Unveiling Tanzania's Wonders: Exploring Safaris Through Internal Flights

Rediscover the Wild: 5 Reasons Why You Should go on another Tanzanian Safari!

Road vs Flight - The Journey from Arusha City to Serengeti Central

The Great Migration

Endangered Animals you might see on Safari

Kogatende Airstrip (KOG) is strategically positioned in the northern Serengeti, Tanzania, serving as a crucial access point for visitors aiming to witness the awe-inspiring Great Migration. This airstrip is particularly favored during the migration season when vast herds of wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River, offering dramatic wildlife viewing opportunities. Kogatende Airstrip facilitates a seamless entry into this remote part of the Serengeti National Park, allowing tourists to dive straight into their safari adventures without the long drives typically required from larger airports. Its location provides an unparalleled advantage for those wanting to experience the natural wonder of the migration up close, along with the abundance of predators and other wildlife that the northern Serengeti has to offer.

Visiting the Serengeti is generally safe, with safari operators adhering to strict safety protocols. Recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, typhoid, and yellow fever, alongside malaria prophylaxis. It's crucial to consult a healthcare professional for personalised travel health advice.

Safety & Vaccinations

Access to Kogatende Airstrip is typically via small aircraft from larger Tanzanian airports like Kilimanjaro International, Arusha, or Dar es Salaam. This journey offers stunning aerial views of Tanzania's diverse landscapes.

Getting There

Getting Around

Visas

Kogatende Airstrip - HTMZ

Such a great airstrip to visit and the most closest airstrip to the Masai Mara river crossing in Serengeti National Park.

Very quiet at this time of the year as it is indeed low season and ofcourse the great migration is still in the south so very few tourists visit this area but otherwise it's worth  a visit at this time as there are lots of residents wildlife around.

Very small regional airport.  Everyone was helpful and they took special care to  show you that your bags were getting on and off your plane.

A small and cool airstrip in the north Serengeti nearby the Mara river.  Very frequent flights especially in the Migration season.  You feel safe and taken care of here

Kogatende mara river never disappointed anyone

Kogatende Airstrip (KOG)

There are hair dryers in the rooms of this property

Hair Dryer

The property has personal butler services.

Butler Service

This property has a gift shop on the premises.

Gift Shop

Swimming Pool

There are private decked verandas at this property. 

Private Decked Verandas

Private Plunge Pool

Wifi

Laundry Service

There is security on guard at this property.

Guard

By road, the camp is roughly 8.5 hours away from the city of Arusha.

By air, Kogatende Airstrip is very close to the camp and serves much of the northern Serengeti. Daily flights can be found from Arusha to Kogatende. From the airstrip, it is roughly a 13 minute drive to the camp.

Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge

This camp is really nice. The rooms are beautiful, spacious, and comfortable. The service is good, but the food and drinks were a bit disappointing. We really liked our guide and had some great game drives.

My husband and I spent two of our first nights on safari at the Lemala Kuria Hills lodge. The property is breathtaking- panoramic views of the northern Serengeti, rich with wildlife, hills and beautiful trees. The private luxe canvas tent came with a gorgeous plunge pool, expansive private deck, and every amenity you could ask for. A very fancy start to our safari honeymoon!

The staff were each so kind and friendly (thank you Josephine, Jessica, Chacha, Joshua!), which was the biggest highlight of our stay. Not to mention the incredible food menu and the best cocktails ever! Even the packed lunches while out on game drives were over-the-top delicious. We loved the surprise cocktails at the end of our long day of safari too. My only regret was not staying longer! We will dream of returning until then!

We stayed 3 night in July.  My husband and I were treated to an amazing stay.  The staff at the lodge really made us feel like family.  Rebecca runs the lodge and she is always around to chat with.  She is very accessible and approachable.  Our waiter Nass was wonderful.  He provided warm and personal service.  Our bartender Josephat was so kind and genuine.  We will never forget them.  We truly felt like we were part of this amazing family.  John was another staff member who went out of his way to create a memorable experience for us.  The entire staff at the Kuria Hills were phenomenal.  They love there jobs and it shows.  I’m am forever grateful for their kindness and friendship.  If you go to the Serengeti please stay here.  You will not be disappointed.

We booked our very first safari for an 8-day adventure in Tanzani with Gosheni Safaris in September 2023.  The itinerary included the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Tarangire National Park.  We chose to stay three nights at the Lemala Kuria Hills lodge for our northern Serengeti adventure.

When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Dennis, Katherine and Rebecca.  We were given an orientation of the property and we were amazed.  We were escorted to our room, #14, by Isiah.  Because the property is located amongst wildlife, we were instructed to use escorts to and from the main lodge by the staffed Masai warriors.

