Africa, Eastern Africa | Tanzania United Republic Of | Adventure, All Inclusive, Eco Friendly, Escorted, Family, Group, Honeymoon, Safari, Solo, Sustainable, Tailor Made | Camp, safari-mobile | Private, Reserve | luxury
Singita Explore is a private use tented camp on the plains of the Serengeti, that moves around during the year to provide optimal game viewing in the exclusive Serengeti Grumeti area. Singita Explore has been designed to operate on a minimal amount of energy consumption, ensuring as little impact on the environment as possible. Offering the quintessential grassroots safari experience, this high action low impact camp blends lavish luxury with stark authenticity, featuring a range of top tier canvas tents with en-suite facilities and various amenities. A thrilling assortment of game viewing activities await all adventurous guests, from the timeless excitement of 4×4 game drives to horseback safaris through the Serengeti plains, offering unique and bespoke wilderness excursions that are sure to impart lasting memories.
Camp location varies depending on seasonality.
Situated in East Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, with Kenya to the north and Mozambique to the south, the Tanzanian landscape is defined by an intrinsically diverse array of geography, comprising lush savannahs, arid deserts, stretching wetlands and mountainous terrain. Featuring some of the highest game concentrations on the continent, this vast land is synonymous for the Great Migration, a plethora of national parks and expansive Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) that dot the landscape.
Singita Explore is a private use tented camp on the plains of the Serengeti that moves around during the year to provide optimal game viewing in the exclusive Serengeti Grumeti area. Here, game sightings are concentrated and bountiful year-round, especially during the hotter, dryer seasons when water sources dry up and game converge on consistent water sources – like that of the Grumeti River. Spanning over 350,000 acres of untouched wilderness, Singita Grumeti is located in Northern Tanzania, forming part of the Serengeti Mara ecosystem. Singita Grumeti offers visitors a front-row seat to the Great Migration as well as countless other wildlife experiences all year around. By road, Singita Explore Camp is accessible via Arusha at approximately 7-hours travel time (300km), and 8-hours from Kilimanjaro (350km).
- Luxury 5-star safari lodge set within the Grumeti region of the Serengeti
- Fully inclusive rates, including all standard food and beverages
- Spacious canvas tents with en-suite bathrooms and shower facilities
- Concentrated game viewing and exotic birdwatching
- Pristine stargazing amid the unpolluted night sky
- Various safari activities led by experienced guides
- Locally inspired cuisine and conventional options
- Children of all ages welcome
Singita Explore Camp features a variety of facilities for you to enjoy and utilise throughout your stay. The mess tent and open plan lounge provide the perfect quarters for meeting with your guide who can brief you on the day’s activities ahead. The in-camp library allows you to further hone your knowledge of the landscape and the wildlife that comprises it, with an extensive variety of books regarding animals, flora, fauna, and geography. A guest computer with internet connection is also available on request. With fully inclusive rates, you’re free to indulge in a mouth-watering selection of locally sourced alcoholic and none-alcoholic beverages at your own leisure, which includes the three set meals that are served throughout the day.
Featured rates exclude premium drinks, conservation and concession fees, gratuities of a personal nature and medivac. With a choice of private and communal, al fresco and under canvas dining locations, there are options to suit the preferences of all guests. Depending on what time of year you decide to visit, you may wish to pack accordingly. Generally, temperatures soar during the day, so you should bring light and airy clothing; ideally neutral colours such as cream or khaki. Bring shorts, a comfortable pair of walking shoes/boots and a sunhat. You are advised to bring sunblock and lotions. Temperatures drop in the evening and do not begin to rise until the late morning, so make sure to bring a jacket and other warm articles of clothing along with you.
The composition of these exclusive tented suites is flexible and based on the requirements of each booking. There are six tents that can accommodate 12 people. Each tent features an en-suite bathroom with al fresco bucket shower, your choice of either king-sized or double beds and a wealth of complimentary amenities meant to elevate the guest experience. Interior is furnished in the classic East African style, featuring hues of cream khaki, and an aesthetic that ushers the essence of authentic Tanzanian safari.
Amenities Include:
- En-suite bathroom
- Al fresco shower
- Veranda
- Balcony/ deck
- Mosquito nets
- Dressing gowns
- Pure cotton linen
Three meals are served daily, featuring a hearty continental breakfast comprised of fresh fruits, pastries, cereals, and juices, an al fresco picnic dinner served between activities and a lavish three course evening banquet. Meals range from lite and healthy to lavish and indulgent, ensuring there are preferences to suit all guests. If you have any specific dietary requirements, be sure to inform the camp in advance so the appropriate accommodations can be made. With fully inclusive rates, you’re free to indulge in a comprehensive range of refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at your own discretion, as your time at Singita is one of indulgence.
