Is there anywhere to stay in the Serengeti that is NOT $1,000 a night?
 

Hi I am trying to book our own accommodation and am struggling with the serengeti as I can only find a handful of places and they are all more than US$1,000 per night. Does anyone know anywhere please? (We are going in january)...

I strongly suggest you look at TripAdvisor reviewed hotels in the Serengeti. There are plenty of places that are much less than what you quoted.

Three places that I usually tell people about are Ikoma Camp, Seronera Wildlife, and Mbuzi Mawe. Do note that lodges are in different places as Serengeti NP is big.

Suggest you look around at this listing for ideas.
http://www.eyesonafrica.net/rack-rates-tanzania.htm

regards - tom

Bear in mind that a rate of over $1000 a night is probably a rate for fly in guests which includes all activities (ie game drives in the camp's vehicle with the camp's guide). People flying in might pay this, but if you drive in with your own guide and vehicle then you don't need activities.

Most people arriving with their own vehicle/guide will have had their accommodation booked and paid for by their safari operator, who no doubt has paid a lower rate on the basis that you're not doing activities with the camp.

The Serengeti is a big place and you need to be in the right area for the time of year you are going. January isn't too far off, so I imagine many of the camps in the southern Serengeti are booked. As we've noted on your other post, use a safari planner for better results.

What places are you looking at and only coming up with $1K nt? But, is that for 1/pax or 2/paxs? If 2/paxs and during peak season... $500/pp/nt, is quite usual. Then there are park fees and if with own guide/vehicle a daily fee. Or if flying the cost of flights.

Bear in mind that attempting to book yourself is often not to your benefit... rather good idea to work with a tour operator/outfitter.

Why not just tell us your expected itinerary, where? number of days at each? actual lodging/camp? other useful info. And, your overall estimated budget.

Which places are you looking at that are $1000 per night and does that include park fees and game drives? If you're traveling by road with your own vehicle and guide, what you need to look at are full board rates (as opposed to game package). Where are you looking to stay? All of the lodges in the central Serengeti should be far less than that with Wildlife lodge usually the cheapest followed by Sopa and Serena. In the southern Serengeti, look at Ndutu lodge http://www.ndutu.com/ According to their calendar, they still have some availability in Jan.

Unfortunately, going direct the web sites indicate the GP=game package rates, using their guides/vehicles for game drives; most, but not all, include the daily park fee. On the other hand with private guide/vehicle, rates would be FB=full-board, a bit lower and taking into consideration to contract prices the outfitter has negotiated and to your benefit.

Do you really want to be knocking yourself out trying to determine what is being offered and what you're actually paying for?

Kiliwarriors/Eben Schoeman Safaris has a trip set up for me around that time of year, most of it in prime Serengeti locations, for far less than $1k per night that includes everything even Flying Doctors. Part of the trip is even solo so I pay all fixed costs of driver-guide/vehicle. And it's a modified, special big window vehicle for most of the trip with a stellar guide. So no shortcuts and no $1k/nt.

Many places you save by cutting out the middleman, the travel agent. Not the case in Eastern and Southern Africa for safari-type activities, with the exception of self driving in South Africa/Namibia.