Karen's Camp
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
- 28 guests
- 14 bedrooms
- 14+ beds
- 14 bathrooms
There are places that pretend to be quiet, and then there is Karen's Camp. Set apart in the central Serengeti, on a remarkable site that Laba Explorer has reserved for travellers who want their safari more or less as Karen Blixen might have known it, the camp is an unapologetic study in early-century romance. The 360-degree view is a constant spectacle, the spacing between tents almost extravagant, the connection with the surrounding wilderness, in the founders' own words, seamless. The promise here is not innovation but inheritance: the authentic elegance of bygone safaris, preserved with all its quiet rituals intact.
Those rituals begin on arrival, with a forty-minute transfer from Seronera Airstrip that doubles, in time-honoured fashion, as the first safari. They continue at the camp itself, where a vintage fleet of Land Rovers, meticulously rebuilt from the ground up, waits to take guests out. Each vehicle has a distinctive charm and a nostalgic allure; each is the work of the camp's own team, lending a feeling of considered eccentricity to every drive. No one speaks better of this aspect of the camp than Daudi Mollel, the head of guides at Out of Africa Legend, whose knowledge of the central Serengeti and its rhythms underpins the entire safari experience.
The accommodation is, by design, restrained. Twelve tented suites of thirty-five square metres each, with a ten-square-metre covered veranda, are joined by two family units, each composed of two bedrooms connected by a covered walkway. Within every tent, the focus is on the things that matter: a comfortable bed, an indoor bathroom with shower, and an open-air bathroom with both a bathtub and a manual mobile shower. The bathroom is the soul of the design, a quiet acknowledgment that the great pleasures of the bush are often the smallest: the petite copper bathtub filled by hand, the hot bath prepared on request, water heated and carried to the tent either before the safari departure or about forty-five minutes ahead of the appointed hour. It is a rare ritual, and one that places the camp firmly in the tradition of the great safaris of old.
The two family units honour the same spirit. The parents' room measures thirty-five square metres with a ten-square-metre covered veranda, an indoor bathroom with shower, and an open-air bathroom with bathtub and shower. The children's room, of twenty-nine square metres with the same covered veranda, comes with its own indoor bathroom featuring a shower and a zinc basin for vintage-style bathing. A single bed for a child can be added in the parents' room on request, and eight of the camp's tents can be configured as either double or twin. Every tent is appointed with a hairdryer, a two-way radio, an in-room safe, fans, organic Healing Earth bath products, international power outlets and USB ports.
The wider camp follows the same logic of pared-back generosity. A lobby lounge, an indoor lounge and bar, an outdoor lounge and a restaurant with indoor and open-air dining areas form the social heart of the property. Meals follow the Laba Laba Signature philosophy of wholesome, flavourful cuisine, served full-board with premium spirits included (Champagne the exception), and the views, in every direction, take care of the rest.
Karen's Camp is ideally suited to travellers who love the central Serengeti for its all-year-round wildlife, for the Great Migration's twice-yearly passage through the lodge's territory (typically October to December, and again from April to June, depending on the rains), and for the rare luxury of a camp that has resisted the temptation to over-design itself. It is best suited to those for whom the romance of the canvas tent, the bucket bath and the vintage Land Rover are not a marketing pose but the very point of safari.
Amenities
Living Spaces
Karen's Camp gathers itself in a series of considered, pared-back spaces that look directly out onto the surrounding plains. A lobby lounge greets guests on arrival, while the indoor lounge and bar offers a quieter setting in the cool of the day. The outdoor lounge becomes the natural gathering point in the late afternoon, with the restaurant offering both indoor and fully open-air dining areas. Within each tented suite, the ten-square-metre covered veranda becomes a private living space framed by uninterrupted views over the central Serengeti.
Bedrooms & Laundry
Twelve Luxury Tented Suites and two Family Tented Suites make up the camp. Each Luxury Tented Suite measures thirty-five square metres internally with a ten-square-metre covered veranda; the Family Tented Suites are conceived as two connecting tents linked by a covered walkway, with a parents' tent of thirty-five square metres and a children's tent of twenty-nine square metres, each with their own ten-square-metre veranda. An additional single bed for a child can be added in any of the Luxury Tented Suites (for children up to age seven) or in the parents' tent of a Family Tented Suite. Eight of the camp's tents can be configured as either double or twin. Beds are dressed with care, every tent is appointed with fans, two-way radios, in-room safes, international power outlets and USB ports, and a complimentary laundry service is offered throughout the stay.
