Touching the earth lightly in the Serengeti

Singita’s portfolio of six lodges and camps in Tanzania means guests can experience the best of safari in the Serengeti. Each is unique, presenting a design, atmosphere and setting reflective of its surrounds. 

Singita Mara River Tented Camp, on a riverbend in the Lamai Triangle (a remote region of the Serengeti) is situated with arguably one of the best vantage points for nature’s greatest spectacle – the Great Migration. Bordered on the north by Kenya and on the south by the majestic Mara River, this verdant region of northwestern Tanzania is an escarpment-backed short-grass plain and one of the most beautiful spots in the entire Serengeti National Park. Here the annual movement of countless game across the plains in search of better feeding grounds sees massive herds of wildebeest traverse the Serengeti en route to Kenya’s Masai Mara. In order to get there, they have to attempt several river crossings, one of which is over the Mara River, allowing guests of this camp unequalled proximity to the action.

To honour this incredible wildlife spectacle, Mara River Tented Camp has been designed to blend seamlessly with its environment. A permanent tented camp, its open and airy design encourages continuous engagement with nature. And its total immersion within the iconic Tanzanian landscape, as well as a dramatic vantage point of the river itself, encapsulates the very essence of the wild, and embodies the true spirit of adventure. 

But although it’s rooted in traditional safari in the sense that it’s inspired by the wild, the concept of the tented camp here has been luxuriously updated for the modern guest, and offers a perfect hybrid of raw untouched nature, and seamless service. So, despite its origins in authentic tented travel, this camp wants for nothing in terms of refinement – it offers the very best of grounded, close to nature appeal and absolute comfort and style. A way to experience the elemental power of nature without sacrificing any of the convenience of luxury travel. 

A sense of balance too has been struck with the design of the camp itself. Drawing on a classic foundation, it heroes natural textures and traditional tented materials such as canvas, leather, and stone, but modernized and elevated with bold accents and motifs that draw on primary Masai-inspired colours and contemporary African art. Objects and artworks by craftsmen and artisans update the space and situate you in your surroundings. 

High-design but low-impact, Singita Mara River Tented Camp is the epitome of sustainability. Our reverence and respect for this unspoilt wilderness informed the design in its entirety. Aside from being created to celebrate its surroundings and embrace the untouched 98,000 acres of spectacular landscape it rests on, the camp was conceived with the aim of being as light on the earth as possible. As a result, it operates entirely off the grid, relying on a custom-designed solar system for its power. Recycled and natural materials were also used wherever possible to minimize its footprint.

Activities at Mara River Tented Camp too, revolve around celebrating the beauty of this untouched piece of paradise. Game drives into the pristine bush will garner sightings of a vast array of game – this part of Tanzania’s varying terrain means you’ll enjoy sightings of everything from big cats and bat-eared foxes, to Maasai giraffe, elephant, buffalo, the rare Colobus monkey, and of course wildebeest.   

Back at camp, leisure activities are also designed for natural immersion. The scenic outdoor bar, adjacent to a plunge pool much-needed to cool off from the heat of the African sun, offers an idyllic spot for sundowners, while wellness treatments – which can be enjoyed outdoors – are designed using ancient wisdom and local ingredients, ensuring a truly holistic experience of all that this beautiful part of the world offers. 

Get in touch with our expert team who can offer insight on planning a trip around the Great Migration here >