The lite and airy feel of Singita Bar, with its thatched roof and fully stocked shelves will leave you reeling for a refreshing beverage amid the parching midday heat. Talented bar staff are happy to fix you up the drink of your choosing, from pints to cocktails and everything in-between. Come and grab a drink in the evening and enjoy sundowners with friends and guides alike as you reminisce an exciting days’ safari adventure.
Embark on daily game drives amid the scenic, picturesque plains of the Serengeti. Experienced guides, familiar with the lay of the land and the abundance of wildlife that roams it will lead you safely through the lush landscape in search of the many staple safari creatures that roam the open plains and congregate around waterholes. Exotic Big 5 game viewing awaits your gaze, with regular sightings of all the big cats and predator and prey alike as you survey the landscape in open 4×4 safari vehicles.
Bush walks will allow you to soak up the intricacies of nature while traversing the land at a more intimate and insightful pace than conventional safari game drives. Knowledgeable guides will discuss with you the features of the land while pointing out local flora and fauna. The Serengeti offers high concentrations of plains game, making any excursion one to write home about. Here, game is shot only with camera equipment, and the fertile plains that surround you offer the perfect opportunity for world-class wildlife photography.
Take to the saddle and explore the spectacular sights and sounds the Serengeti has to offer on horseback. This exclusive game viewing experience allows you to reconnect with nature and truly appreciate the awe-inspiring landscape encompassed by the Grumeti River system. Headed by experienced guides, this daytime horseback adventure is certainly one to write home about.
The Serengeti is an expansive wildlife area which features over 500 species waiting for you to discover. Bird watching here is phenomenal year-round, but at its absolute best during November through April. Not only is this when European and North African migratory birds are present, but it is also nesting time for resident species. Keep your eyes peeled for the likes of the black-headed gonolek, Fischer’s lovebird and Verreaux’s eagle.
Cast your eyes upon the speckled canvas of vibrant lights displayed by the Tanzanian night sky while gathered around a cosy campfire in the company of friends and family. Untarnished by light pollution, the remote areas of the Tanzanian bush provide the perfect arena for a picturesque star-gazing experience. Marvel at the infinite sky, which features the Big Dipper in the northern hemisphere and the Southern Cross and Pointers in the south.
Community programmes are a core aspect of Singita’s operations, so this principle is predominantly managed under the umbrella of Community. Besides the extensive community programmes which take place in the communities surrounding Singita Group lodges, they also strive to keep local culture alive within their lodges through design and décor, drawing on local artists and artisans to ensure the authenticity of design. Singita encourage the expression of local culture through language, arts, and dance, incorporating these elements into the guest experience.
Singita Group believe it is important that all staff understand the essence of sustainability and are empowered and inspired to make independent decisions to be sustainable, both at work and at home. To encourage this, events are run throughout the year focused on the principles of the ‘One Planet Living’ framework. Although these events are foremost fun, they are also informative and bring staff together by promoting a culture of sustainability.
Managing Land and Nature is such a significant aspect of Singita’s operations, this principle is separately managed under the umbrella of Biodiversity by various environmental teams employed by them. Singita is committed to restoring, protecting, and enhancing the biodiversity of close to 1 million acres of land across four African countries. The aim is to secure the continued ecological integrity, wildlife management and ecosystem restoration of some of Africa’s most diverse wilderness areas and iconic wildlife – from the vast savannas of the Serengeti to the rainforests of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park; and from the lowveld region of South-eastern Zimbabwe to South Africa’s pristine bushveld.
As part of Singita’s approach of supporting adjacent communities, the company sources as much food as it can locally and supports the initiation of projects that can further increase local sourcing. The lodges place great emphasis on their farm-to-table approach. The use of fresh, seasonal produce is one of the most important elements of the enticing daily menus. This produce is sourced from local farmers who have grown and developed their farming kills through the continuous support and long-term relationship with Singita. As high levels of meat consumption are detrimental to the environment, local educational programmes will look at including the benefits of balanced diets and animal protein substitutes.
Singita Lodges and urban offices are committed to operating in a way that reduces the quantity of waste being sent to landfills. These include waste reduction initiatives and recycling programmes. Much of Singita’s recycling goes to community-run businesses, which in turn generates income for communities surrounding their properties.
