Wilderness Usawa Serengeti a year on

Mobile tents and high levels of luxury are not traditionally synonymous, but we knew that if we got the fundamentals of Wilderness Usawa right, we would have a winning formula and a unique product. Every element of the camp design required careful thought, with so many moving parts, we needed to be as flexible as possible. Our intention was to create a series of camps that could be moved around the Serengeti with enough flexibility to stay within close proximity of the migration at all times. This has been achieved and as we complete our first full season of operation and once again move into the busy months in the northern Serengeti, our team can look back and take a deep breath.

I have had the privilege of visiting each Wilderness Usawa site and can appreciate the uniqueness of these camps. Based close to the action, but removed from the hustle and bustle of migration tourism traffic, their placement allows our guests to experience the migration at its best, but also to appreciate the diversity of the Serengeti away from this spectacle as well. This is important, as there is so much to see and experience in the area, whether by vehicle or on foot.  

Walking has always been my favourite safari experience, and it is a focus of the experience we have created in Tanzania. The terrain is spectacular for walking, with an interesting mix of ecosystems, from open grass plains, to mixed bushveld with beautiful rocky outcrops interspersed through low rolling hills. I have to admit that you need to walk here with a heightened sense of awareness and keep a watchful eye out for dangerous game, but the professional guides add enormous value through their interpretation of the environment and everything you see, while keeping you out of harm’s way. I have spotted buffalo, elephant and lion on all of my walks, so be prepared to manage that adrenaline surge if you are lucky enough to see them. In fact, I have seen also these animals from the comfort of the camps as well.

In Usawa the wildlife literally moves through camp, and because the tents are on the ground you are able to view so much from the safety of your room. I have experienced the migration passing through in the dead of night, watched lions playing with a camp lantern outside my tent, and heard hyena and leopard communicating regularly nearby. And that’s not to ignore the smaller creatures like the resident rock hyrax, dik-diks, and many species of birds that live around the camp. It really is the pure wildness of this experience that excites me.