Hippo Trails Camp
$ 164/ night
Tucked away in the heart of the Serengeti,Β Hippo Trails Camp
Tanzania Β· Serengeti Β· Budget
Genuine wildlife proximity in the Serengeti, without the luxury price tag, verified by a team that has stayed in every camp on this list.
Budget doesn’t mean compromised wildlife access in the Serengeti. Public campsites and simple tented camps sit inside or directly beside the same park as the luxury lodges further along this ecosystem, often close enough that lions are audible at night. What changes at this price point is the room, not the game drives: shared facilities instead of a private bathroom, solar lighting instead of full electricity, communal dining instead of a private table.
We have stayed at properties across this tier. Below is what to actually expect and who it suits.
Our full curated list, in one place.
2 properties in this collection
Public campsites offer the most basic setup: shared toilets, cold showers, and communal kitchen facilities, with genuinely open access to wildlife wandering through the grounds at night. Budget tented camps step up slightly, canvas tents with en-suite bathrooms and solar lighting, but keep the same close-to-nature feel with dining in a shared communal tent rather than private service.
Budget accommodation tends to cluster near Seronera in the central Serengeti, the park’s most accessible and wildlife-dense area year round, rather than the more remote Western Corridor or Northern Serengeti where luxury mobile camps follow the migration directly. This central positioning means strong Big Five sightings without the longer transfer times some premium camps require
This tier suits backpackers, solo travellers and families genuinely more interested in time in the bush than in room amenities. It is not simply a cheaper version of a luxury stay, it is a different kind of trip, one built around flexibility and direct contact with the landscape rather than private service.
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Holiday offer · until 30 November
Selected private safaris from 8 to 21 days across Kenya and Tanzania. Book by 30 November and travel whenever you like.
$200 Discount on the total booking. Valid on bookings confirmed by 30 November 2026, for any travel date.