Lemala Mara is the ultimate seasonal camp in Serengeti, within touching distance of the Mara River and set in a grove of large Euclea trees in the heart of the best game viewing area of the Northern Serengeti. Here, in this immense remote wilderness, almost double the size of the Masai Mara, guests can enjoy fabulous landscapes and terrific off-road game viewing with practically no crowds. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high with prides of lion up to 30 strong but when the migration starts arriving from June onwards, the area turns into a wildlife paradise par excellence. 

Location

The Serengeti National Park is 200 kms west of Arusha, Tanzania: the park’s northern boundary abuts with the Kenya border, its western boundary reaches Lake Victoria, Tanzania.
Lemala Mara is located on the Mara River, 9 Kms from Kogatende Airstrip in Northern Serengeti

Accommodation

Lemala Mara is open from 1 June to 31 October and has 8 luxury tents and 1 family tent which can accommodate 4 to 5 guests. Each spacious tent is very comfortable and outfitted with large single or king-size beds with warm duvets, wooden flooring with rugs, 24-hr solar lighting, and en-suite bathrooms with a dressing area, flush toilet and a great safari shower.

Dining and bars

The Lemala Mara mess tent is beautifully furnished in contemporary style with comfortable sofas, lamps, book and corner cabinets, chests and rugs.  In the evening, guests gather around the campfire for sundowners before retiring for dinner under chandeliers hosted by the camp manager. House alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included at meal time.

Child-friendly

Lemala Mara welcomes children but stipulates that they be over the age of six.

What to see and do

Through June, July and August the wildebeest continues moving through the area, crossing and re-crossing the Mara River before heading north towards Masai Mara, but several large herds remain behind and weather changes could easily bring the vast herds flooding back into the area from the Mara. Migration and predator action lasts up to end of October assuring this area’s reputation as one of the finest in Africa.

At the camp's superb location, Lemala Mara guests will be amongst the vast herds of migrating wildebeest and zebra. Two of the largest crossing points on the river are nearby and occasionally guests may observe the exciting crossings from the comfort of the camp. The spectacular Lamai triangle, Wogakuria kopjes and Kogatende airstrip are all very easily accessible.

Lemala Mara's naturalists/guides have exceptional local knowledge, enabling them to take guests to where the action is in open 4x4 vehicles, on or off the road, and away from the crowds. Lemala's vehicles are specifically designed for long game drives and come equipped with comfortable seats, charging units and a large refrigerator. Lemala Mara organizes great picnic breakfasts and lunches for those who want to go on full day game drives. Private vehicles can be booked in advance at extra cost and are subject to availability.

Typical safari experiences at Lemala Mara include: safari game drives in especially adapted 4WD safari vehicles (with professionally trained Tanzania safari guides), safari bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners; cocktails around the camp safari campfire and guided safari walks through the bush. Lemala Mara Lodge also offers ornithological tours, cultural performances and visits to the local Maasai people of Tanzania.
In the Serengeti, a particular highlight is a hot air balloon ride, which typically ascends from its launch site at dawn and travels for around an hour across the plains before descending in a controlled landing to a cooked safari breakfast in the bush.