A successful group-wide project practically eliminated the use of plastic bottled water from their operations, saving thousands of bottles from entering the waste stream. Guests are provided with stainless steel or glass bottles which are filled from in-house water filtering and bottling systems. Singita have been successful in reducing many other single-use plastics from the lodge operations more recently.
Singita supports the development of communities surrounding its respective regions through the implementation of small business development projects, local procurement, and extensive local employment. Initiatives such as these enable local communities to grow economically and initiate the beginning of a prosperous entrepreneurial future in which communities possess the ability to be more financially stable and independent.
Under this Principle, Singita strives to ensure happy and healthy guests and staff. This entails creating the opportunities for meaningful experiences and promoting health and wellness during guest stays. This extends well beyond the traditional ‘spa’ experiences to customised opportunities for exercise, healthy and balanced meals to curated spaces for mindfulness practices. Many members of staff live on-site. Sintiga strive to provide comfortable living quarters and communal facilities that encourage a sense of community and family. The holistic health of staff is also something Singita takes very seriously.
Carbon offsetting is a way to reduce carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions that are produced elsewhere. Travellers can offset the carbon emissions produced from their flights, ground transportation and other activities by purchasing carbon credits. The funds from these carbon credit sales are then distributed to emission mitigation projects. These projects either remove existing CO2 from the atmosphere or prevent new emissions. The contributions fund certified projects that conserve and restore forests, generate clean and renewable energy, and/or increase energy efficiency at all Singita Group lodges.
According to Dr. Andrea Ferry, Singita’s Sustainability lead, “every element of the build was carefully researched and considered, from the local bricks and volcanic rock used to build the walls, to the mechanical ventilation system which draws in fresh air to ventilate and cool the rooms, eliminating the need for carbon-heavy air conditioning. Skylights, double-glazed windows, and wall and roof insulation are some of the other features that reduce energy consumption. Steel frame structures have reduced the use of environmentally detrimental concrete by up to 50%; heat pump and solar water heater hybrid systems provide underfloor heating, domestic hot water and pool heating; and the landscaping strictly makes use of native plant species.”
Sustainable operations across all Singita lodges and camps play a major role in achieving their overall purpose to preserve and protect large areas of African wilderness for future generations. Singita Volcanoes National Park and the 178 acres of land on which it is located sets an industry-wide benchmark for lodge design and sustainability. It also reaffirms a commitment to reduce their ecological footprint, meet the needs and improve the well-being of all Singita staff, guests, and neighbouring communities.
The ethos of sustainability applies to every material resource Singita incorporate in their business – from items used in daily operations to construction materials for new lodges. Singita strive to procure locally, not only to reduce carbon miles but also to support local economies. They are conscious of the environmental impact of the materials used in the resources that support their operations. An example of this is the group-wide rollout of a local, organic, and environmentally friendly range of in-room guest toiletries to replace the previous imported, non-organic brands.
Singita acknowledge that burning fossil fuels in their operations contributes to the emission of more greenhouse gases than the Earth’s natural systems can process, which in turn is resulting in catastrophic climate change across the globe. However, their projects to reduce emissions include renewable energy installations, installation of more efficient equipment, building to optimise energy efficiency and running energy awareness programmes among staff.
Electricity and generator power make up the lion’s share of their carbon footprint. To address this, an ever-increasing number of Singita lodges have made a significant shift towards renewable energy with the installation of clean solar power technology. The implementation of other energy-efficient systems, such as highly efficient air-conditioners and LED light bulbs, further reduces lodge energy demand. They record and monitor their carbon-emitting resources monthly and conduct periodic carbon footprint analysis.
Being located in remote areas raises a challenge for reducing Singita’s collective carbon emissions from vehicle fuel use. Additionally, a key guest experience is the ‘game drive’. Many lodges are now keen to adopt the use of electric vehicles once suitable options become commercially available. But until such time, they strive to maintain and use their vehicles as efficiently as possible.
Water scarcity is a significant risk facing the world. Sintiga Group’s business depends on healthy water systems to sustain life in the wilderness areas in which they operate and to supply their tourism operations. The first step in assessing healthy water systems and appropriate consumption is knowing how much they are using. Singita is constantly improving its water monitoring and measurement systems, including consistent monitoring of the health of the boreholes and aquifers which supply them. Therefore, Sintiga strive to limit leakage, use water efficiently in operations, and return it to the natural system unpolluted.
Children of all ages are welcome at Singita Explore Camp. Activities are tailored to suit each family. In the interest of safety, children’s participation in game activities is at the discretion of your guide. Due to the potentially hazardous and sometimes unpredictable nature of the environment, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.