Kirurumu Migration Camp: Our full report
Kirurumu Migration Camp is a mobile tented camp which moves twice a year in order to follow the wildebeest migration.
Set up by the conservationist Peter Lindstrom, the camp aims to provide comfortable accommodation with an emphasis on great guiding and seeking out quieter areas in the Serengeti.Kirurumu Migration Camp is a simple camp at heart, designed to be easily packed up and moved to a new location. Between June and October it occupies a site in the northern Serengeti, around 90 minutes’ drive from the Mara River. This a good location for seeing the wildebeest migration and possible river crossings, however as the site is set further back from the main river it can be much quieter here and you are likely to see relatively few vehicles in the vicinity of the camp. Between December and March the camp relocates to the Ndutu region in the southern Serengeti, which is where you are likely to see the wildebeest calving.
The seven safari tents are simple in design but provide a good level of comfort. They are pared down and unfussy, yet feel warm and cosy (important at night) and also a good size. By day, they feel fresh and bright, with cream fabric draped from the ceiling and rustic wooden furniture and reed mats on the floor. Each tent can be arranged as either a double or a twin, with four-poster metal bed frames covered by a mosquito net. One wall of the tents is constructed from insect screen, and when the tent flaps are rolled up this lets in plenty of light. Outside, a small veranda has a couple of directors’ chairs from where you can watch the passing wildlife.
To the side of each tent is an en-suite bathroom, with a single basin and mirror. To one side is curtained-off toilet, while to the other there is a plumbed shower with hot water from a solar heater. Complimentary shampoo and conditioner are provided.
In addition to seven standard tents Kirurumu Migration Camp has one family tent. This has two bedrooms, one set up as a double and another as a twin, sharing a central bathroom.
In the central areas of the camp, there’s a lounge tent featuring some impressive wildlife photography and an eclectic collection of sofas, a number of which have been hand crafted by the Kirurumu team. While the furnishings feel a little disjointed, it is a relaxing spot where guests gather in the evenings to chat about the experiences of the day. Next door is a dining tent where tasty buffet meals are served to individual guests’ tables.
The activities at Kirurumu Migration Camp focus around game drives in one of two closed-sided pop-top 4x4 vehicles. When you’re in the northern Serengeti there’s a good chance of seeing the wildebeest migration, and this a major attraction for many guests. When we stayed here in 2019 we were impressed with the guiding, and found the guides to be both highly knowledgeable and conscientious. This shone through particularly while watching a river crossing when our guide positioned the vehicle so as to ensure a clear path for the charging wildebeest, while still providing us and people in other vehicles an excellent view.
Our view
We really like Kirurumu Migration Camp. It is a simple and unpretentious camp, with friendly staff, hearty home cooking and game drives on the fringes of the wildebeest migration area. This is one of most economical camps in the Serengeti and we think it represents excellent value for money.
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- Kirurumu Migration Camp is in the northern Serengeti between June and October and in the Ndutu region between December and March.
- Directions
- When in the north the Kirurumu Migration Camp is located around a 90-minute drive from Kogatende Airstrip. When the camp is in the south it is around a 45-minute drive from Ndutu airstrip.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board
- Food quality
- The meals at Kirurumu Migration Camp are hearty home cooking, which is fresh, plentiful and surprisingly tasty. Meals are typically served as a buffet in the dining tent, although bush breakfasts and picnic lunches can easily be arranged.
Breakfast consists of a platter of fresh fruit followed by bacon, sausage, tomatoes and eggs cooked to order. Unusually they also serve sweat potato wedges, which makes a nice addition.
When we stayed here in 2019 we took a picnic lunch on an all-day game drive. This included a variety of dishes: quiche, vegetable samosas, chapatti wraps and chickpea salad.
For dinner we started with a spiced pumpkin soup, followed by baked aubergine accompanied by rice, fresh vegetables, potatoes and a savoury banana stew which is a local speciality. Dessert was a sticky chocolate cake. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service can be arranged in advance.
- Drinks included
- Soft drinks are included, however alcoholic drinks are at extra cost. Beer is around $4 and a glass of wine or shot of spirits is around $5.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Kirurumu Migration Camp welcomes children of all ages
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- Child-friendly activities such as short guided walks and animal tracking around the camp can be arranged.
