GRUMETI RIVER CAMP
WESTERN SERENGETI TANZANIA

• Exceptional year-round game viewing
• 10 vibrantly designed safari tents
• Grumeti River crossing during the Great Migration
• Interpretive game-drives into the Serengeti
• Largest mass of free-ranging game on earth
• Excellent hippo and crocodile viewing
• Remote African wilderness experience

General information

Flanked by two hillsides, this flamboyant camp overlooks a bywater of the Grumeti River and offers a comfortable haven from which to experience the truly wild pulse of Africa.

Every year during Africa's annual Great Migration, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and other herbivores cross the Grumeti River, risking the jaws of some of the largest crocodiles on earth. Large pods of hippo grunt from their watery hideaway below the camp and black-and-white Colobus monkeys live in Grumeti's bird-filled riverine trees. At night, the nocturnal orchestra of owls and bush babies is punctuated by the primeval sounds of lion and hyena.

Accommodation

SAFARI ACCOMMODATION AT GRUMETI, TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA

Vibrant tented safari camp: Epitomising the excitement and romance of Africa, just 10 spacious safari tents feature colourful African cloths, local sculptured furnishings and en suite bathrooms with beautiful alfresco showers.

Flamboyant safari accommodation: This splendid safari camp is renowned for its stylish, vibrantly African designed tented suites set along the banks of a bywater of the Grumeti River, offering exceptional crocodile and hippo viewing.

• 10 spacious safari tents with ceiling fans
• All with en suite bathrooms
• Boma (outdoor dining area)
• Expansive game viewing deck
• Sparkling plunge pool
• Funky guest areas
• African crafts shop

Grumeti's spacious tents under makuti (palm frond) canopies and the vibrancy of colourful interiors - including hand-blown Kenyan glassware, African cloth and local sculptured furnishings - bring alive the excitement of Africa. Each tented suite features a large bed made of Tanzanian cypress and comfortable deck furniture both in and outdoors. En suite bathrooms offer separate w.c.s and alfresco showers open to the sun and stars.

Yoruba beaded antique artefacts adorn the sitting areas and domed bar. Spacious decks are perfect for sundowners overlooking the water. Delicious Pan-African cuisine - prepared on traditional 'jikos' (fires) or in stone ovens - is served in the boma or open-fronted dining area. Private dinners may be arranged for any special occasion.

Exciting safari activities: Explore the Serengeti savanna and woodlands on interpretive, twice-daily game-drives and enjoy excellent birdwatching in and around the camp. Optional excursions to Lake Victoria - Africa's largest lake - can also be arranged.

Activities

Thrilling safaris

Experience exciting twice-daily game-drives into the Serengeti National Park and incredible birdwatching opportunities at no additional cost.

Exciting game-drives

The Camp's expert Tanzanian guides will lead you on interpretive, twice-daily game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles into the game-rich Serengeti National Park, boasting the largest mass of free-ranging animals on earth. As there are only two small camps in this remote park, you almost never see other safari vehicles. Sundowners on the Kirawira Hills are a memorable way to end a day's safari.

Excellent birdwatching

With over 341 species recorded, birdwatching around Grumeti is exceptional - birdwatchers almost always exceed their sighting targets.

Lake Victoria excursions (optional extra)

Enjoy a day trip to Lake Victoria - Africa's largest lake and the second largest lake in the world - situated 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Grumeti River Camp. This exciting outing includes a safari, a visit to a local village and a panoramic view of the Lake from Speke Bay.

Cultural visit (optional extra)

This full-day excursion into the neighbouring Bunda district showcases various empowerment projects providing a fascinating insight into the lives of the local communities.

Your Private Guided Tanzanian Safari (optional extra)

This unique Specialist Safari is an unforgettable way to experience northern Tanzania, accompanied throughout by a professional guide in a safari vehicle for your exclusive use. Make each day a tailor-made adventure as you choose your own itinerary and choice of accommodation from our four spectacular lodges located in Tanzania's wildlife high spots - Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Klein's Camp and Grumeti River Camp.

Game viewing

WILDLIFE SAFARIS AT GRUMETI RIVER CAMP, TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA

Exceptional African wildlife

Grumeti is set in the remote western corridor of the Serengeti, boasting five distinct habitats, which are home to an astounding year-round concentration of animals.

• Resident lion prides and spotted hyena clans
• Spectacular congregations of migratory wildebeest (typically between June and July) which risk their lives crossing the Grumeti River
• Good cheetah viewing
• Gigantic Nile crocodile in Grumeti River
• Resident pods of hippo in front of the camp
• Superb birdwatching, including some Lake Victoria 'specials'
• Splendid black-and-white Colobus monkeys
• Resident populations of buffalo, zebra and Thomson's gazelle

Grumeti Habitats

Grumeti's open woodland savanna is dominated by acacia and desert date trees. Grassland savanna consists of nutritious grasses which support resident herbivore populations. Bush-clump thickets of grewia, gardenia and cordia shrubs are hiding places for smaller mammals and feeding sites for birds. The level of the Grumeti River fluctuates greatly, sometimes spilling its banks, sometimes reduced to just a few pools. A large, almost permanent pool opposite the camp supports aquatic plants and birds, as well as large pods of hippo. Tamarind, river litchi and albizia trees are found in the riverine forest.

