Hello,
My husband and I are planning a safari next February. We are considering many lodging options and wondered if anyone on the forum has personal experience with any of the following:
Kongoni Luxury Tented Camps
Nasikia Tented camps
Savannah Serengeti Tented Camps
We are looking for mid-range luxury tents that have good food, atmosphere and service.
Any input would be appreciated!
Thanks!

I haven't stayed at any of these camps, but have used Tanganyika Wilderness Camps several times. They have a nice tented camp in the southern Serengeti called Lake Masek Tented Camp, an area you'll want to visit in February.

Thanks, ShayTay, I've considered LMTC and it looks very nice, but we want a bit more 'canvas' experience. Tanganyika Wilderness Camps has an Exclusive Mobile Camp that's a consideration but is more expensive than Serengeti Savannah Camps (possibly more than Kongoni and Nasikia as well--waiting for quotes on these) and we've heard from a few sources that SSC is a better value.
I know that the meaning of 'value' is subjective, but I'm interested to hear anyone's thoughts, particularly on the above mentioned mobile camps.

<i>"we want a bit more 'canvas' experience"</i>

... how much more canvas than these tents? What do you mean by "more canvas?"

EMC and Savannah will be more expensive. Not familiar with Kongoni or Nasikia.

From what I've read, LMTC is a more permanent structure with the tents being more like really nice hotel rooms...not a bad thing, at all, but we're looking for something that's a more 'tentlike' (canvas) experience. Still nice, but less like a hotel room and more like a high end tent.
My travel advisor has given me costs showing that Savannah is about 2/3 the price of LMTC; EMC is also less expensive but not by much.

We were in the Serengeti last February in a Nomad Tanzania camp (Serengeti Safari Camp) - highly recommend it - pics and commentary here (scroll down a bit)

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/a...i-safari-camp/

Just got back from Kongoni which was right by Lake Masek tented camp and as Shaytay mentioned it is where you want to be. I've camped many times in Africa and this would be a more 'canvas' experience.Everything worked as it should,the food is ok,the service was great,the guys in camp amongst the nicest i have ever dealt with.As far as atmosphere do you like wildlife in your camp at night? The first night had a herd of Elephants eating around our tent that included an Ele bumping the shower tent that is attached to your tent which resulted in my tent shaking slightly followed by me shaking even more slightly.This was followed by a herd of Buffalo.The next night only had a Leopard pass through rasping as he went. All in all that is a great atmosphere.

Hope this helps.

Quick question about Tanganyika Wilderness Camps, if you don't mind, ShayTay. Have you used their exclusive mobile camp at all? And if so,do you know if they would set it up anywhere in the park just for you? The triple bed price they quote sounds very reasonable.

TWC has their semi-permanent Simiya EMC camps, which are set up in areas near the Migration, depending on the time of year. If you have a large enough group, you can also book one of their mobile tented camps. I've staying in both. For my last group to northern Tanzania, I had booked the mobile tented camp, but their Simiya camps were mostly empty (being September) and they upgraded us to those camps. One was in the northern Serengeti in the Bologonja area and the other one was in the central Serengeti. The Simiya tents were larger and better appointed than the mobile camps (which I had used on three other trips.)Sangeeta, you mentioned "triples" and I seem to remember that the central Serengeti camp had three beds in our tent. The Serengeti has specific campsites where mobile camps can be set up and are usually booked well in advance. There can be some shifting around, but you are usually locked into the booked campsite.

2doglove, you can book into a Simiya camp, rather than Lake Masek tented camp, but rest assured that you'll have plenty of "canvas experience" with LMTC. I've not stayed there, but have stayed at their sister properties, Lake Burunge and Maramboi. The walls and ceiling are canvas, with a thatched roof over the structure. It's all built on a wooden platform off the ground. You'll still hear all of the night sounds. With the large windows, you can leave them zipped open at night (mesh screens still in place) and see what's outside (if there's a moon.) Either way, you'll have a great experience!

TWC has their semi-permanent Simiya EMC camps, which are set up in areas near the Migration, depending on the time of year. If you have a large enough group, you can also book one of their mobile tented camps. I've staying in both. For my last group to northern Tanzania, I had booked the mobile tented camp, but their Simiya camps were mostly empty (being September) and they upgraded us to those camps. One was in the northern Serengeti in the Bologonja area and the other one was in the central Serengeti. The Simiya tents were larger and better appointed than the mobile camps (which I had used on three other trips.)Sangeeta, you mentioned "triples" and I seem to remember that the central Serengeti camp had three beds in our tent. The Serengeti has specific campsites where mobile camps can be set up and are usually booked well in advance. There can be some shifting around, but you are usually locked into the booked campsite.

