Olakira Camp
CEDARBERG RATING
Premier
Overview
Olakira Camp is an intimate, semi-mobile camp that moves around some of the best areas in the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania. It's a classic tented camp experience which evokes the spirit of old Africa. The carefully selected locations for each season mean that guests can stay close to the interaction between predators and the herds of the Great Migration in the Serengeti.
The Olakira experience
Under canvas and intimate, Olakira Camp captures the essence of classic mobile tented safaris, reminiscent of safaris in the old days. Meaning “star” in Swahili, Olakira Camp aims to deliver an intimate and authentic safari experience. The tents are spacious and comfortable, with large beds, wide private verandas, en-suite flush toilets and safari bucket showers. However Olakira Camp is not about 5 star luxury - it's about an intimate and authentic safari experience in the middle of this spectacular Park, with game roaming around camp at night, and genuine, warm hospitality which doesn't cross the line to become cloying or obsequious.
The Camp
Olakira Camp has two open-sided communal tents. When the camp is occupied by multiple small parties, one communal tent will serve as a dining tent and the other as a lounge, where drinks are served and guests can mingle. When a larger group visits the camp, one of the common tents can be made the exclusive lounging/dining tent for that group. The other tent will then be set up as a lounging/dining tent for the other guests so that everyone is happy. Fantastic meals at Olakira Camp are served in the dining tent or under the Serengeti stars. You can also opt to have dinner on your own veranda and enjoy an intimate view of the Serengeti.
Olakira Mobile Camp has 9 tents which offer a modern take on the vintage charm of an East African safari under canvas. A private veranda with a canvas chaise lounge is standard with each tent. With the Serengeti literally on your doorstep panoramic views, naturally, come standard.
The camp features 2 family or triple tents. These tents are spacious and have king sized, double and single beds to suit guests' individual needs. These tents also feature en-suite bathrooms, flushable toilets and bucket showers. The family tents also have incredible views of the surrounding landscape of the Serengeti.
Families
Olakira accepts children age 5 and above which is great if you want to take your family for a safari in the Serengeti. There is one Family Tent which sleeps 4 and one of the 4x4 game drive vehicles is 'closed'. More child-oriented activities include baking, bush skills and star-gazing. Note that, being a mobile camp, Olakira does not have a pool.
Olakira Camp Movements
As the Great Migration makes its way across the expansive Serengeti plains, the luxury seasonal Olakira Camp follows. In the early part of the year, Olakira is perfectly situated within the Ndutu and Ngorongoro Conservation Area's to witness the calving of wildebeest. This is where the great migration culminates before setting off for the North. In the dryer months the camp moves to the Northern Serengeti to have a front row seat for when the big herds move north.
Olakira Camp is usually located in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu) area from December to March when the migration is grazing on the southern Ndutu plains. It relocates to the Kogatende area from June to mid November. However the camp moves are based on animal movement patterns around the Serengeti and cannot be initiated by guests. The aim is for the camp to be positioned within reach of the migration, but the wildebeest don't read maps or timetables and suitable spots to locate the camp are not limitless, so proximity to the migration can't be guaranteed.
Game-Viewing
Whether the camp is on the Mara River or the Southern Plains of Ndutu, the aim is to get you as close into the thick of the action as possible. You can opt for morning and afternoon game drives or you can choose to head out for the full day in search of the migration in the Serengeti armed only with your cameras and a delicious picnic lunch.
Back in camp, story telling, board games, star gazing or relaxing with a book amidst the sounds of the bush are some of the activities which can be enjoyed. When the camp is in the north, a crossing point directly in front of camp allows for spectacular game viewing whilst enjoying breakfast.
At A Glance
Off the beaten track
Romantic
Beautiful Landscapes
In Pictures
Olakira Camp on the map
Rooms
Double room
Olakira’s nine tents offer a modern take on the vintage charm of East Africa. Each has a king-sized bed (twin beds are available) complete with rich linens, an under-cover veranda with comfortable chaise longue, and en-suite bathroom and dressing area with hot-water safari bucket showers and flushing toilets.
Family Tent
Olakira Mobile Camp features 2 family or triple tents. These tents are spacious and have king sized, double and single beds to suit guests individual needs while staying at Olakira Camp. The tents also feature en-suite bathrooms, flushable toilets and bucket showers. The tents also have incredible views of the surrounding landscape.
Olakira Camp Serengeti review
Olakira follows the herds of wildebeest to two locations in the north and south of the Serengeti National Park, as well as the Ndutu region. Home from December to March, is in the NCA (Ngorongoro Conservation Area). Game drives here cover both the Ngorongoro and the southern Serengeti, allowing for frequent sightings of big cats, elephant, buffalo and the more elusive African wild dog.
However as the dry days of winter arrive as in June, Olakira relocates north to the confluence of the Mara and Bolongonja rivers for game viewing at the Mara River itself. They have actually moved from their original northern site as the Tanzanian park authorities requested that all the camps move further away from the river.
We stayed at Olakira in their new star-gazing tents. Olakira’s tents have been designed so that a portion of the tent has a view from beneath a meshed net, offering you an outdoor experience whilst still remaining indoors. Star-gazing tents allow you the flexibility to roll your bed into the meshed area for an experience of sleeping beneath the stars.
We had great game viewing when we drove to the river. With many wildebeest and lions fighting. And also lots of hyenas spotted throughout my trip in Tanzania. I loved the bush breakfast and the setting and food was excellent!
But the camp had the generator on most of the times which was not good as it was too noisy. They had a problem with their batteries. But I think they should have communicated that to us as the second evening the generator was on until after 11pm.