- Equipment
- Cots are available on request.
- Generally recommended for children
- Kirurumu Migration Camp is relaxed and unpretentious and we liked the family tent. We feel that it would suit families with older children.
- Notes
- The camp is unfenced and wild animals regularly wonder through. Children will require supervision at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Kirurumu Migration Camp
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Kirurumu Migration Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
50% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a backup generator
- Communications
- There is no Wi-Fi or phone signal at Kirurumu Migration Camp.
- TV & radio
- There is no TV at the camp.
- Water supply
- Transported in
- Water supply notes
- Shower water and drinking water is trucked into camp. Both showers and toilets are plumbed, with solar water heaters providing hot water for the showers.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Staff are first aid-trained and the camp has links with medical evacuation services.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- There are guards on duty 24 hours a day. Guests are escorted to and from their tents after dark.
- Fire safety
- There is a firebreak around the camp and fire extinguishers in the tents.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Hot air ballooning
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included at Kirurumu Migration Camp. Items are hand-washed and line-dried. For cultural reasons ladies’ underwear is not accepted.
- Money
- The manager can store valuables in the office. Small amounts of cash can sometimes be exchanged, but this cannot be relied upon.
- Accepted payment on location
- There are no credit card facilities at Kirurumu Migration Camp. All tips and extra payments need to be made in cash.
Other lodges in Serengeti Migration Area
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Olakira Camp
Comfortable, friendly and relaxed, Olakira Camp moves between the Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Sayari Camp
In the northern Serengeti, near the Mara River, luxurious Sayari Camp offers excellent wildife all year – boosted further by the wildebeest migration.
Nomad Serengeti Camp
Serengeti Safari Camp is a well-appointed tented camp that moves several times a year to follow the predicted path of the migration.
Dunia Camp
Dunia Camp is well located for the migration from December to March, and has excellent game viewing for the rest of the year.
Namiri Plains Camp
Namiri Plains is one of the best camps in the Serengeti and its remoteness ensures a fantastic wildlife experience away from the crowds.
Lamai Serengeti
Set high in the kopjes with fantastic views, Lamai Serengeti offers top service and guiding and good migration sightings from Jul-Oct.
Ubuntu Camp
Ubuntu Camp has several locations in the Serengeti, following the wildebeest migration, so it is often in a great location to see the herds.
Kati Kati Camp
Kati Kati is a small, very simple bushcamp, which is well-positioned to explore the wildlife-rich Seronera area.
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Large and economical, but not luxurious, Ndutu Safari Lodge is well located in the southern Serengeti, so book early to get space.
Serian Serengeti
Serian Serengeti is a mobile tented operation run by Alex Walker which moves between two locations following the wildebeest migration.
Klein's Camp
Klein's Camp, in a private area of the northern Serengeti, sets high standards. Activities include walks, nights drives and Maasai village visits.
Serengeti under Canvas
Two of the three Serengeti under Canvas camps move through the Serengeti National Park every few months to follow the wildebeest migration.
Grumeti River Camp
Grumeti River Camp offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with top service, first-rate food, expert guiding and an excellent location.
Lemala Kuria Hills
Lemala Kuria Hills is a luxury permanent camp that is ideally located for wildlife all year around, but especially during the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Ewanjan
Lemala Ewanjan is a comfortable and stylish tented camp in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti National Park.
Lemala Mara-Ndutu
Lemala Mara-Ndutu is a semi-permanent camp that moves between the north and south of the Serengeti to witness the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Nanyukie
Lemala Nanyukie is a stylish camp located in the quieter part of the central Serengeti.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
The large Lobo Wildlife Lodge has simple, functional rooms in a stunning location. It's a good base for exploring the north-eastern Serengeti.
Kubu Kubu
Kubu Kubu is a contemporary, tented lodge, well located in the central Seronera area of the Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti Walking Mobile
This fairly simple camp offers only walking activities, but it's very well done and combines well with more conventional camps or lodges.
Mbalageti Lodge
Mbalageti is a well-run lodge in a quiet part of the Serengeti's western corridor – an ideal location during the Apr-Jun migration.
Serengeti Serena
The Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is a large, hotel-style lodge and a good family-friendly base from which to explore the central Serengeti.
