Lemala Ewanjan: Our full report
Opened in 2010, Lemala Ewanjan is well-located in the central Seronera area of the Serengeti in Tanzania, ...
... which has a good variety of resident game. It's an uncomplicated and comfortable camp, with lovely views of the sun setting over the plains.Ewanjan is very similar in style and design to other Lemala camps, which include Lemala Ngorongoro, the seasonal Lemala Mara-Ndutu camps, Lemala Kuria Hills and Lemala Mpingo Ridge.
Lemala Ewanjan has 12 tents set on the western slopes of Makoma Hill, which can each accommodate up to two adults and two children. Each wooden-floored tent has either two queen-size or one king-size bed; the tents with the king-size beds are slightly more spacious. Lemala Ewanjan has a family tent which consists of two spacious rooms and ensuite bathrooms, and a shared communal seating area.
The chunky bed frames are upholstered with leather, while bright green furnishings provide pops of colour. A quirky writing desk, made of an old suitcase, stands in one corner of the bedroom and there's also a dressing table and a lockable trunk. The comfortable lounge area is furnished with green armchairs.
Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet, running water for the basin and 24-hour solar lighting. Hot water for the bucket showers will be provided on request. Hand soap, and soft white towels are provided, as well as insect repellant.
The main area comprises a separate lounge and dining area, joined by a central bar. The décor is neutral, based on a palette of greens, creams and browns and complemented by plenty of leather and canvas. There are leather sofas, office-style leather swivel chairs, chandeliers, chunky wooden furniture and rugs strewn over the floor. Green cushions and blankets add a touch of colour. The lounge is especially comfortable, with lots of cushions dotted about and a bookshelf filled with games and books. A small curio shop is stacked into one of the cupboards and there's a battery charging point in the corner.
Outside the main areas, a few chairs look towards a campfire, where guests can relax with a drink before dinner and recount the adventures of their day.
It's worth mentioning that the camp does lack decent shade. Although there are trees around, none of them cast much shade over the tents, which means it can be very hot in the daytime during the summer months (both inside and outside the tents).
You'll most likely visit Lemala Ewanjan with your own private driver-guide, as part of a longer trip, but it is also possible to fly into Seronera airstrip and use the camp's own vehicles and guides.
Activities from camp are centered around game drives throughout the Seronera region, where there are great numbers of wildlife to be seen. It is the busiest part of the Serengeti though, so it's preferable to have a good amount of time here to explore further away from the other vehicles.
Our view
This part of the central Serengeti boasts good opportunities for viewing game throughout the year. Lemala Ewanjan offers a stylish tented option in this area for those on a slightly higher budget.
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- Stay here for three to four nights to explore the surrounding area.
- Directions
- The camp is around a 30 min drive from Seronera Airstrip. However, most guests will drive here with a private driver-guide.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board
- Food quality
- During our recent stay in June 2023 breakfast was a buffet of fruit, breads, jams, pastries. Tea, coffee and juices are served, along with a hot breakfast cooked to order.
Lunch is a light three-course meal, consisting of soup, salads or a small cooked meal, often followed by fruit. There is also the option to take a packed lunch and head out on a full day game drive.
Dinner is a three-course set menu, typically eaten communally, with the option to dine privately. We were served a delicious pumpkin soup to start, followed by a creamy pork and vegetable dish and a chocolate dessert. The food was very enjoyable and the service attentive. - Dining style
- Group Meals
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service is available.
- Drinks included
- Most drinks are included apart from premium wines and spirits. Bottled drinking water is supplied in the tents.
Special interests
- Family holidays
- Lemala have a children's programme 'Lemala Cubs'. This is aimed at under 12's and includes fun activities around camp with a focus of entertaining and educating younger visitors about local wildlife and the African bush.
- See ideas for Family holidays in Tanzania
- Honeymoons
- Lemala Ewanjan offers a good value base for honeymooners in the central Serengeti. Whilst not overly luxurious the tents are very comfortable and have everything that you need. The friendly and personalised service will ensure that your have an enjoyable and memorable stay.
- See ideas for Honeymoons in Tanzania
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children aged over six are welcome.
- Property’s age restrictions
- The camp will sometimes accept children under six but they are solely their parents’ responsibility and cannot be left unattended.
- Special activities & services
- There are a few board games in the lounge. Local Maasai can conduct a couple of activities around the grounds, such as tracking or making bows and arrows.
- Equipment
- Smaller beds for children are available on request.
- Generally recommended for children
- This is a wild, unfenced camp in an area with a lot of dangerous game, so Expert Africa would not recommend it for children under the age of 12.
- Notes
- Children must be under adult supervision at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Lemala Ewanjan
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Lemala Ewanjan 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
100% success
80% success
80% success
25% success
20% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- The lights in the tents are powered by solar energy. Currently there are no charging points in the tent, but batteries can be charged in the main area, where a numbered, lockable draw is allocated to each tent, fitted with multiple charging outlets.
- Communications
- There cellphone signal is very weak but there is free WiFi in the main area and a radio in each tent for contacting reception and security.
- TV & radio
- No
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- There are flush toilets, basins with running water and a bucket shower. Bottled water should be used for drinking and brushing teeth.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There is a first-aid kit in the main area and all the managers have first-aid training. In an emergency, Seronera Airstrip is only 45 minutes’ drive for transportation to the nearest hospital.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- The camp is guarded at night by askaris (Maasai guards) who will also escort guests to the rooms after dark. Each tent is provided with an emergency airhorn.
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers are located in each tent.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Hot air ballooning
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included but is limited to three garments per person per day. No underwear is accepted but there is washing powder in the rooms for this.
- Money
- There are lockable chests in the rooms.
- Accepted payment on location
- No credit cards are accepted but the lodge accepts cash payments in US dollars, UK pounds, euros and Tanzanian shillings.
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 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.
Kirurumu Migration Camp
Kirurumu is a rustic tented camp which moves around the Serengeti twice a year to follow the wildebeest migration.
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.
