Set in a remote location in Tanzania’s’ eastern Serengeti, Namiri Plains offers the ultimate considerable cat safari experience. Previously a cheetah conservation initiative, the area is now a haven for lions, leopards, and serval cats. This is a big cat country.
About Namiri Plains Camp
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. This bond and our guides’ knowledge allow them to deliver an unparalleled safari experience.
Game drives track cheetahs across the plains or spy out lions basking atop granite kopjes. At the same time, walking safaris allow for a closer connection to the wilderness and observing details unseen from a vehicle. In camp, relax around the pool while 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 the landscape and wildlife of Namiri Plains.
Location of Namiri Plains
Namiri Plains is positioned along the Ngare Nanyuki River in the eastern Serengeti. The vast grassland plains are primarily 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.
It is one of the few locations in the eastern Serengeti with permanent underground water sources, so 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 perfect for cheetahs, who enjoy the short grass plains and rugged terrain for chasing down their prey. Lions are also very high across this area, frequently striking majestic poses atop 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. The journey continues to the fertile short grass plains of the southern Serengeti, accessible from Namiri until late May or early June.
