Does anyone know if the public campgrounds have adequate washrooms and showers. I am doing a safari on the Serengeti
and some use public campgrounds, so I wondered if they were Ok. Thanks for responses.

Hi there,

I am afraid that the public campsites in the Serengeti around Seronera are probably some of the worst you are likely to find anywhere, (apart from Simba A at the Ngorongoro Crater) this is despite the heavy camping site fees they charge

We stayed there last Christmas, they were not only unclean, but there was no water at all. I can only advise that you take all of your own water, and a portable fold away cubicle for washing in as well. We actually resorted to using the toilets at the Seronera visitor centre to get ready in the mornings, however this is not really allowed.
The only thing that made up for the lack of facilities was the fact that you could hear the Lions and Hyenas around the whole night, so you knew that you really were sleeping in the wild.

The other campsite we stopped at was at the Western Entrance gate, however we were the only people staying there. It is close to the main road and was a bit noisy. This campsite was still being built, however they did have useable toilets

The bottom line is if you know what to expect when you arrive there then you will not be disappointed.

Hope this is of some use to you


Best regards

Maurice

I agree with the Maurice but I will add that the public camp site experience is highly unpredictable! If you happen to get lucky and find a site with only a few other campers it is actually not that bad!

However, overcrowding is becoming a huge problem. As most lodges (and special camps) are fully booked nowadays, companies have no choice but to use the public camp sites.

Simba A and the Seronera public camp sites have been packed solidly for many nights in a row since January. The public facilities (rather basic to begin with) are showing the strains of so much usage.

Prepare for the worst - sharing full camp sites with some noisy, misbehaving, dirty fellow campers and very basic, smelly facilities with cold water - and you may be surprised in the end!

You just cannot predict the conditions!

I have pics of the camp sites and facilities here:

http://www.go-safari.com/NCA/SimbaA.htm
http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/s...ubliccamps.htm

Hi Eban,
Thanks for the pics.
As Maurice M said: "...if you know what to expect..." it helps.

Thank you for your replies, I figured it might be like that. Soo, I will now do the lodges, don't think I could handle nasty washrooms in the middle of the night. You have been most helpful. Marnibe

Have you thought about the private/special campsites?
These are meant to be small (1 or 2 groups) and do not have the associated probs with overcrowding/use in the public sites.
These do need booking in advance.