Kitchen & Dining
Dining follows the Laba Laba Signature philosophy of wholesome, flavourful cuisine, served full-board and accompanied by premium spirits (Champagne the sole exception). Meals may be taken within the indoor dining area or in any of the camp's fully open-air settings, with bush breakfasts and sundowner cocktails included with private game drives as guests wish (to be arranged with the guide at least one day in advance), and a picnic lunch provided on full-day private game drives from June 2027 onwards. Special dietary requirements are warmly accommodated when arranged in advance.
Bathrooms
The bathrooms are, by deliberate design, the soul of Karen's Camp. Each Luxury Tented Suite offers an indoor bathroom with shower and an open-air bathroom featuring both a bathtub and a manual mobile shower. Within the Family Tented Suites, the parents' tent has an indoor bathroom with shower and an open-air bathroom with bathtub and shower, while the children's tent offers an indoor bathroom with a shower and a zinc basin for vintage-style bathing. Hot baths are prepared on request, with around forty-five minutes' notice, the water heated and carried to the tent in the spirit of the great expeditions. Hairdryers are provided in-room, and organic Healing Earth toiletries are stocked in every tent.
Entertainment
The camp's days are composed around the safari itself, with game drives in vintage rebuilt Land Rovers, walking safaris in season, and the unhurried theatre of the central Serengeti unfolding in every direction. For quieter moments, the lobby lounge, the indoor bar and the outdoor lounge offer a series of settings for reading, conversation or simply watching the light change. Wi-Fi is available in the tents and main areas.
Heating & Cooling
Each tent is equipped with fans. Fleece blankets and lined rain ponchos are provided in the safari vehicles for cooler early mornings and the occasional rains.
Internet & Office
Wi-Fi is available throughout the tents and the main areas of the camp. Each tent is equipped with international power outlets, USB ports, a two-way radio for communication across the property, and an in-room safe for personal valuables.
Location Features
Karen's Camp at Out of Africa Legend sits in the central Serengeti, a region rich in wildlife all year round, on a remarkable site set apart from the busier corners of the park. The Great Migration crosses the lodge's territory twice a year, typically from October to December and again from April to June (depending on the rains), placing the camp at the heart of one of the year's most spectacular wildlife shows. Access is via Seronera Airstrip, with an approximate forty-minute road transfer that serves as the first safari of the stay. In 2026 the camp is open all year round; in 2027 and 2028 it closes annually from 15 March to 14 May inclusive.
Outdoor Spaces
Each tented suite enjoys a ten-square-metre covered veranda, framed by uninterrupted views over the plains. The camp's outdoor lounge offers an additional gathering space, and the restaurant extends fully into the open air. Beyond the camp, the central Serengeti itself is the principal outdoor space, with 360-degree vistas that are, as the team puts it, a constant spectacle.
Parking
Parking is not applicable at Karen's Camp. Access is by scheduled or chartered light aircraft to Seronera Airstrip, with an approximate forty-minute road transfer included in the Game Package.
Gallery
Location
Essential Information
Home Policies
Reservations at Karen's Camp are confirmed upon receipt of written confirmation and payment of a twenty per cent non-refundable deposit, with the balance due no later than thirty days prior to arrival under the 2026 to 2027 terms. Bookings made within forty-five days of arrival require full payment at the point of confirmation, and group bookings of three tents or more require full payment sixty days in advance.
Cancellations must be made in writing and are charged according to the following schedule: more than sixty days before arrival, twenty per cent; between thirty and fifty-nine days, fifty per cent; and within twenty-nine days of arrival, one hundred per cent. For group bookings of three tents or more, these thresholds extend to one hundred and twenty days, one hundred and nineteen to sixty days, and fifty-nine days or fewer respectively.
No refunds are given for unused services, lost travel time, amendments made after travel has commenced, no-shows or late arrivals, early departures, or any circumstances beyond the property's control which may affect the itinerary. Any change of travel dates or postponement is treated as a cancellation and is subject to the charges above.
Extras at the property may be settled by cash, Visa or Mastercard. All bank charges and transfer fees on the principal booking are for the account of the client. The property reserves the right to amend or cancel arrangements in the event of force majeure, including acts of God, weather conditions, civil unrest, pandemics, government actions or any other event beyond its reasonable control. Travel to remote wilderness involves inherent risks, and guests are reminded that personal travel and medical insurance is required throughout the stay.
