Set in the wild landscapes of the Northern Serengeti, Moyo Tented Camp – Mara offers an intimate safari experience close to one of the most exciting wildlife areas in Tanzania. Its location provides convenient access to the northern Serengeti plains and the Mara River, making it particularly attractive for travelers visiting during the Great Migration season.
Unlike many mobile or seasonal camps operating in this part of the Serengeti, Moyo Migration Camp is a permanent camp that remains open throughout the year. This allows guests to experience the quieter side of Northern Serengeti outside the migration months as well as the dramatic wildlife activity that takes place during peak migration season.
A Prime Location for the Great Migration
Northern Serengeti is best known for the spectacular movement of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles as part of the annual Great Migration.
From approximately July through October, huge herds can often be found moving through the northern plains while searching for fresh grazing and water. During this period, some herds attempt to cross the Mara River, creating some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in East Africa.
Moyo Tented Camp’s location gives guests relatively easy access to the main wildlife areas and several river-crossing points, meaning less time may be spent driving long distances in search of migration activity.
River crossings, however, are completely natural events and cannot be scheduled or guaranteed. The advantage of staying several nights in Northern Serengeti is that your guide has more time to follow the movement of the herds and position you in areas where wildlife activity is strongest.
Accommodation
Moyo Tented Camp combines the atmosphere of a traditional African tented safari camp with the comforts travelers expect after a full day exploring the Serengeti.
The camp features 12 spacious tented rooms, which can be configured as double, twin, or triple rooms, as well as a dedicated family tent for guests traveling with children or as a family group.
Each tent is designed to keep guests connected to the surrounding wilderness while still providing privacy and comfort.
Rooms include:
- Spacious sleeping areas with comfortable king, double, or single-bed configurations
- Private ensuite bathroom
- Flushing toilet
- 24-hour hot shower
- Double wash basin
- Toiletries
- Private veranda with safari chairs
- 24-hour electricity
- Universal electrical outlets
- In-room safe
- Two-way radio for communication with camp staff
- Optional laundry service
The availability of continuous electricity is particularly convenient for photographers and travelers who need to charge cameras, phones, batteries, laptops, or other safari equipment. It can also accommodate essential electrical devices such as CPAP machines.
Your Private Veranda in the Serengeti
Each tent has its own private veranda where guests can relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the surrounding wilderness.
Early mornings in the Serengeti can be particularly beautiful, with soft light spreading across the plains as wildlife becomes active. In the evening, guests can return from their game drive and enjoy the changing colors of the African sunset before dinner.
Because the camp is located in a natural wildlife area, animals may occasionally move through or close to the camp. Guests should therefore always follow the camp’s safety instructions, particularly after dark.
This is part of what makes staying in a tented camp so special—you are not simply visiting the Serengeti during the day; you are living within the wilderness.
Safari Experience
Staying at Moyo Tented Camp places you in an excellent position for exploring Northern Serengeti.
Depending on the season, game drives may reveal:
- Wildebeest
- Zebra
- Lions
- Leopards
- Cheetahs
- Elephants
- Giraffes
- Buffalo
- Hyenas
- Gazelles
- Hippos
- Crocodiles
- Numerous bird species
During migration season, your safari guide will normally follow daily wildlife movements rather than remaining on a fixed route. This gives you a better opportunity to experience whatever is happening in the ecosystem that particular day.
Some mornings may begin very early when wildlife activity is strongest, while other days can involve longer game drives searching for predators, large herds, or potential river-crossing activity.
Sunrise, Sunset & Evenings Around Camp
One of the pleasures of staying in a Serengeti tented camp is experiencing the wilderness outside normal game-drive hours.
Wake up to the sounds of birds and distant wildlife, enjoy sunrise over the surrounding landscape, and return in the evening for a relaxed atmosphere beneath the African sky.