Wow…all I can say is WOW!  The lodge is spectacular!  Our room was over to the top, with a glass fronted tent, private plunge pool, outdoor and indoor shower and totally private.  What a special place this is!

All meals are included as well as alcohol (not premium spirits or champagne) and even laundry service.  We were assigned to Damian as our server for our stay.  He was very special and hospitable.  We looked forward to greeting him at each meal.  We also enjoyed the liquid chef hospitality from Josephat!  He is quite the personality and thoroughly enjoyed his company.

The meals were absolutely delicious.  Each dinner had a varied multicourse meal and we were seated at our own table.  Lemala Kuria Hills also provided hot lunches for our game drives each day and were delivered to our guide.

Each night, our room was setup for the evening by our room attendant, Isiah.  During the night, we actually heard a lion as well as buffalo.  There were lots of buffalo outside our room at night and the early morning.

The laundry service included was superb!  Every item accounted for, cleaned and folded.  Incredible for a camp!

What a beautiful lodge to begin our safari adventure and we so treasured our three-night stay!  We highly recommend you stay here for your northern Serengeti adventure!

I’m still here at the time of writing this and this has been a fabulous experience. It started by our guide from Lemala picking our group up at the airport.  They had a little table of coffee, tea, waters, popcorn, trail mix and cookies. On the way to our tent camp like buildings. The guides saw two huge groups of wildebeests looking likely to merge. Of course they did!  We were witnessing the great migration and they were looking for their river crossing. That’s how we started our Serengeti Safari. Wow!!!  Barnaba and Eugene are the guides for our two groups. They explained everything in detail. Many facts for what were viewing. Getting us in good position. I loved watching Barnaba just show joy over the moment. You can tell he is passionate about guiding.

Once we pulled up to Lemala for check in. We were greeted by Greg, John and Joseph (makes the mixed drinks!). I’m sorry There we’re a few others but I didn’t get all of their names. We were offered a refreshing towel and a small tea prepared for us.

Our bags were taken to our tent cabins.  Johnathan gave my wife and I a tour of our cabin and how to operate everything.  He was so polite and patient. You must be escorted everywhere due to the safety required from the wild animals possibly coming in to the camp area.

The meals and service are great. I’ve loved everything they’ve offered. Nasson has been my server consistently.  There are others providing all exceptional service.  There is so much to say about the people and this great land. You must come experience it for yourself. It is going to be one trip…..you’ll never forget.

Secluded luxury amidst Serengeti's stunning landscapes

Prime location for witnessing the wildebeest migration

Elegant suites with glass fronts and private plunge pools

Lemala Kuria Hills

Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge's 15 spacious, glass-fronted tented suites are discreetly nestled among large granite boulders and kopjes to ensure privacy and provide breathtaking views from open decks. Each suite boasts an elegant and contemporary design with modern interiors accentuated by authentic African details. The en-suite bathrooms feature flush toilets, hot showers, freestanding bathtubs, and even an outdoor shower for an immersive experience. The lodge operates on 24-hour solar electricity with a backup generator, ensuring comfort and convenience. Public areas are dominated by magnificent kopjes, and guests can relish panoramic grassland views from the bar, sitting and dining areas, and the main swimming pool with an adjoining sundeck. Lemala Kuria Hills offers a unique blend of luxury and wilderness immersion.

This property provides complimentary tea and coffee

Tea & Coffee

There is a lounge and bar at this property. 

Lounge & Bar

There are kid-friendly food options available.

Kid-Friendly Buffet

The nearest airstrip to the camp is Kogatende. From Arusha, it is roughly a 60 minute flight.

To drive to the camp from Arusha, it will take roughly 9 hours (456 km).

Serengeti River Camp by Karibu Camps & Lodges

Amazing place! Great food, comfortable bed, really friendly staff. Awesome location too. Very close to the river crossing point so no need to get up super early

Amazing place, with even better staff. Francis is an absolute treat to be around. He makes you feel special and his smile is infectious. Special shout out to Issa too for taking care of us. Would highly highly recommend this place to everyone.

Stunning setting and warm service. Loved everything about our 3 day stay at this property.. the location, the food, the bar services, the amenities and mostly the staff- very close to the Mara River crossing points …. definitely recommended spot to park yourselves when in North Serengeti

Excellent place - great location close to the river for the crossing.
Very good facilities and a very friendly staff.

Wow! This is what glamping is about. Blown away by the beauty of this location and the lodge. Everything that you could ask for is there. Restaurant and service also deserves the highlight. Excellent food on the 2 nights I was there. Team members were always smiling. Shout out to Bob who carved out time to chat and tell me more about the place.

