Owned and operated by a Tanzanian-born conservationist, Lengai Camp is the perfect place for travelers looking for a more immersive safari experience. With full and sole access to the western concession of the Lake Natron Game Controlled Area – which stretches to the Kenyan border – you have much of this jaw-dropping part of Tanzania almost all to yourself, along with the Maasai and Sonjo tribes who have lived here with their cattle for centuries.

Lengai Camp has intriguing Lake Natron on its doorstep and lies within the Great Rift Valley, where at least seven volcanic craters offer shelter to comical rock hyraxes and battalions of eagles and falcons. The custodians of this land take conservation seriously, and Lengai Camp is involved in important anti-poaching measures. This is glorious a Rift Valley setting, complete with vast views of rolling savannah and ancient mountains. Intrepid travelers can follow in the footsteps of Maasai explorers by climbing Oldoinyo Lengai to enjoy the views.

Comprising only four tents with a further two smaller tents for guides or extra guests, Lengai Camp is one of the most intimate in Tanzania. But its size belies the punch it packs: you can go fly-camping at Oldonyo Shambu mountain, seek out the Engaresero waterfall, or simply pass your days on classic game drives. The camp lies on a Migration side route with good-sized herds of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra moving annually through an area rich with resident wildlife - be sure to keep an eye out for elusive leopards. The herds move up from Tarangire National Park from about December to June to take advantage of the fresh, green grazing. September to November sees much drier and hotter weather arrive.

Plentiful plains game is present year-round and you see both Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, zebra, giraffe, gerenuk (which can stand on their hind legs for minutes at a time, nibbling contentedly on tasty leaves), jackal, hyena, oryx and ostrich.

Lengai Camp is well positioned to visit spectacular Lake Natron, which is a protected Ramsar wetlands birding site. Thousands upon thousands of lesser flamingos make Natron their breeding ground, along with plentiful water birds like pelicans, storks, cormorants and ducks.

Highlights

• Remote and exclusive Rift Valley setting – perfect for a digital detox
• Stunning views of volcanic calderas
• Game viewing, birding, hiking to Oldoinyo Lenjai and Maasai cultural experiences
• Visit nearby Lake Natron for the lesser flamingo breeding season
• Fly-camping at Oldonyo Shambu
• Sole access to the Lake Natron West Concession Area
• Community, conservation and anti-poaching involvement

Activities

• GAME DRIVES
• GUIDED WALKS
• HIKING

'This is an amazing experience away from the more usual tourist routes. The scenery is stunning with plains dotted by active volcanos and sunken calderas, Michel is the perfect host and a font of information about the animals of the area and the activities on offer. Very special place!'

Rooms

En-Suite Tent

Lengai Camp has four guest tents and two slightly smaller guide tents that can be used if there are more than eight guests. The guest tents are large – 40m² / 130ft² – and have a shaded outdoor area in which to sit and absorb the views. The tents each have their own en suite bathroom with a hot shower and flush toilet; some bathrooms have a bathtub as well.

Furnished with a wardrobe, storage trunk, writing desk and safari chairs and complete with carved Zanzibari double or twin beds, each tent has 24-hour electric light, care of the camp’s solar power.

An additional bed can be included in a guest tent for families with a younger child.

Facilities

Lengai’s main tented camp serves as a communal lounge and dining area, complete with a bar. You can also make yourself comfortable outside, relaxing under the trees during the day and around the fire at night. Lengai Camp is off the grid for a rare ‘digital detox’ experience. Power is supplied via solar energy with a back-up generator, enabling you to recharge camera batteries.

There is a complimentary laundry service and the airstrip is at Gelai Lumba, about 10 kilometres / six miles away.

Dining

All meals are prepared at camp and consist of well-presented and wholesome, contemporary dishes served in the communal mess tent or outside. Vegetarian and venison-based meals are available.