Wilderness Usawa

Wilderness Usawa is an intimate mobile camp that moves between carefully chosen locations across the Serengeti, following the changing course of the Great Migration. Rather than remaining in one fixed position, the camp responds to current wildlife movements and local conditions, bringing guests close to the action while avoiding the park’s busiest areas. With just six safari tents at each camp, guided walks directly from camp and sweeping views across the surrounding plains, Wilderness Usawa offers a private and highly immersive way to experience one of Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacles.

Accommodation

Each of Wilderness Usawa’s mobile camps accommodates up to 12 guests in six spacious en-suite safari tents. Interiors combine classic safari style with contemporary comfort, including generous beds, a personal coffee station and hot running water. An open-plan lounge and dining area looks out across the plains, while the entire camp can also be booked for exclusive use.

Food & drink

Meals are fresh, generous and shaped around locally sourced Tanzanian ingredients. Breakfast may be served before an early game drive, while lunches and dinners are enjoyed in camp or beneath the open sky. Wilderness works with regional farms, suppliers and small businesses wherever possible, with menus designed to reduce food waste and maintain the camp’s light environmental footprint.

Experiences

The camp’s location changes through the year, placing guests within reach of the migration’s seasonal highlights, from calving on the southern plains to the herds moving through the western and northern Serengeti. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal lions, cheetahs, elephants and vast numbers of plains game, while guided walking safaris offer a closer look at tracks, plants and smaller wildlife. Birdwatching and stargazing are also excellent, and seasonal hot-air balloon flights can be arranged at an additional cost.

Sustainability

Wilderness Usawa has been designed to leave as little trace as possible. The camp is fully mobile, with no permanent structures left behind when it moves, and is powered entirely by solar energy. Wilderness also works with local organisations and communities to protect the Serengeti ecosystem, support conservation education and reduce activities such as poaching, snaring and tree cutting.

Children

Children aged six and over are welcome, although those under 16 must share a tent with an adult. Families travelling with children younger than six must book the entire camp for exclusive use. The remote setting and focus on game drives and walking safaris make Wilderness Usawa best suited to older, wildlife-loving children.

Best time to go

Wilderness Usawa moves throughout the year to make the most of the Serengeti’s changing wildlife patterns. The southern plains are particularly rewarding from December to February during calving season, while the Grumeti region is best from April to July. The northern Serengeti offers excellent migration viewing and access to the Mara River crossings from July to October. As wildlife movements vary each year, the precise location of the camp will depend on current conditions.

How to get there

Fly from Arusha or elsewhere on Tanzania’s northern safari circuit to the airstrip closest to the camp’s current position. Depending on the season, this may include Kogatende, Seronera, Kusini, Grumeti or another Serengeti airstrip. A safari vehicle will meet you on arrival, with transfer times varying according to where the camp is based.