Best Lodges in Serengeti National Park—Where to Stay by Region, Month and Budget
Best Lodges in Serengeti National Park : This guide is built around the decision. It explains how the park divides into regions and which months each region suits, profiles the leading properties, flags where published rates and tier labels disagree, shows what the park charges on top, suggests which lodge suits which traveler and finishes with a booking checklist and common mistakes. This is an independent guide, not an inspection. Rates vary widely by season and room, so confirm every figure with the lodge or your operator before you book.
Serengeti Lodges at a Glance
The park fees are the fixed part of the bill. Entry is about US$82.60 per adult per 24 hours, including VAT, and the concession fee for staying inside is about US$70.80 per night, which is about US$153 per person per night before any accommodation, though some guides quote lower figures.
| Level | Typical Rate Per Person Per Night | What You Usually Get |
| Public campsite | About US$30 to US$50, including the camping fee | A pitch with basic facilities; you bring or rent a tent. |
| Budget tented camp | About US$100 to US$200 | Basic tents, communal dining, often with meals and game drives |
| Mid-range | About US$250 to US$750 | Lodges and classic tented camps with en-suite rooms, pools and game drives |
| Luxury | About US$600 to US$1,500 | Resort-style lodges, boutique tented camps and mobile camps in prime positions |
| Ultra-luxury | About US$1,500 to US$3,500 or more | Private concessions, personal service and villas |
The Regions: Where the Herds Are, and When
The practical rule is to choose the region by the month, then the lodge by the budget. Our separate guides to the Great Migration and to each month of the year explain where the herds are and what to expect.
| Region | Best Months | What You See | Lodge Style |
| Central Serengeti (Seronera) | All year | Resident lions, leopards, cheetahs and plains game | The widest choice of lodges and camps |
| Southern Plains and Ndutu | January to March | Calving and predators among the herds | Seasonal tented camps and mobile camps |
| Western Corridor and Grumeti | May to July | Grumeti River crossings and private concession driving | Singita and Beyond camps |
| Northern Serengeti (Kogatende and Lamai) | July to October | Mara River crossings | Camps near the river, many of them small and expensive |
| Eastern and central areas | November to December | The herds returning south | Central lodges and mobile camps |
The Lodges Compared
The pattern is that Serena holds the largest group of lodges, with Sopa, Serena and Seronera Wildlife Lodge at the lower end and Four Seasons at the upper end, while the specialist camps in the west and north charge the highest prices. Mwiba, near the park, is also named among premium lodges from about US$1,200.
| Lodge or Camp | Region | Style and Level | Reported Rate Per Person Per Night |
| Public campsites at Seronera, Nyani, Lobo and Ndutu | Various | Budget camping inside the park | About US$30 to US$50 |
| Kati Kati Tented Camp | Central | Tented camp under acacia trees; labelled budget in one guide and mid-range in others | About US$120 to US$500 |
| Serengeti Sopa Lodge | Central, near Seronera | Spacious rooms and a good setting; mid-range | About US$250 to US$450 |
| Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge | Central, Seronera | Hilltop lodge with a pool; called budget, mid-range, and best value in different guides | About US$250 to US$500 |
| Seronera Wildlife Lodge | Central | Long-established mid-range lodge | About US$250 to US$500 |
| Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge | Central, Seronera | Twenty-five tents with plains views; good for families | About US$450 to US$750 |
| Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp | Central, Seronera | Boutique tented camp with two game drives included | About US$450 to US$650, with seasonal changes |
| Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti | Central, Seronera | Resort-style lodge with 77 rooms overlooking a waterhole | From US$474 on one page to about US$700 to over US$2,500 in guides |
| Singita Sasakwa Lodge | Grumeti Reserves | Ten cottages in an Edwardian manor style on a hilltop; ultra-luxury | About US$1,200 to US$2,750, up to about US$4,000 |
| Singita Faru Faru and Sabora | Grumeti Reserves | Luxury lodge and tented camp in a private concession | About US$1,100 to US$2,210 |
| and Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp | Western Corridor | Remote tented lodge | About US$800 to US$1,310 |
| and Beyond Klein’s Camp | Northern Serengeti | Camp in a private concession | About US$1,050 |
| and Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas | Mobile, following the migration | Luxury mobile camp | About US$1,080 |
| Singita Mara River Camp | Northern Serengeti | Six luxury tents overlooking the Mara River | Confirm current rates. |
Central Serengeti, the Seronera Lodges
The Seronera area in the central Serengeti is good all year, with resident lions, leopards and cheetahs, and it is where most mid-range lodges sit. Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge crowns a hilltop with a pool and a reputation for consistent dining and service, and one guide calls it the best value in the area.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge offers spacious rooms in a good setting, and Seronera Wildlife Lodge is a long-established option. Rates for all three overlap in the US$250 to US$500 range, though guides disagree on exact figures.
Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge has 25 tents with panoramic views and is described as suiting families and first safaris, at about US$450 to US$750. Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp is a boutique tented camp with more bush atmosphere, with seasonal rates of about US$450 to US$500 in the low season, US$550 to US$650 in peak months and US$480 to US$530 in November, according to one guide.
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge, with 77 rooms overlooking a waterhole, is the resort-style choice for first-timers and families who want hotel comfort. Our separate guides to mid-range and luxury lodges near the Serengeti describe them in more detail.
The Grumeti Reserves and the Western Corridor
Singita’s lodges in the Grumeti Reserves, in the western Serengeti, are the ultra-luxury benchmark. Sasakwa has ten cottages in an Edwardian manor style on a hilltop with private villas and infinity pools, while Faru Faru and Sabora offer luxury lodge and tented options, with conservation fees built into the rate at Faru Faru.
Because the Grumeti Reserves are private concessions, game drives can go off-road, at night and on foot, and most guests book a minimum of three nights.
And Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp sits in the remote west, with wildlife frequently visible from the rooms, at about US$800 to US$1,310. These camps are best from May to July, when the herds cross the Grumeti River, and they suit honeymooners and anniversaries more than budget travelers.
The North, the Southern Plains and Mobile Camps
The northern camps are the hardest on a budget, since capacity is limited and rates are high. If river crossings are your goal, plan a stay of at least three or four nights, and book twelve months ahead for August and September.
| Option | Best Months | Why It Works |
| Camps near the Mara River in Kogatende and Lamai | July to October | Close to the river crossings, with limited camp capacity that keeps the area feeling quieter |
| Camps near Ndutu and the southern plains | January to March | In the heart of the calving herds |
| Mobile camps such as AndBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas | Year-round, moving with the herds | A luxury tented camp positioned where the migration is |
| Public campsites | Year-round | The lowest cost, best on a camping safari |
Budget Stays: Camping and Basic Tented Camps
Budget travellers have real options in the Serengeti, though fewer than in other parks. Public campsites at Seronera, Nyani, Lobo and Ndutu cost about US$30 to US$50 per person per night, including the camping fee, and many group camping safaris use them. Basic tented camps that include meals and game drives are quoted at about US$100 to US$200.
Even at the cheapest level, park fees of more than US$100 per person per day apply, so budget safaris are cheaper because of the accommodation, not because of the fees. Our separate guide to national park fees explains the structure.
What the Rate Includes and What the Park Charges
A camp quoting US$300 per person all-inclusive may be cheaper on paper than a lodge whose rate excludes fees. Always compare quotes on the same basis, and ask for an itemized breakdown.
| Item | Reported Cost |
| Serengeti entry, per adult per 24 hours | About US$82.60, including VAT |
| Concession fee, per night, inside the park | About US$70.80, with some guides at US$59 |
| Public camping fee | About US$30 to US$35.40 per person per night |
| Child entry (5 to 15) | About US$23.60 per 24 hours |
| Lodge rate | Usually full board; check drinks, activities and whether park and concession fees are included. |
| Bush flights | About US$250 to US$350 per sector from Arusha, with a 15-kilogram soft-bag limit |
Choosing by Traveller Type
Do not spend so much on the room that you shorten the stay. Three or four nights in the right place are worth more than one night in the grandest suite.
| If You Are | Consider | Why |
| A first-time visitor on a moderate budget | Serengeti Serena or Sopa | Reliable, central and good value |
| A family | Kubu Kubu or Four Seasons | Space, pools and family-friendly facilities |
| A couple who want a bushy atmosphere | Nomad Serengeti or Kati Kati | Tented camps with a personal feel |
| A honeymooner who wants exclusivity | Singita Sasakwa or Faru Faru | Private concessions and personal service |
| Following the herds | A mobile camp such as Serengeti Under Canvas | Positioned where the migration is |
| On a tight budget | A camping safari or basic tented camp | The lowest cost, with fees still to pay |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best lodge in the Serengeti?
It depends on the month and the region. Serena and Sopa are the usual mid-range choices in Seronera; Four Seasons is the resort option and Singita and Beyond hold the top end.
How much do Serengeti lodges cost?
From about US$30 to US$50 for a public campsite to US$250 to US$750 for mid-range and over US$1,500 for luxury, though guides disagree.
Are park fees included?
Not always. Entry is about US$82.60 per adult per day and the concession fee about US$70.80 per night.
Where should I stay for the migration?
Near Ndutu for calving, the Western Corridor for the Grumeti and Kogatende for the Mara River.
When should I book?
Twelve months ahead for July to October and the calving months.