2doglove, you can book into a Simiya camp, rather than Lake Masek tented camp, but rest assured that you'll have plenty of "canvas experience" with LMTC. I've not stayed there, but have stayed at their sister properties, Lake Burunge and Maramboi. The walls and ceiling are canvas, with a thatched roof over the structure. It's all built on a wooden platform off the ground. You'll still hear all of the night sounds. With the large windows, you can leave them zipped open at night (mesh screens still in place) and see what's outside (if there's a moon.) Either way, you'll have a great experience!

Elizabeth_S: Loved your link with photos and overview of your trip (especially the tree lion). Serengeti Safari Camp looks about right for what we have in mind (would prefer flush toilet but your description of long drop seems doable). I can't tell from your report or the Nomad Tanzania website if this company offers full guide service i.e. can arrange a trip from Tarangire to Ngorongoro to the Ndutu area of NCA OR if Serengeti Safari Camp is a lodging option that we can book using a different guide service. Any input?

DLO: I like the way Kongoni looks online (food is touted as very good...but you indicate it's just OK, which is kind of disappointing as we are very into good food). Since I made my inquiry I've read that Kongoni is associated with a company called Tropical Trails. Tropical Trails gets TERRIBLE reviews on Trip Advisor. Did you book Kongoni thru Tropical Trails or through another booking agent/trip planner/tour company?

ShayTay: many thanks for more details on LMTC and Simiya camp!

Hi 2doglove - Nomad organized our entire trip (i.e. private guide/vehicle pickup at JRO who stayed with us the entire time; accommodation at Plantation Lodge/Arusha and their 2 camps; air from Ndutu to Arusha; park fees, etc) - they don't deal directly with the public but if you contact them they will send you names of agents. I can recommend a Toronto based Nomad agent if you wish (doesn't really matter where the agent is).

I don't know if their accommodation can be booked separately. We were delighted with their camps and the other accommodation, and LOVED our guide Felix and highly recommend him.

Re long drop - believe me, camping is not my thing - but it was just fine. And the food was very good - quite remarkable considering where we were!

Though Nomad's has a great product, it doesn't come cheap and may exceed OPs budget.

One's idea of luxe is another's Motel-6.
And, what some might consider fine cuisine, others feel is no better than sufficient so you don't go hungry.

While we're advised NOT to eat salads and melons, that's the one thing I look forward to when in Africa (all so fresh and right from the garden) and the tummy has held up well, now 16/years.

And, even for those of us who have returned again and again and experienced most all types of accommodations (lodges, permanent, seasonal, mobile or basis camping), whether the decor, bathrooms, toilets, bush showers, or claw-footed bubble bath tubs... the replies will be as different at the responders - their expectations and cost vs value.

Well said Sandi. And as I've mentioned many times, our excitement over our first safari gets "re-directed" after experiencing more safaris.

regards - tom
ps - sandi - hope the new forum and your browser are working ok for you now. I was very concerned you had thrown-in-the-towel . And that would be very very sad for all of us.

Thanks Elizabeth_S, Sandy and others. Will take this into consideration and move forward accordingly!

The food was fine and as Sandi said everyone has varying opinions.My wife and i had very contrasting opinions on this trip.

This was my second trip with Tropical Trails and i have nothing but good things to say.I stayed at their campsite in Arusha many years ago and the Bradt guidebook had good things to say about them. I then contacted some references and then took the plunge.

I defer to others on the costs of the camps you are considering - don't know how they stack up against Nomad.

One thing about the TWC mobile and Simiya camps, they have flush toilets. They figured out a way to set those up, even with the temporary mobiles.

tom -

If I access thru Explorer I'm good to go with new format... no centering or clear definition of replies, etc.

Now all is left-justified, posts clearly separated and I like the clean san-serif font, one I prefer for my own docs. Though still hate the fact that questions and replies move together, so hope Fodor's is working on that. And, as to that "orange" banner... yup, Home Depot.

... so no, haven't thrown in the towel!

Thanks for the information, ShayTay. Good to know that there are other reasonably priced options out there.

BTW, Bill tells me that his temp. mobiles also have flush toilets. So perhaps the days of the long and short drops are over