Last note to management. Please have a fan available. Most people run cold but a small minority of us run hot and would be nice to have a fan.

Watch millions of Wildebeests tread across the magnificent Mara River as they migrate, facing the risk of hungry lions and hyenas pouncing on them.

Enjoy extraordinary bush dining experiences set in breathtaking natural surroundings, under the vast sky adorned with a blanket of stars or picturesque sunrise or sunset.

Relax and unwind in spacious rooms with elegant surroundings.

Serengeti River Camp

At the River Camp, you'll find a haven of comfort and tranquility, with spacious and elegant double rooms providing a truly enjoyable experience. Twin rooms offer a perfect balance of comfort and style in a contemporary setting, complete with thoughtful amenities for a delightful stay. These accommodations immerse you in serene surroundings, impeccable service, and unforgettable experiences, making the River Camp a captivating destination for relaxation and rejuvenation.

There is a microbrewery at this property.

Microbrewery

The rooms all have individual lock boxes to store personal items.

In-Room Lockable Box

This property provides a complimentary laundry service. 

Laundry Service (Complimentary)

By road it is a 170km, this is approximately a 3 hour drive from Serengeti Central.

By flight, the closest airstrip is Kogatende Airstrip which is 10km. Air companies fly on schedule and charter basis to and from Arusha, Manyara and Zanzibar.

Sayari Camp

This was one of our favorite camps. The staff and management really care. It’s beautiful. Food was great. Even the bush breakfast and lunches were great. Of our 20 day luxury safari this camp had the best guide. We got amazing photos of the migration and leopards.

Sayari Camp exceeded all our expectations.  The website and online pictures do not do the camp justice!  Beautifully outfitted living / dining area, and gorgeous rooms with sweeping views of the Serengeti.  Our days were filled with Safari, and at night we were greeted with a beautiful fire and wonderful dinner.  Every meal was exceptional. Ross, Kevin and the entire Sayari Team (Hans, Bob Christmas) were so attentive, friendly, and hospitable!  We had the best time with and learned so much from our guide Partena, you're the best!  Highly recommend a visit!

Amazing place! I was there in beginning of November 2020.
The camp is nice. Staff very professional and our guide Deo find all the animals out on the game drives. We even saw a black rhino. That day we saw the big five on the same day! the food was good. I can recommend this place.

For our last few nights we wanted a comfortable stay and to see the wilderbeest migration. Sayari was the perfect fit.

We were fortunate to be paired with Daudi as our driver. He's got a lot of experience and was able to find four crossings in three days! Wow, most people are lucky if they even see one. You could tell Daudi was really good because we were usually one of the first vehicles to get to the crossing. The rule is you want to be early to get good visibility and Daudi never let us down. He was also a pleasant and knowledgeable host who made the long hours waiting for a crossing enjoyable. I love that he also seemed as excited as we were to watch one.

The camp itself is simply amazing. Well designed 'tents' that felt more like a cottage compete with running water, bathtub, shower and outdoor showers and a great location to watch the animals passing by each morning. The internet is available but only in the rooms because they want you to socialize in the main areas.

The food was great and fitting for a high end establishment. They also have a micro brewery on site that was pretty good. The staff were also very helpful and friendly. We even had lunch brought out to us one day because we had been out all day waiting for a crossing. That's great service! We'd also like to thank the wilderbeest for crossing over just before the food arrived so we could relax and enjoy the food and have a toast.

Finally, Sayari uses the open air range rovers for their vehicles which give you a great view of everything when out on a drive.

Overall, it was a great stay!

Incredible lodge with the best service we had during our time in Tanzania. Amazing safari guides with unparalleled knowledge of the area and wildlife. Added bonus that the facility is entirely solar-powered!

Lovely tents with huge bathtubs and separate showers

Overlooking the golden plains, Syari Camp has 15 bright and spacious suites that all have walk-in showers, al fresco tubs and verandas on which you can perfectly laze away with a book. 

Premier access point for Serengeti's Great Migration spectacles.

Kogatende Airstrip (KOG)

Kogatende Airstrip (KOG)

About Kogatende Airstrip (KOG)

What to do

Featured Experiences

Unveiling Tanzania's Wonders: Exploring Safaris Through Internal Flights

Where to stay

Hotels & Lodges

Lemala Kuria Hills

Serengeti River Camp

Sayari Camp

Related destinations

What to know

Blog

Rediscover the Wild: 5 Reasons Why You Should go on another Tanzanian Safari!

Road vs Flight - The Journey from Arusha City to Serengeti Central

The Great Migration

Endangered Animals you might see on Safari

Frequently Asked Questions