Tented camp · Ultra Luxury
Northern Serengeti (Kogatende / Lamai) · Serengeti National Park · Northern Tanzania · Tanzania
Asilia's flagship camp near the Mara River in the far northern Serengeti, positioned for the river crossings of the Great Migration.
Explore safari itinerariesThe property
We choose Sayari for guests who want to be close to the Mara River crossings in genuine comfort. Its position saves hours of driving in peak season, the camp is beautifully designed without feeling showy, and Asilia runs it with real care for the people and wildlife of the north.
Why we recommend it
Sayari Camp sits in the far north of the Serengeti, close to the Mara River and looking out over the Lamai area, where the herds gather before crossing. It began as a mobile camp following the migration and, in 2009, became the first permanent camp in the northern Serengeti. Run by Asilia Africa, it was completely rebuilt in 2020, with a design inspired by the flat-topped Turner Hill nearby.
The tented suites stand on raised wooden decks, each with a private patio for watching wildlife from your tent, an en-suite bathroom with a freestanding bath, and family tents for those travelling with children. The main area holds a lounge, bar, dining room, library and pool, and Sayari has its own solar-powered microbrewery. The camp is unfenced, so wildlife moves freely through it.
From roughly July to October, Sayari is one of the best-placed camps in Tanzania for the Mara River crossings. Outside the migration months, the northern Serengeti remains rewarding, with resident lion, leopard, elephant and plains game and far fewer vehicles than the central Serengeti.
Photographs
21 photos
Your tent at Sayari, close to the Mara River
Location
Northern Serengeti (Kogatende / Lamai) · Serengeti National Park · Northern Tanzania · Tanzania
Who it suits
Good to know
What we would tell you on the phone first, including the parts that are not flattering.
Before you go
Open from 1 June to 31 March. Children aged 5 and over are welcome. Walking safaris are seasonal and for guests aged 12 and over.
Questions
It depends mainly on the season, the number of days and the lodges you choose. Our private northern-circuit itineraries start from about US$3,100 per person for five days in Classic comfort, and rise with Mid-Luxury and Luxury camps. Park and conservation fees are set by the government and make up a significant share of every safari, and they are included in our prices. Every itinerary page shows a starting price per person, and we quote exactly for your dates.
Yes. You have your own vehicle and your own guide for the whole safari, and the daily pace, start times and stops are set around you, never around a group.
One of Emnel's own guides. The team that plans your safari is the team that runs it. About two weeks before you arrive, we send your trip companion, with your guide's details and everything else you need for the journey.
Tanzania offers excellent game viewing all year. June to October is the classic dry season, with easy game viewing and the migration in the north. January to March brings the calving season in the southern Serengeti. The long rains of April and May are quieter and greener, and some camps close. We will recommend the best timing and route for what you most want to see.
Tell us your dates and ideas, and we will design an itinerary and send a detailed proposal. To confirm, we ask for a 30% deposit plus any domestic flights, which are issued on confirmation. You then receive your official confirmation, and about two weeks before you travel, your trip companion with every final detail.
Yes. A short flight from the Serengeti or Arusha takes you to Zanzibar's beaches. We recommend at least one night in Stone Town alongside your beach stay.
Itineraries
No published itinerary includes this stay yet.
We can build one around it: tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will send a route with Sayari Camp in it.
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Plan it properly
Dates, budget, who is travelling. We will come back with a route that works — including when a different property would serve you better.
