Namiri Plains

Namiri Plains is positioned along the Ngare Nanyuki River in the eastern Serengeti. The vast grassland plains are mostly open, aside from the occasional acacia tree and the granite kopjes that dot the landscape. The hard calcrete layer beneath the topsoil prevents many trees or shrubs from growing here.

Set in a remote location in Tanzania’s eastern Serengeti, Namiri Plains offers the ultimate big cat safari experience. Previously a cheetah conservation initiative, the area is now also a haven for lions, leopards, and serval cats. This is a big cat country.

As it is one of the few locations in the eastern Serengeti with permanent underground water sources, game viewing is excellent year-round. The seasonal riverbed and the rich grasslands attract a variety of plains game, creating plenty of opportunities for the high number of big cats that call this area home.

The habitat is particularly good for cheetahs, who enjoy the short grass plains and hard terrain for chasing down their prey. Lion numbers are also very high across this area, frequently seen striking majestic poses atop of the kopjes, much to the delight of wildlife photographers. This truly is a big cat country.

From late October, the migration usually begins to head south, passing through Namiri Plains and engulfing the surrounding area with over a million wildebeest. Their journey continues to the fertile short grass plains of the southern Serengeti, making them accessible from Namiri until late May or early June.

Before Namiri Plains was built, these grasslands were closed to tourism for 20 years while the cheetah population was restored and researched. Upon the expiry of the research lease, we were proud to be offered the right to establish the first safari camp in this unchartered corner of the Serengeti. Our safari guides established the road networks, tracked the different prides and families across the plains, and embraced the guardianship of Namiri Plains. It is this bond, and the knowledge our guides hold, that allows them to deliver an unparallelled safari experience.

Game drives track cheetahs across the plains, or spy out lions basking atop granite kopjes, while walking safaris allow for a closer connection to the wilderness and the opportunity to observe the details unseen from a vehicle. In camp, relax around the pool whilst keeping an eye open for game approaching a natural spring across the plains, or schedule a massage to take your relaxation one step further. The information center tracks the fascinating development of this habitat, providing insight into both the landscape and wildlife of Namiri Plains.

Accommodation & Amenities

Rooms

Ten stylish tented suites and one family suite overlook the expansive plains of the eastern Serengeti. The beautifully furnished interiors are spacious and comfortable, with sliding doors running the width of the room, opening onto an expansive viewing deck. The walls are made from calcrete, a sedimentary rock created from the ashes of the Ngorongoro volcanoes, that helps to regulate the temperatures of the suites. The suite interiors are decorated in natural materials and tones. Each bathroom enjoys a view over the plains and has a standalone resin tub on the private deck, allowing for an al fresco bubble bath with a chilled glass of fizz

  • 11 tents (including 1 family tent)
    2 Retreats

  • En-suite bathrooms
  • Flushing toilets
  • Pool and deck area
  • In-room lockable box
  • 100 % solar power with a backup generator
  • Battery-charging facilities
  • Private spa