After sunset, the camp offers the opportunity to enjoy the quiet of the wilderness, the sounds of nocturnal animals, and the spectacular stars above the Serengeti.
It is a very different experience from staying in a large conventional hotel.
Who Is Moyo Tented Camp Best For?
Moyo Tented Camp is particularly suitable for:
Great Migration travelers
Its Northern Serengeti location makes it an excellent base during the migration season, particularly when herds are concentrated around the Mara ecosystem.
Couples
The intimate tented-camp atmosphere, wilderness setting, sunsets, and private verandas make it a good option for couples and honeymoon travelers.
Families
The dedicated family accommodation provides more flexibility for families traveling together.
Photographers
Northern Serengeti offers outstanding wildlife photography opportunities, especially during migration season.
Travelers wanting an authentic safari atmosphere
Moyo provides the feeling of staying deep in the African wilderness without sacrificing essential comforts such as private bathrooms, hot showers, electricity, and comfortable beds.
Why We Like Moyo Tented Camp
For us, the biggest advantage of Moyo Tented Camp is its combination of location, comfort, and access to the Northern Serengeti wilderness.
During the Great Migration season, staying in this part of the Serengeti can significantly reduce the amount of driving required compared with staying much farther south.
It also allows your guide to start searching for wildlife early in the morning, when conditions are often excellent for both wildlife viewing and photography.
And because the camp operates throughout the year, Moyo is not only about the migration. Northern Serengeti can be exceptionally rewarding outside the busiest months, when visitor numbers are lower and the landscape feels even more remote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moyo Tented Camp inside the Serengeti?
Yes. Moyo Migration Camp Mara is located in the Northern Serengeti, providing convenient access to game-drive areas around the northern plains and Mara River ecosystem.
Is the camp open all year?
Yes. Moyo operates as a permanent camp and is designed to welcome guests throughout the year rather than operating only during the Great Migration season.
When is the best time to stay here for the Great Migration?
The Northern Serengeti is generally most important for migration viewing from approximately July to October, although the exact movement of the herds changes every year depending largely on rainfall, water, and grazing conditions.
Can you guarantee a Mara River crossing?
No. River crossings are completely natural and unpredictable.
The herds may remain near the river for hours or even days before crossing, while at other times a crossing may happen unexpectedly.
Staying several nights in Northern Serengeti gives you more opportunities to follow the migration and increases the time available for your guide to search for activity.
Does every room have a private bathroom?
Yes. Tented rooms include private ensuite bathroom facilities with a flushing toilet, wash basin, and hot shower.
Is there electricity?
Yes. The camp provides 24-hour electricity, allowing guests to charge cameras, phones, batteries, and other electronic equipment.
Is there accommodation for families?
Yes. In addition to its standard tents, Moyo offers a dedicated family tent suitable for travelers visiting Serengeti with children or family members.
Are animals able to enter the camp?
Moyo is located within a natural wildlife environment, so wildlife can occasionally move around or close to the camp.
Guests receive safety instructions from camp staff and may be escorted between common areas and their tents after dark when necessary.
How many nights should we stay in Northern Serengeti?
For travelers visiting primarily for the Great Migration, we generally recommend at least two to three nights, while three or four nights can provide even better flexibility.
Wildlife movements cannot be controlled, so additional time gives your guide more opportunities to locate the herds, predators, and possible river-crossing activity.
Experience Northern Serengeti
A stay at Moyo Tented Camp gives you the opportunity to experience one of Tanzania’s most remarkable wilderness areas from sunrise until long after your final game drive of the day.
From mornings searching for lions and cheetahs across the plains to following thousands of wildebeest through the migration ecosystem, every day in Northern Serengeti can be completely different.
For travelers visiting during migration season, its proximity to the Mara River ecosystem makes Moyo an especially convenient safari base.
And when the large herds move elsewhere, Northern Serengeti remains an extraordinary destination—wild, beautiful, and often wonderfully peaceful.
Laurent Karume
