Wilderness Usawa Serengeti has announced plans to expand its mobile luxury tented camp operations in 2025, introducing two new seasonal locations—Grumeti and Lamai—in alignment with the Great Migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
The expansion builds on the company’s mobile safari model launched in July 2023, which positions camps in key areas to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities for guests based on the movement patterns of migratory herds.
Usawa, which means “balance” in Kiswahili, operates under a mobile camp system that moves with the seasons.
The new locations were selected based on long-term monitoring of animal movements, seasonal environmental factors, and migration trends.
The objective is to increase the likelihood of guests encountering large herds of wildebeest and other species while maintaining a low ecological footprint and minimizing crowding.
Grumeti, located in the Serengeti’s Western Corridor, is recognized for its woodlands, riverine forests, and the Grumeti River, which serves as a vital corridor for migrating herds between May and July.
According to Wilderness Tanzania Managing Director Jean du Plessis, “The Ndabaka Plains, located north of the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor, are a significant gathering point between May and July, with large herds frequently moving through the area.
Unlike other regions of the Serengeti, the Western Corridor supports a resident wildebeest population, ensuring consistent wildlife activity throughout the year.”
Lamai, situated north of the Mara River, will be the second location added to Usawa’s circuit. Lamai is known for its rugged escarpments, seasonal streams, and lower visitor density compared to nearby Kogatende.
This area sees significant wildebeest activity from mid-July onwards during the rutting season, according to Travel Daily News.
Du Plessis noted the value of Lamai’s quieter environment: “Just like the herd, we adapt. This flexibility ensures our guests are well-positioned to enjoy extraordinary wildlife moments – whether it’s the thunderous river crossings of the Western Corridor or the tranquil remoteness of Lamai.”
The camps are designed to be fully mobile, leaving no permanent footprint. They are powered entirely by solar energy and include amenities such as Wi-Fi and continuous hot water. The goal, according to the company, is to offer a low-impact but high-comfort safari experience.
For outdoor hospitality operators, Wilderness Usawa’s model offers a case study in aligning accommodation logistics with ecological dynamics and guest expectations.
The strategy of using data on animal behavior to determine camp placement can be instructive for those in the glamping and mobile tourism sectors looking to offer seasonally relevant, low-impact experiences.
With Grumeti and Lamai added to the circuit in 2025, Wilderness Usawa intends to offer guests enhanced access to the Great Migration’s lesser-known but equally compelling stages, beyond the high-profile river crossings.