see some of the hidden secrets of the surroundings. The camp has 2 open night drive vehicles, with experienced spotters and drivers to show you some of the lesser seen sights.
Smaller animals such as genets, aardvarks and porcupines come out at night, along with the larger game, giraffe, Tarangire's famous elephant and even lions and leopards. Even on quieter evenings, guests can see the dik-diks, miniature antelope bound through the bush, African hare and some of the rare elusive night birds.

Nature Walks with professional armed rangers
Learn to how to track animals and recognize their habitats on a nature walk with one of our experienced guides. Find termite mounds, snake holes, animal prints and learn about the useful and medicinal properties of local plants, including the extraordinary baobab tree.

Bush sundowners
On the top of a Kopje, with outstanding views from the park, enjoy sundowner cocktails and snacks.
The camp offers a wide range of game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles.

Tanzania luxury camp safari experiences in Tarangire
Typical Tanzania safari experiences at Kikoti Safari Camp include: safari game drives in especially adapted 4WD safari vehicles (with professionally trained Tanzania safari guides), safari bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners; cocktails around the camp safari campfire and guided safari walks through the bush. Kikoti Safari Camp also offers ornithological tours, cultural performances and visits to the local Maasai people of Tanzania. Walking tours and night game drives can also be enjoyed in the larger Tarangire Conservation Area, which is immediately adjacent to the national park.

Kikoti Safari Camp • Tarangire National Park • Tanzania Safari Tented Camps
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Kikoti Safari Camp Tanzania Tented Camps

This luxury road and air safari showcase the undiscovered wilderness of Tarangire National Park, the possibility of seeing the famous tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara, the glory of the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge Palaeolithic site and the magnificent Serengeti. Covering optimum distances in minimum time, this unique safari also offers both traditional safari lodge and luxury tented camp accommodation.

9 days

8 nights

From USD 4824