Kusini Camp
Kusini Camp is permanent, luxury camp located on a beautiful kopje in a quiet, wildlife-rich corner of the south-west Serengeti.
Migration Camp
Serengeti Migration Camp is a smart tented camp, good for the wildebeest migration from Jul–Aug, or to explore the Lobo Kopjes any time.
Mkombe's House Lamai
Mkombe's House Lamai is a fully staffed private house in the Wogakuria Kopjes district of Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Serengeti Sopa Lodge is an international-style hotel offering good-value accommodation in the central Serengeti, with lovely views of the plains.
Singita Mara River
Singita Mara River Tented Camp is a luxurious camp in the isolated and rewarding Lamai wedge region of the northern Serengeti.
Olmara Camp
With just eight guest tents, including two family tents and three signature stargazer tents, Olmara is a simple, family-friendly camp with a wonderfully attentive team. The camp captures an authentic bush experience, welcoming travellers of every kind.
Serengeti Green Camp
Serengeti Green Camp is a comfortable camping experience, in your own private safari camp and at the heart of a great wildlife area.
Sasakwa Lodge
On a hill looking over the Serengeti plains, Sasakwa Lodge is grand, luxurious safari camp, one of the most opulent properties in Tanzania.
Faru Faru Lodge
On the north bank of the Grumeti River, Faru Faru is a small, chic hideaway in this exclusive corner of the Serengeti.
Sabora Tented Camp
Sabora Tented Camp is a smart tented camp – one of the most luxurious, professional and stylish properties to be found in Tanzania.
Four Seasons Serengeti
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the only hotel in the Serengeti offering international facilities such as a gym, spa and children’s club.
Nimali Mara
Nimali Mara is a luxurious safari lodge in a quiet region of the northern Serengeti with good access to the wildebeest migration.
Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is a permanent luxury camp in the northern Serengeti, with spacious and private tents with their own hot tubs.
Ndutu Kati Kati
Ndutu Kati Kati is a seasonal tented camp, based in the southern Serenget from Dec-Mar, ideal for the migration as it passes through.
Olduvai Camp
Olduvai Camp lies between Ngorongoro and the southern Serengeti plains. It's a good base for the southern plains during the rainy season.
Lake Masek Tented Camp
Ideally located for the wildebeest migration from Dec–Apr, Lake Masek Tented Camp is a good, mid-market safari camp.
Mara Mara
Mara Mara is a smart tented camp in the northern Serengeti, situated on a small hill close to the Mara River.
Esirai Migration Camp
A season migration camp, with only 8 tents and 1 family tent and plenty of character. Esirai is ideally placed for excellent wildlife and enjoys a simplistic and comfortable under-canvas experience.
Mwiba Lodge
Mwiba Lodge is a luxurious property located on a private concession on the edge of the southern Serengeti.
Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Seronera Wildlife Lodge is large hotel-style safari lodge in the heart of the Serengeti, offering good value and a great location.
Mara Kati Kati
Mara Kati Kati is a simple bush camp in the northern Serengeti, based from Jul-Oct near the Mara River for the wildebeest migration.
Nasikia Naona
Naona Camp is a small tented camp, located in the Moru Kopjes, west of the Serengeti central area
Kirawira Camp
Set high on a hill, in the Serengeti's western corridor, Kirawira is a relatively large tented camp in the Serena group.
Nyikani Central
Nyikani Central is a comfortable tented camp located in the game-rich Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Mbuzi Mawe
Mbuze Mawe is a comfortable tented camp in a convenient, central-north location when driving through the Serengeti.
Laba Migration Camp
A luxury mobile camp that moves between the Western Corridor, Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Serengeti Pioneer Camp is a luxurious tented camp in the central Serengeti, styled on African explorers' camps of the early 20th century.
Taasa Lodge
Taasa Lodge is a slightly quirky option offering guided walks and night game drives, which are not permitted in Serengeti National Park.
Nimali Serengeti
Opened in July 2017, Nimali Serengeti is a smart, permanent tented camp located in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Nomad Walking Camp
Nomad Expeditionary Walking Camp is a simple camp of up to three tents, plus infrastructure, that changes location to allow guests to do substantial walks between campsites.
