Tented Camp or Lodge? Choosing Your Safari Accommodation

Mobile tented camps relocate seasonally to stay close to the migration, which means proximity to the herds is often their strongest selling point during peak season.

Permanent lodges typically offer more infrastructure — swimming pools, spas, larger common areas — and tend to suit travellers who want a fixed base with more amenities.

Canvas tents at a well-run luxury camp are not a downgrade in comfort: expect proper beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot water, and full service — the difference from a lodge is architectural, not qualitative.

For most first-time safari itineraries, we recommend mixing both — a lodge for the Ngorongoro highlands, a tented camp for the Serengeti plains.