Mammals at Grumeti

Unlike other parts of the Serengeti, the western corridor has resident populations of large herbivores (elsewhere in the ecosystem, the vast majority of herbivores migrate). High densities of lion and spotted hyena hold territories around Grumeti River Camp. Resident herbivores are joined each season by huge numbers of migratory wildebeest and zebra. Bat-eared fox and serval are among regularly seen smaller carnivores. Family groups of black-and-white Colobus monkeys reside in the riverine forest. Pairs of dainty Kirk's dik-dik inhabit bush-clump thickets. Handsome yellow-winged bats often roost in and around the camp.

Birds at Grumeti

There are 341 species recorded at Grumeti. Black crake and African jacana dance across water-weeds in front of the camp. Large flocks of gregarious yellow-throated sandgrouse visit waterholes to quench their thirst. Striking black-headed gonolek, slate-coloured boubou and rufous chatterer forage close to camp. Dazzling Fischer's lovebirds feed alongside grey-capped social weavers and blue-capped cordonbleu in bush clump thickets. Eastern grey plantain-eater, Schalow's turaco and double-toothed barbet feed on fruiting trees in the riverine forest. Tawny eagle, bateleur and white-headed vultures are among breeding raptors.

Other Wildlife

Massive Nile crocodiles inhabit the waters of the Grumeti River. Colonies of pugnacious cocktail ants live in whistling thorn trees. Several species of iridescent dragonflies hunt on the Kanyanja Pool opposite the camp.

Conservation

ECOTOURISM AT GRUMETI RIVER CAMP, TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA

Grumeti River Camp is committed to the core principles: Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the people.

The focus is:

Community equity, income generation, education and health care are a primary concern. In consultation with community organisations such as the Africa Foundation - a not-for-profit rural development organisation - Grumeti River Camp has contributed significantly towards improving the prosperity and living conditions of the local community.

Various empowerment projects have been implemented in the Bunda district, 60 kilometres (37 miles) north west of Grumeti. On the ground support from Grumeti's staff ensures ongoing success.

GRUMETI RIVER CAMP COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS:

• USD 40,000 invested in community projects
• School building projects: Tamau and Lukungu Schools
• Over 200 desks provided
• Shamba (vegetable garden) at Nyatwali
• Bukore Water well for 2000 people
• Clinic built in Rigicha village - six bedrooms and doctor's house
• Waste removal
• Educational Centre
• Employment opportunities provided
• Implementation of Edu-peg - a self-corrective early learning tool

Ecotourism in Africa

Guests play a critical role in helping realise the dream and vision: to create a model in wise land management, integrating international travellers and rural people to their mutual benefit and demonstrating that wildlife can be preserved on a sustainable basis by all.

Positive Health Programme

Our partner CC Africa strongly believes in its people and was recently listed as one of three finalists in the Investor in People category of the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The October 2005 edition of Africa Geographic featured an article on AIDS and conversation, and highlighted the activities and programmes that various African companies are implementing in order to increase AIDS awareness and, in doing so, empower the communities taking care of some of the world's richest wilderness regions.

"Probably the most attractive program ... is that of CC Africa... CC Africa launched a Positive Health program in 2003 and in April and May last year ran two seven-day courses.... Their approach focuses on home-based care, gardens, counseling techniques and gender issues.... The health of the habitat is critical to the health of the individuals in it.... The conservation industry is uniquely positioned to take the treatment of HIV/AIDS in radically new directions.... Benefits [of the program] include acquiring 'hard skills' such as maintaining clean water, producing food, and home-based methods of dealing with illnesses that are not life threatening.... It takes only the will of ecologically minded people to make sure that the wild places are not lost."
Africa Geographic, October 2005

Getting there

Grumeti River Camp is easily accessible by daily scheduled flights or private charter, followed by a short game-drive to camp. We can pre-book and package all of your regional/internal flights and transfers, and provide a meet and greet service at all airports.

• There are daily international flights from Europe and South Africa to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airports
• Daily scheduled flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport via Kilimanjaro to Grumeti airstrip, followed by a short game-drive to camp
• If you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will overnight in Arusha, departing early the next morning on a scheduled flight to Grumeti airstrip
• There are daily scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam to Arusha, followed by an afternoon scheduled flight to Grumeti airstrip
  Let Amanzi Travel arrange your flights for you

Price Includes/Excludes - GRUMETI RIVER LODGE

What is included

• Accommodation
• Three meals daily
• Soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits, and beers
• Teas and coffees
• Refreshments on game drives
• Laundry
• Scheduled safari activities
• Emergency medical evacuation insurance
• Transfer from Grumeti airstrip to Grumeti River Camp

What is not included

• Telephone calls
• Safari Shop purchases
• Champagne, cognacs, fine wines, premium brand spirits, and cigars
• Gratuities
• Transfers not stipulated above
• National park fees and Crater conservancy fees

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