Victor Nyakiriga came to Lolkisale as a Tanzanian safari guide, and Elena Danilova came to the bush from building design. Together they opened the camp in December 2019, and they chose their ground carefully: deep inside Tarangire National Park, on the edge of an open wetland and beneath two towering baobabs. To be inside the park rather than waiting at its gate changes the rhythm of a stay entirely.
Elephant, buffalo and antelope move across the plain toward water while lion and leopard follow close behind.
Game viewing begins at first light from the tents. Elephant, buffalo and antelope move across the plain toward water while lion and leopard follow close behind. Through the dry months the herds cross the grass in full view of a private veranda, where Tarangire holds some of its densest wildlife along the river and the surrounding swamps. The wetland is a corridor, not a backdrop, and the camp sits directly on it.
Seven canvas tents stand under the baobabs, spaced for privacy on the iron-oxide sand that gives this corner of Tarangire its burnt-orange tone. Floor-to-ceiling screen walls open the interiors to breeze, birdsong and the plain beyond. A resident pair of Kirk’s dik-dik often browse close to the tents, small enough to watch at arm’s length from the shade.
A resident pair of Kirk’s dik-dik often browse close to the tents.
The design favours restraint over statement. Hand-woven rugs, wooden shelving and stone basins sit against a neutral palette, keeping the attention where it belongs, on the plain outside. The open-sided lounge and dining tent carry the same calm, with deep couches, a stocked bar and a list of South African wines chosen by the camp’s own team. No plastic is used here, and much of the furniture and textiles comes from the hands of Tanzanian craftspeople.
From July through October the water thins across central-southern Tarangire, and the swamps beside camp become the heart of everything. Elephant herds, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and giraffe funnel toward the wetland and the Tarangire River, and the predators follow, lion and leopard, cheetah and caracal hunting across these plains. More than 550 bird species have been recorded in the park, many of them gathered around the water and visible from the veranda without your ever leaving the chair.
The camp sits in a quieter corner of the park and sees fewer vehicles than the areas near the main gate, so sightings feel private rather than shared. You arrive by air to Kuro Airstrip, roughly a 25-minute flight from Arusha, and then take a game drive to camp. That drive threads through baobab ridges and elephant corridors, so it works as the first game drive of the trip rather than a transfer, the wildlife arriving before you have even reached your tent.
That drive threads through baobab ridges and elephant corridors, so it works as the first game drive of the trip.
Days follow the wildlife rather than a schedule. Game drives run into Tarangire’s varied habitats, while walking safaris and night drives operate within the park under Tanzania National Parks rules, each accompanied by an armed ranger and the walking reserved for guests aged sixteen and over. Bush breakfasts pause the morning drive with fresh-baked muffins and bread among the bird calls, and a visit to a Maasai community can be arranged whenever you wish.
Meals bring the standard of a small hotel into the bush. The kitchen works with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and bends to whatever you prefer, and dining moves between the open-sided tent, a communal table and the shade of the baobabs outside. At night the plain carries its own sound, lion and hyena and elephant calling across the dark. Children aged five and over are welcome, and a family tent awaits those travelling together.
accommodation
Seven custom-designed canvas tents, one configured as a family unit. Each has a bedroom and sitting area, an en-suite bathroom with indoor shower, flush toilet and twin stone basins, an outdoor stone-floored shower, and a private veranda facing the wetland.
activities
Guided game drives explore Tarangire's plains, river and swamps. Night drives and walking safaris operate within the park under Tanzania National Parks regulations, both with an armed ranger, and walking is limited to guests aged 16 and over. Bush breakfasts and visits to a Maasai community are also offered.
conservation
Lolkisale is Tanzanian-owned and run, with furniture, rugs and textiles sourced from Tanzanian craftspeople and a locally drawn staff. No plastic is used at the camp, and biodegradable amenities feature throughout.
Get in touch and let’s start the conversation. An initial consultation helps us understand what you’re looking for, whether that’s specific experiences, luxury touches, or marking a special occasion, and from there we’ll guide you through what’s possible so you can decide if we’re the right fit.
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Tarangire National Park
You fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport on your international flight, and from Arusha nearby reach the park either by road, about three hours, or by a light aircraft hop to a park airstrip near camp, deep inside Tarangire. We build the flights and transfers in so the day joins up without long waits.
Seats are shared and the exact departure is fixed the day before, once the airline sets its routing, so the final timings firm up close to the day. We can also arrange the hop as a private charter, typically a Cessna Caravan or Pilatus PC-12, flown when it suits you. Luggage is soft bags only, with a weight limit of around 15 to 20kg depending on the airline, which we confirm with you before you pack.
Yes. Tarangire lies below 1,800 metres, and current UK guidance from TravelHealthPro treats all of mainland Tanzania below that height as a malaria area. The camps provide screened tents, nets and repellent, but antimalarial tablets and covering up after dark are the real protection.
Health advice can change from year to year, so we always ask you to confirm the current position with a travel clinic or your doctor before you travel, and to take the usual care against bites after dark.
This is warm northern-circuit country, with comfortable days in the mid to high twenties and cooler mornings and evenings, and it can feel hotter and dustier in the open dry-season terrain.
Pack light layers with a fleece for early drives, in neutral colours, plus a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and good sunscreen, and a light waterproof if you travel in the green season.
Come between July and October, when shrinking waterholes draw Tarangire's big elephant herds and concentrated game back to the river and the thinning bush opens up clear viewing. August and September are the peak. The green season from November to May is quiet and best for birding, though the long rains of March and April disperse the game and close some camps.
Lolkisale sits deep inside the park on the edge of an open wetland, so game viewing begins at first light from the tents, with elephant, buffalo and antelope crossing the plain in full view of a private veranda. It sits naturally on a northern circuit with Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
Yes, for families who like the bush. One of the seven tents is configured as a family unit, and a resident pair of Kirk's dik-dik often browse close to the tents, small enough to watch at arm's length.
Walking here is limited to guests aged sixteen and over, so tell us the children's ages and we will confirm the family tent and which activities suit.
The northern circuit has better coverage than Tanzania's remote parks, but Tarangire is still bush. Expect wifi in the main area of camp, often slow, and patchy mobile signal that comes and goes and drops out on drives.
It handles messages and email more than calls or streaming. Tell us if you need to stay reliably reachable and we will confirm the current setup before you travel.
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our approach
Every journey starts with a conversation. We take the time to understand your vision before we start planning.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape something that is considered, personal, and expertly delivered.
