Singita Mara River Tented Camp

Location

Positioned on a dramatic bend of the Mara River in the Lamai Triangle – the Serengeti’s triangular appendage that pushes north toward Kenya – the camp claims one of Tanzania’s most strategically brilliant wildlife viewing locations. This 98,000-acre wilderness pocket sits isolated from the main body of the park, accessible only via a small seasonal bridge or by aircraft, ensuring that while hundreds of vehicles crowd the nearby Masai Mara just kilometres north, you’ll rarely encounter more than a handful of other visitors here. The 45-minute transfer from Lamai airstrip doubles as your first game drive, winding through acacia-dotted plains where giraffe browse and elephant families amble, setting the tone for the intimacy that defines this corner of the Serengeti. The camp’s position directly above the Mara River provides front-row seats to the wildebeest crossings that punctuate the dry season, though the real magic lies in the year-round residents – the leopards draped in riverine fig trees, the lion prides that control these productive hunting grounds, and the hippo pods that bellow their presence throughout the night.

The Lamai Triangle’s location creates a unique microclimate where the vegetation remains greener longer than the surrounding plains, attracting wildlife even during the traditionally quieter months. From your tent, views stretch across rolling grasslands toward the Isuria Escarpment and the invisible line marking Kenya’s border, a boundary that wildlife cross freely but tourists cannot, maintaining Lamai’s blessed isolation.

Rooms

The camp’s design philosophy embraces what Singita calls “bohemian luxury” – where Maasai-inspired geometrics in striking blues and reds punctuate a neutral palette of canvas and leather, creating spaces that feel both rooted in place and refreshingly contemporary. This aesthetic transformation, completed in June 2023, replaced generic safari décor with bold patterns and locally crafted furnishings that celebrate rather than appropriate local culture.

Tented Suites (4 suites, 2 guests each): These aren’t the cramped canvas shelters that “tented” might suggest, but rather architectural statements where sustainable design meets uncompromising comfort. Each suite stretches generously across raised wooden platforms, with canvas walls that breathe with the landscape while solid floors and elegant furnishings provide hotel-level comfort. The clever use of multiple canvas layers creates natural insulation while mesh windows ensure constant airflow without compromising privacy. Private decks cantilever toward the river, furnished with cushioned daybeds perfect for afternoon siestas or evening wildlife watching with your personal pair of Swarovski binoculars.

Family Tents (2 units, 4 guests each): Configured as two full-sized tents connected by a covered walkway and sharing an expansive deck, these units solve the common safari challenge of family accommodation. Each bedroom maintains its own en-suite bathroom and privacy while the shared deck becomes a family gathering space for morning coffee and evening storytelling. The separation works particularly well for families with older children or two couples traveling together, providing togetherness without sacrificing personal space.

Universal Room Features: Every tent showcases the camp’s commitment to sustainable luxury with pedestal fans rather than air conditioning, working in harmony with the canvas design to maintain comfort even during October’s building heat. The open-air bathrooms represent the camp’s masterpiece – copper bathtubs positioned for river views while maintaining complete privacy, rain showers open to the sky, and the peculiar thrill of brushing your teeth while elephants browse below. Modern amenities haven’t been sacrificed for aesthetics: hairdryers, electronic safes, phones for staff contact, USB charging points, and that rarest of safari luxuries – reliable hot water at any hour. The extensively stocked cool box, replenished daily with premium spirits, wines, craft beers, and gourmet chocolates, means midnight toasts to roaring lions require only reaching arm’s length from bed.

Communal Areas

The camp’s social spaces reflect a sophisticated understanding of what modern safari-goers seek – areas for connection without sacrificing privacy, luxury without ostentation, and constant engagement with the surrounding wilderness. The main lodge, rebuilt during the 2023 renovation, abandons the traditional safari lodge template of dark woods and hunting trophies for an airier aesthetic where light floods through canvas walls and outdoor spaces flow seamlessly into covered areas.

The dining experience revolves around choice and flexibility rather than rigid schedules. The signature bar-deli concept allows self-service throughout the day – think mezze boards by the pool, fresh salads grabbed between game drives, and craft cocktails mixed to your preference without waiting for service. Formal meals, when you choose them, showcase East African flavours with ingredients sourced locally where possible, though the remote location means creativity often trumps strict farm-to-table idealism. The fire pit becomes the camp’s social heart after dark, where guides share stories that would sound like fiction anywhere else but here carry the weight of yesterday’s sightings.

The plunge pool, strategically positioned for river views, provides essential midday relief when temperatures soar. Unlike the elaborate pool complexes of larger lodges, this modest water feature serves its purpose perfectly – cool refuge with a view that frequently includes elephants crossing below or hippos surfacing for air. The spa operates from a dedicated treatment tent, though therapists happily provide massages on private decks or in-tent, allowing the sounds of the river to provide nature’s own relaxation soundtrack.

Activities

The Lamai Triangle’s unique position within the National Park yet isolated from its crowds creates activity opportunities unavailable elsewhere in the Serengeti.

Game Drives: Conducted in specially modified Land Cruisers limited to six guests, these twice-daily explorations benefit from the triangle’s geography – you can cover the entire area without the long transits common elsewhere in the Serengeti. Morning drives depart before sunrise to catch predators still active from night hunts, while afternoon excursions often extend past sunset (a luxury in the National Park where night driving is typically forbidden). The absence of crowds means your guide can position perfectly for photography without jostling with dozens of other vehicles. Year-round residents ensure consistent sightings even when the migration is absent – lion prides, leopards, cheetah, massive elephants, buffalo herds, and the full spectrum of plains game from tiny dik-dik to towering giraffe.

Walking Safaris: Perhaps the camp’s most distinctive offering, these guided walks are virtually impossible elsewhere in the Serengeti where park regulations prohibit leaving vehicles. The Lamai Triangle’s special status allows for intimate exploration on foot – examining tracks, learning about smaller creatures overlooked from vehicles, and experiencing the profound vulnerability and connection that comes from sharing the landscape with wildlife as an equal participant rather than observer. Walks typically last 2-3 hours in the cooler morning and require reasonable fitness but not athleticism.

River Crossings: From July through October, the camp’s location provides unparalleled access to the migration’s most dramatic moments. Unlike the Masai Mara where dozens of vehicles converge on crossing points, here you might share the spectacle with just a handful of others. Some crossings are visible from camp itself, though guides know the multiple crossing points intimately and position guests strategically when the herds begin massing.

Spa Treatments (additional cost): The spa menu includes traditional massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures, with treatments starting from approximately $120 per hour. The remote location means therapists work with products brought from Arusha rather than exotic international brands, though the quality of treatment combined with the setting – imagine a massage while listening to hippos grunt below – creates its own magic.

Hot Air Balloon Safari (additional cost): Available July through October when operators position balloons in the northern Serengeti, these dawn flights cost approximately $550-$600 per person. The experience includes hotel pickup at 4:30 AM, an hour’s flight over the plains possibly witnessing river crossings from above, and a champagne breakfast in the bush. Book well in advance during peak season.