Nomad Lamai Serengeti
serengeti national park, tanzania
Nomad Lamai Serengeti
Luxury lodge
member since JULY 2026
Lamai sits on the Kogakuria Kopje in the northern Serengeti, overlooking one of the wildebeest migration's key crossing points. Lamai Serengeti calls itself a "faithful guardian" of the kopje, and that idea runs through the camp itself: everything inside, from the woven poufs in the lounge to the sisal brushes in a plastic-free kitchen, is crafted locally.
The Lamai team’s instinct is to look after what they have, and it extends far beyond the camp. A dollar from every bed night funds the teams clearing the northern Serengeti of wire snares. This work has raised more than $10,000 to date.
Their expert guides are employed from the local community, making every guided experience richer with indigenous knowledge. And nearby, the Mugumu Hope Centre is a safe haven for girls and young women fleeing female genital mutilation. This is just one of the community projects Lamai's team supports directly, alongside a bicycle programme that gets students in Mbilikili (a remote village nearby) safely to school.
Nomad Lamai Serengeti 4C Commitments
CONSERVATION
De-snaring support: $1 from every bed night goes to the teams clearing the northern Serengeti of wire snares.
Beehive fences: The camp sits in an unfenced stretch of the northern Serengeti, meaning wildlife can roam freely between the park and neighbouring farmland. Working with elephants' natural fear of bees, beehives are strung along the boundary: when an elephant brushes the connecting wire, the hives swing and the bees swarm, a harmless barrier that steers herds safely away from the camp.
COMMUNITY
Meals for local schools: At the local primary school in Mbilikili, Lamai Serengeti funds more than 100 children’s meals per day. This is often the difference between a child who can concentrate on the education at hand, and one who cannot.
Bicycles for local students: Around 10 bicycles go to secondary school students in Mbilikili village each year. Without one, the walk to school can stretch up to 12 kilometres each way, long enough that girls in particular face real risk along the route. Since the bicycles arrived, the school has seen more students showing up.
CULTURE
Incorporating local crafts and food into the experience: The local culture is embedded throughout the camp and activities. The majority of the décor is crafted by local Tanzanian artisans while the menu incorporates traditional staples.
Employing local teams: The team itself preserves and celebrates the local culture: different tribes, generations and beliefs, working together, with dance, music and language woven into daily life at the camp.
COMMERCE
The guide vehicle micro-finance programme: Guides can buy and equip their own safari vehicles through the camp, earning a rental rate on top of their guide fee.
Funding mechanisms: The Nomad Trust funds these projects. It runs on guest donations and "Green Seats" contributions made during booking, as well as 100% of the profits from camp curio shops. Nomad Tanzania covers the Trust's own administration costs directly so that every donation reaches the field in full.
Nomad Lamai Serengeti’s Highlights
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Community & Commerce: Nomad Tanzania runs annual internal guide training programmes and vocational pathways that feed staff from camps like Lamai Serengeti into professional safari guiding careers.
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Community: Every year, around 10 bicycles go to secondary school students in Mbilikili village. The walk to school can otherwise stretch up to 12 kilometres each way, long enough to be exhausting and, for girls especially, genuinely risky. Since the bicycles arrived, the school has seen more students showing up.
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Culture & Community: Members from the local Kuria Tribe stop by the camp every now and again to entertain the guests and staff. It’s a genuinely collaborative, respectful activity that celebrates the identity and history of the Kuria people.
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Commerce: Nomad's "Beds for Meds" programme brings medical care to villages that would otherwise go without it, treating more than 7,500 people last year alone. Camp staff and guides get medical insurance covering 5 family members each.
