Glamping in Tanzania
“Glamping” is the perfect fusion of glamour and camping, offering the immersive experience of being close to nature without sacrificing comfort or luxury. In Tanzania, glamping is a popular safari accommodation style that bridges the gap between traditional tented camps and full-service lodges.
What to Expect:
- Luxurious Tents: Far removed from basic camping, glamping tents are spacious, often walk-in, and feature:
- Proper Beds: Comfortable beds with quality linens, often king-sized.
- En-suite Bathrooms: Private facilities within your tent, typically with flush toilets, hot showers (often “bucket showers” where hot water is prepared and delivered to your tent on demand), and sometimes even freestanding bathtubs.
- Furnishings: Safari-chic decor with wooden furniture, rugs, and sometimes even sofas or private verandas.
- Electricity/Lighting: Solar or generator power provides lighting, and often charging points for devices.
- High-End Service: Attentive staff, including a dedicated tent attendant (often called a “butler”), provide personalized service, from bringing your morning coffee to assisting with laundry.
- Gourmet Dining: Meals are typically multi-course affairs, often served in a communal dining tent, under the stars, or on private verandas, emphasizing fresh, high-quality ingredients.
- Authentic Atmosphere: You still experience the sounds and smells of the bush at night, truly feeling immersed in the wild, but with the security and comfort of a well-appointed space.
- Exclusive Locations: Glamping sites are often in prime wildlife viewing areas, allowing for quick access to game drives. Some are semi-permanent, moving with the migration.
Where to Find Them:
Glamping is prevalent across all major Tanzanian safari parks, particularly in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire, and Nyerere (Selous) National Park. Many mobile tented camps that follow the Great Migration fall into the luxury glamping category.
Who it’s for: Travelers who want an authentic safari experience with minimal impact on the environment but are not willing to compromise on comfort, amenities, and personalized service.
Logistics from Uganda: You would fly from Entebbe (EBB) to Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR), then connect via light aircraft flights to the various airstrips within the national parks, where your glamping lodge’s safari vehicle will meet you.