Serengeti - Kogatende Serengeti Green Camp

The camp is set up on a ridge under large evergreen trees, overlooking a large part of the Northern Serengeti. The camp is open from July till the end of November when the migration of millions of wildebeest is in the Northern Serengeti and hopefully crossing the Mara River. Kogatende camp is located on the edge of the Northern Serengeti Wilderness zone, approximately 20 minutes from the Mara River. A fabulous location to spot herds of wildebeest crossing the river. Still it is far enough out of the mainstream traffic to enable remote game viewing. Many of our walking safaris start from this camp.This small comfortable camp, in the heart of nature, offers you a non-stop safari experience. It has very stylish bell tents and proper African glamping in every sense of the word. The tents are 4m across with double beds, 100% linen bedding, chairs, luggage racks and attached a large bathroom with a hot water shower. The camp has 10 tents, so generally 20 guest, but we can do triples.All meals are prepared by a chef in a camp kitchen. Served by waiters as either plated of buffet, depending on the menu of the day. All meals are 3-course, well prepared home cooking.

The camp has 4 private dining areas. We try to place every group in their own little private area with-in the campsite. This means every group has their own dining area, fireplace, butler and tent set up that operate independent from the other guest areas. These ‘areas’ are set up to offer every group maximum privacy not looking on to other groups of guests.

All our Green Camps operate in the most environmentally sustainable manner. We use low impact energy creation wherever we can, minimize waste in the camp by preparing part of the meals in Arusha. We are 100% plastic free, use solar powered light, recycle and loads more. Most of the Serengeti's camps are substantial; they are semi-permanent and stand for much longer than your visit! The Serengeti Green Camp is different: it is smaller and simpler. With much more modest tents than most operations, and usually just one or two staff for the camp, it's also a very affordable way to visit the Serengeti, without compromising the quality of your guiding or game-viewing experience.

These private tented camps can be set up in several different areas in the Serengeti National Park, allowing some flexibility for it to be as close to the action as possible. In fact, if a camp is arranged in advance, and the wildlife movements change significantly, then we may even be able to switch the position of your camp before you travel!

Various locations work well for a private mobile camp in the Serengeti, and these depend purely on the time of year – but if you're aiming to catch the wildebeest migration, then:

Being private, these Serengeti Green Camps are always exclusive to your group – be that a couple, a small group of friends or a family. Your camp comes with your own personal guide, your own (closed) 4WD game-drive vehicle – so that game-drive timings can be planned to suit you. If you want to also do some walking in the Serengeti, then a camp like this combines exceedingly well with a Serengeti Walking Mobile Camp, as their styles are very similar.

Each camp is set up on a campsite within the Serengeti National Park; however, sometimes up to four of these exclusive camps may share the same campsite meaning you will see other groups during your time in camp. These campsites have no facilities of their own at all.

Your accommodation is in canvas dome tents furnished with thick mattresses and proper bedding – when we stayed in one, we found them comfortable and got a good night's sleep. At the heart of each little camp is a dining tent, which provides shade and sometimes shelter. A welcoming campfire is lit each evening, a great spot to enjoy a pre-dinner drink and relive the day's experiences with your guide. (Read more about the green camp itself ….)

Game drives are in enclosed Land Cruisers which have pop-top roofs or roof hatches for maximised game viewing. A normal one of these takes four passengers, each with a seat next to a large window. For larger groups, larger vehicles (up to seven passengers) are available; these give every passenger a window seat, but are a little more cramped. Safaris for larger groups are also generally cheaper per person than the smaller groups. Each vehicle is fitted with a fridge or coolbox, canvas pockets to store binoculars and guidebooks, and sockets suitable for UK-style plugs. Photographers can also request the inclusion of bean bags in advance. Occasionally, an open-sided safari vehicle may be available at the camps located near the Mara River, in northern Serengeti – but we can't predict this, or guarantee it in advance. This would probably be fitted with three rows of tiered seats and a covered canvas canopy.

Our view

A private safari – led by a very knowledgeable guide and coupled with relatively comfortable camping – is hard to beat! Some will say that this is how a safari in Africa should really be experienced, and book one of these by choice; other may opt for some time in a mobile camp to reduce the costs of their trip without compromising on the activities.

News article about them

Kogatende Green Camp is set under large evergreen trees overlooking the Serengeti plains. This seasonal camp is used from July till November when the famed wildebeest migration is found in the Northern Serengeti. It is a 20 minutes from the Mara River, making it ideal for those illusive river crossings yet still far enough out of the mainstream traffic to enable remote game viewing. It is also on the edge of the Northern Serengeti Wilderness zone and many of our walking safaris start from this camp walking into Wayo Walking Camp.

Up to 10 bell tents are equipped with proper beds, solar lighting and attached bathrooms with a long drop loo and safari bucket shower. Water is brought to your tent for a piping hot shower, safari stories are shared around the camp fire and simple tasty meals are enjoyed outside making the most of the picturesque setting. As with its sister camps, Banagi and Nabi, this is not a luxury specification safari camp, however it offers a highly personal and authentic safari experience at an affordable price point

The tents were spacious and well equipped. The management crew exceptionally friendly and helpful. Good food an amazing Bon fire every night with something special to nibble on during cocktails. Within good distance to do hot air ballooning and witnessing crossings. Lots and lots of migrating zebras and wildebeest. Also within a manageable distance from the airstrip to take us onto the next leg of our trip - Zanzibar.

This camp is a private camp run by Wayo Africa and is located near Kogatende airstrip in Serengeti National park away from the other camps in a quiet area of the park. Breakfast and dinner are prepared fresh on site and served outdoors near a camp fire or in a mess tent depending on the weather. The staff is extremely helpful and nice and the tents are spacious and even have complete beds. At night the paths to the tens are lit with petroleum lamps. Every tent is equipped with its own bush bathroom under the open sky.We stayed there two nights and one night the prepared an African feast just for us with lots of different dishes. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
John, one of the staff it turned out actually spoke pretty nice German and enjoyed practicing it with us. In return hie though us Swahili and his native language of Iraqw.

 

Tanzania, Wild Frontiers