Northern Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
See the famous migration of the wildebeest in ultimate luxury
Lemala Mara Luxury Camp is the ultimate seasonal camp in Serengeti, within touching distance of the Mara River and set in a grove of large Euclea trees in the heart of the best game viewing area of the Northern Serengeti. Here, in this immense remote wilderness, almost double the size of the Masai Mara, guests can enjoy fabulous landscapes and terrific off-road game viewing with practically no crowds.
Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high with prides of lion up to 30 strong but when the migration starts arriving from June onwards, the area turns into a wildlife paradise par excellence. Through June, July and August the wildebeest continues moving through the area, crossing and re-crossing the Mara River before heading north towards Masai Mara, but several large herds remain behind and weather changes could easily bring the vast herds flooding back into the area from the Mara. Migration and predator action lasts up to end of October assuring this area's reputation as one of the finest in Africa.
At the camp's superb location, Lemala Mara guests will be amongst the vast herds of migrating wildebeest and zebra. Two of the largest crossing points on the river are nearby and occasionally guests may observe the exciting crossings from the comfort of the camp. The spectacular Lamai triangle, Wogakuria kopjes and Kogatende airstrip are all very easily accessible.
Lemala Mara's naturalists/guides have exceptional local knowledge, enabling them to take guests to where the action is in open 4x4 vehicles, on or off the road, and away from the crowds. Lemala's vehicles are specifically designed for long game drives and come equipped with comfortable seats, charging units and a large refrigerator. Lemala Mara organizes great picnic breakfasts and lunches for those who want to go on full day game drives. Private vehicles can be booked in advance at extra cost and are subject to availability.
The Serengeti National Park
Venue of the world famous migration of the wildebeest
The Serengeti, whose Maasai name ‘Siringet' translates as ‘the endless plains', offers unparalleled ornithological opportunities and an unrivalled natural arena wherein the glory and harmony of nature can be appreciated as nowhere else on earth. The vast and rolling Serengeti is also the venue for ‘the greatest wildlife show on earth' the annual migration of over one million wildebeest and their attendant cast of herbivores and predators.
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 veranda. 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).
The safari camp location
The Serengeti is 200 km west of Arusha, Tanzania: the park's northern boundary abuts with the Kenya border; its western boundary reaches Lake Victoria, Tanzania.
Lemala Mara is located on the Mara River, 9 Km from Kogatende Airstrip in Northern Serengeti
Nearest airstrip: Kogatende
Location: Northern Serengeti
Approx. Driving times to Lemala Mara:
From Lemala Ngorongoro - 9hrs
From Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley - 5.5hrs
Your Tanzania luxury camp safari
The vast and sensational Serengeti, covering 14,763 sq km of endlessly rolling savannah plains, is Tanzania's first-established, largest and most famous park wherein tens of thousands of wildebeest and other hoofed animals roam in a constant and unremitting search for the fresh grasslands upon which their survival depends.
The million-plus wildebeest are the predominant herbivore and also the main prey of a huge cast of large carnivores, principally lion and hyena. Whilst the annual wildebeest migration is the Serengeti's most famous attraction, the Park is also renowned for its lion, many of which have been fitted with radio-transmitter collars so that their movements may be tracked, and additionally for its wealth of cheetah, zebra, giraffe, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, eland, impala, klipspringer, hippo and warthog.
Wildlife highlights around Lemala Mara: This luxury Serengeti safari showcases wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle, lion, spotted hyena, hunting dog, cheetah, black rhino, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, topi, eland, jackal and otter. Birds: over 350 recorded species including 34 raptors.
Accommodation: Luxury safari tented camp
Lemala Mara is open from 1 June to 31 October and has 8 luxury tents and 1 family tent which can accommodate 4 to 5 guests. Each spacious tent is very comfortable and outfitted with large single or king-size beds with warm duvets, wooden flooring with rugs, 24-hr solar lighting, and en-suite bathrooms with a dressing area, flush toilet and a great safari shower.
Dining and bars: Tanzania luxury safari camp style
The Lemala Mara mess tent is beautifully furnished in contemporary style with comfortable sofas, lamps, book and corner cabinets, chests and rugs. In the evening, guests gather around the campfire for sundowners before retiring for dinner under chandeliers hosted by the camp manager. House alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included at meal time.
A Child-friendly safari camp
Lemala Mara welcomes children but stipulates that they be over the age of six.
What to see and do on your Tanzania luxury camp safari
The annual wildebeest migration in the Serengeti
The migration of the wildebeest is perhaps one of Tanzania's most famous natural events. Twice a year, propelled by the rains, 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle gather to undertake an 800 km migration trek to new grazing lands. The precise timing of the wildebeest migration varies but generally the Serengeti herbivores congregate and move out at the end of May, sometimes over a period of weeks, sometimes over a period of as little as three or four days.
The wildebeest then head west on the first leg of a roughly triangular 800-km circuit that takes approximately 3-4 months and ends in the Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya. When the grazing here is exhausted the tide of wildebeest turns and reverses its progress returning to the short grass plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania.
Where and when to see the migration while at Lemala Mara
The migration runs according to its own rules, but in general a large column of wildebeest passes west to Lake Victoria while another moves north past Lobo. While on the hoof (May to June) the rut commences and the wildebeests mate. The migration herds usually reach the north, and eventually cross into Kenya's Masai Mara NR, during July to October. In November the herds begin to reform for the return journey and by December the migration is complete and they are usually to be found grazing the southern grasslands; wildebeest calving starts in February.
Tanzania luxury camp safari experiences in the Serengeti
Typical Tanzania safari experiences at Lemala Mara 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. Lemala Mara Lodge also offers ornithological tours, cultural performances and visits to the local Maasai people of Tanzania.
In the Serengeti, a particular highlight is a hot air balloon ride, which typically ascends from its launch site at dawn and travels for around an hour across the plains before descending in a controlled landing to a cooked safari breakfast in the bush.
Lemala Mara Camp - Serengeti • Tanzania Luxury Safari Tented Camps
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