Singita Explore has reopened in Tanzania’s western Serengeti following a complete redesign centred on private, pared-back camping deep within the Grumeti concession.
The exclusive-use mobile camp hosts one group at a time, with six one-bedroom canvas tents accommodating up to 12 guests in its standard configuration. Located farther west than Singita’s other properties in the concession, Explore is designed for travellers seeking a secluded safari without the structure or extensive amenities of a conventional lodge.
Its redesign removes the former plunge pool and gives greater prominence to natural materials, traditional craft and the surrounding plains. Guests arrive on foot along a bush path, while days are planned around the weather and each group’s interests rather than a fixed timetable.
Singita describes Explore as the most stripped-back wilderness experience in its portfolio. Rates start from £2,380 per person per night on a full-board basis, with a minimum booking of two adults.
A private camp shaped around each group
Set within Singita Grumeti, a 350,000-acre concession adjoining Serengeti National Park, Singita Explore offers a quieter counterpoint to a traditional safari lodge. The camp’s exclusive-use model means its shared spaces, meals and daily activities are reserved for one travelling party.
There is no formal programme imposed on guests. Mornings begin around sunrise, after which the landscape and conditions may favour a game drive, a conservation visit or time at camp.
“Days unfold according to the landscape, the elements and the interests of each group, with guests encouraged to slow down and experience the Serengeti on its own terms,” Singita said in its redesign announcement.
This flexible approach extends to arrival. Rather than driving directly to the tents, guests complete the final stretch on foot, following a path through the bush before reaching camp. The walk marks the transition into Explore’s remote setting.
The concession lies along the route used by migrating wildebeest and other animals during their annual movement through the Serengeti ecosystem. Wildlife patterns change throughout the year, so the experience depends on the season as well as the interests of each private group.
Six canvas tents with Serengeti-inspired details
Singita’s in-house design studio developed the new interiors under the creative direction of Georgie Pennington, with Sacha Pagani and Franco van Wyk heading the project. Their work covered the tent layouts, furniture, lighting and artwork, as well as smaller details across the guest experience.
Each one-bedroom tent uses canvas and natural materials in a deliberately restrained scheme. The absence of a pool leaves the surrounding landscape as the camp’s main visual focus, while solar power supports its off-grid operation.
Comfort is provided through cooling breezes, cold water, fans, hot-water bottles and fires rather than an extensive collection of modern systems. Singita’s current camp information page also says Wi-Fi is available throughout Explore and that solar-generated electricity can charge devices, although the new announcement does not detail those facilities.
The most distinctive decorative elements appear behind the beds, where beaded panels depict constellations inspired by the night sky above the Serengeti. Artisans from Sidai Studio in Arusha created the pieces on tarpaulin, with each maker’s name incorporated into their work.
The collaboration connects Explore with a Tanzanian studio known for preserving Maasai beadwork while creating employment for women artisans. Singita previously worked with the studio on beaded installations for Serengeti House, which was redesigned in 2025.
In the family tent, mobiles based on the solar system hang above the beds, extending the night-sky theme.
Two tents can be configured for families, raising the capacity stated in the redesign announcement to 16. Alternatively, the extra space can be used for fitness sessions or wellness treatments. Singita’s published 2026 rate information continues to describe a maximum of 12 guests, so larger family groups should confirm the available configuration before booking.
Open-fire cooking replaces formal dining
Meals at Singita Explore are cooked over an open flame and served around the fire, placing food within the camp’s relaxed daily rhythm. The approach favours shared small plates, regional produce and dishes adapted to individual preferences.
Traditional recipes influence the menus, alongside ingredients sourced from surrounding communities. Ancient grains and restorative drinks feature within a style of dining that Singita describes as nourishing rather than indulgent.
Mealtimes can respond to the group’s plans, with breakfast after sunrise or dinner beside the fire after an evening in the bush.
Conservation visits across the Grumeti concession
Explore’s western position provides access to projects operated by the Grumeti Fund, which has managed conservation work in the area since 2003. Its programmes address wildlife protection, habitat management, research and community partnerships across the concession.
Guests can visit the RISE Centre, a facility dedicated to conducting research and developing conservation capacity. Other options include the Environmental Education Centre and GHOMACOS, an organic farming cooperative established with support from the Fund that supplies locally grown ingredients to Singita’s kitchens and staff canteens.
The camp can also arrange a meeting with the Anti-Poaching Canine Unit or a hike to observation posts used by scouts overlooking the Serengeti. These visits introduce the practical work behind wildlife monitoring and protection within the reserve.
Singita’s account of the concession says the area faced illegal hunting, invasive vegetation and wildfires when the Grumeti Fund assumed responsibility for its management. Conservation projects since then have included moving and reintroducing nine critically endangered eastern black rhinos in 2019.
Singita Explore rates and opening season
Singita Explore is now accepting reservations following its reopening in August 2026. The camp closes during the long rains, with its current information page listing the annual closure from 15 March to 14 May.
The announced starting rate is £2,380 per person per night, including full board and requiring at least two adults. Singita’s separate online rate grid quotes 2026 prices from US$2,210 to US$3,220 per adult per night, based on two people sharing and depending on the season.
The online rates include 15 per cent VAT, accommodation, meals and beverages, private game drives and transfers. Wildlife and concession fees are excluded, along with the tourism levy and carbon-offset charge. Prices remain subject to change, making a tailored quotation advisable when confirming dates, group size and tent arrangements.
