How I Survived a Week Camping in the Serengeti — And How You Can Too
Imagine waking up to the sound of a lion’s roar echoing across the plains. You step outside your tent, and a herd of wildebeests is grazing just a few meters away. This was my reality during a week of camping in the Serengeti, one of the most famous wildlife reserves in the world. It was a week filled with adventure, excitement, and more than a few close calls. But with the right preparation, I survived it, and you can too.
When most people think of the Serengeti, they think of safaris, luxury lodges, and guided tours. But what if you could experience this iconic African wilderness up close by camping in it? For me, the idea of spending a week camping in the Serengeti was both thrilling and terrifying. Would I encounter lions? Would elephants wander through my camp at night? The suspense was palpable.
But camping in the Serengeti is not for the faint of heart. The animals here are wild, and the environment is unforgiving. So, how did I manage to stay safe, enjoy the experience, and come out unscathed? Here’s what I learned during my week in one of the most dangerous yet beautiful places on earth.
Choose Your Campsite Wisely
The first and most important lesson I learned was how crucial it is to choose the right campsite. The Serengeti is home to some of Africa’s most powerful predators, so staying in the wrong location can put your life at risk.
Stay Inside Designated Campsites: For my first camping experience in the Serengeti, I opted for a designated campsite within the park. These campsites are strategically placed in safer, monitored areas, away from wildlife corridors. The last thing you want is to pitch your tent in the middle of an elephant or lion path.
Understand the Terrain: Some campsites are positioned near riverbeds, which can attract predators, especially during the dry season. Look for higher ground with good visibility of your surroundings.
Stay Away from Water Sources: Lions, hyenas, and other wildlife often frequent water sources, so it’s essential to avoid camping too close to rivers or watering holes. They might seem like convenient places, but they’re also prime locations for predators to stalk prey.
Set Up a Safe Sleeping Area
Sleeping in the Serengeti requires more than just setting up a tent. I quickly realized that safety is all about securing your campsite properly and being aware of your surroundings at all times.
Elevate Your Sleeping Setup: A rooftop tent was a game-changer for me. Being raised off the ground offers an extra layer of security, especially when it comes to nocturnal predators like lions or leopards. If you don’t have access to a rooftop tent, make sure your regular tent is in a secure, elevated area where animals can’t easily access it.
Close Your Tent Securely: Always make sure your tent is zipped up tight. It may seem like a no-brainer, but I’ve seen too many campers leave a flap or window open, which can invite insects and smaller wildlife into your sleeping space. Keep your shelter sealed to prevent curious critters from intruding.
Use Lighting and Noise: During my stay, I used solar-powered motion sensors around my camp. These helped alert me to any approaching wildlife. Additionally, I kept a flashlight nearby at all times. Light and noise can deter animals like lions and hyenas from coming too close.
Packing Essentials: What I Wish I’d Known
Camping in the Serengeti offers incredible experiences but requires careful preparation to ensure comfort and safety. Here are the essentials I wish I’d known before venturing into the wild:
3-season tent: To handle both hot days and cold nights (below 10°C / 50°F).
Quick-dry clothes: Lightweight and breathable for daytime warmth.
Neutral-colored clothing: To blend in with the environment and avoid attracting insects.
Mosquito nets and insect repellent: These are essential for avoiding bites and potential diseases.
First aid kit: With basic supplies, including pain relievers, antihistamines, and rehydration salts.
Portable power bank: To keep phones and cameras charged in remote areas.
Cooler box: To keep drinks cold during the heat of the day.
Proper packing is key to a comfortable, safe, and enjoyable Serengeti camping experience!
Stay Aware of the Sounds of the Night
The Serengeti comes alive at night, and while the sounds of nature are mesmerizing, they can also signal potential dangers. I learned that being alert to the noises around you is essential for safety.
In the Serengeti, you’ll hear lions roaring in the distance, hyenas laughing, and elephants trumpeting. Understanding the meaning of these sounds is crucial. A lion’s roar means they’re on the prowl — stay alert. Hyena cackles, on the other hand, are often heard when they’re scavenging and are not usually a direct threat to you.
Listen closely for footsteps or rustling sounds. When I heard movement near my tent, I carefully shone a flashlight around the camp to ensure there weren’t any curious animals getting too close.
Keep Your Food Secure
One of the most important things I learned while camping in the Serengeti was how vital it is to secure your food. Wild animals, particularly hyenas and monkeys, are extremely resourceful when it comes to finding food, and they’re not afraid to steal it right from your camp.
On my trip, I was equipped with a sealed, animal-proof cooler to store all food and snacks. When you’re camping in the wild, a simple backpack isn’t enough. You need containers that animals can’t open, especially if you’re dealing with clever creatures like hyenas, who can smell food from miles away.
Never leave food unattended, even for a minute. I made it a rule to pack up everything as soon as I was finished eating. Any food left out is an invitation to wildlife.
If you’re camping in a traditional tent, it’s crucial to store food well away from where you sleep. You don’t want the smell of your leftovers luring hungry animals to your tent in the middle of the night.
The Wildlife Reality: Incredible But Different
During my time in the Serengeti, I had more than a few close encounters with the local wildlife, including lions, elephants, and giraffes. It’s important to know how to react in these situations to avoid startling the animals or provoking a dangerous situation.
Lions: If you spot a lion near your camp, stay still and calm. I made sure to always have a safe, secure exit route to my vehicle in case the lions came too close. Never run — this could trigger the lion’s chase instinct.
Elephants: If you’re near elephants, maintain a safe distance (at least 100 meters). If they come closer, stay inside your vehicle or tent and wait for them to move on. Elephants are usually not aggressive, but they can become unpredictable if they feel threatened.
Hyenas and Other Scavengers: Hyenas are opportunistic feeders. I made sure to keep my food secured and avoid leaving anything outside. If I heard them near the camp at night, I remained still and avoided making noise.
Embrace the Wild: Safety is the Key to Your Serengeti Adventure
Camping in the Serengeti isn’t for the faint-hearted, but if you’re up for it, it’s unforgettable. The fear, the beauty, the sheer wildness of it all — it gets under your skin in the best way. If you’ve ever dreamed of swapping Wi-Fi for wildlife and comfort for connection, this is your sign to go for it. Just pack light, plan smart, and keep your snacks (and nerves) close.
If you have any questions or comments about camping in the Serengeti, please leave them below!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