The camp is open all year round in 2026; in 2027 and 2028 it closes annually from 15 March to 14 May inclusive.
Location & Getting Around
Karen's Camp at Out of Africa Legend stands in the central Serengeti, accessed via Seronera Airstrip with an approximate forty-minute road transfer that doubles as the first safari of the stay. Charter flights can be arranged on request from any major Tanzanian hub, and our concierge team is on hand to coordinate every leg of the journey.
For longer journeys through Tanzania, your Grand Key concierge can pair Karen's Camp at Out of Africa Legend with stays at Simba House (Arusha), The Crater Lodge (Ngorongoro), The Wanderer's Camp (the Great Migration), The Art Lodge (Grumeti), Jongomero Bush Manor (Ruaha), The Selous Camp (Nyerere) or Fanjove Island (Songo Songo Archipelago).
Luggage allowance is typically fifteen kilograms or twenty kilograms per guest, including carry-on, depending on the airline, with soft bags recommended. Laundry is complimentary throughout your stay.
House Rules
The minimum age at Karen's Camp is five years (children are warmly welcomed from age six). The minimum age for walking safaris is twelve, and walking safaris are conducted on a shared basis with an armed specialist walking guide and an armed TANAPA ranger, subject to TANAPA recommendations on visibility in the bush. Walking safaris accommodate a minimum of two and a maximum of six guests, and are typically offered from July to December, though this period varies as nature is unpredictable.
Smoking and naked flames are restricted to designated areas in keeping with bush-fire safety. Guests must be in good general health and reasonably mobile in order to enjoy the camp and its activities to the full, given the nature of bush travel, the use of safari vehicles and light aircraft, and the generous spacing between tents.
All activities take place at the discretion of camp management, who reserve the right to make on-the-spot decisions based on weather conditions, wildlife behaviour and guest safety. Wildlife sightings on excursions cannot be guaranteed, as nature remains unpredictable.
All international guests are offered Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover at an additional cost (USD 15 per person), and all guests are required to hold personal travel and medical insurance for the duration of their stay.
Experiences Nearby
The Game Package, in addition to full-board accommodation, includes two activities each day from a generous choice. Guests may take two game drives (morning and afternoon) in the camp's fleet of meticulously rebuilt vintage Land Rovers, or pair one game drive with a walking safari. From 1 June 2027 onwards, all 4x4 game drives are exclusively private; before that date, they are shared with other camp guests (depending on occupancy), with a private vehicle and guide available at a supplement of USD 200 per vehicle per day, and a full-day private game drive with picnic lunch available to guests on private vehicles from June 2027 onwards. Walking safaris are available from age twelve, conducted with an armed specialist walking guide and an armed TANAPA ranger, typically offered from July to December. Private game drives include bush breakfasts and sundowner cocktails as guests wish, and the safari vehicles are equipped with a cool box of chilled refreshments, binoculars, international and USB chargers, fleece blankets and lined rain ponchos.
A wider menu of experiences may be arranged at supplement. "On the Trail of the Black Rhino" places guests on the rhino's quiet paths with a National Park Rhino specialist ranger, on a private game drive featuring a scenic bush lunch (USD 118 per guest, advance booking required at least 24 hours ahead, fully refundable if no black rhino is spotted, typically offered from July to December as conditions allow). The Hot Air Balloon Safari over the Serengeti is available year-round at USD 599 per person (including children aged seven to fifteen), with Champagne celebration, bush breakfast and flight certificate included.
For honeymooners, a complimentary Champagne sundowner is offered in the heart of the bush. From 1 June 2027, professional photography equipment is available for hire at USD 300 per day, with a professional photography guide bookable at USD 350 per day, both subject to advance request at the time of booking.
For longer journeys through Tanzania, your Grand Key concierge can pair Karen's Camp at Out of Africa Legend with stays at Simba House (Arusha), The Crater Lodge (Ngorongoro), The Wanderer's Camp (the Great Migration), The Art Lodge (Grumeti), Jongomero Bush Manor (Ruaha), The Selous Camp (Nyerere) or Fanjove Island (Songo Songo Archipelago).
Bespoke Holiday Planning
Let us create your perfect stay.
We can also create bespoke holiday stays designed entirely around you. Whether you dream of a secluded coastal retreat, a chic city hideaway, or an enchanting countryside escape, every detail is tailored to your tastes and desires. Our dedicated team ensures your getaway is seamless, memorable, and uniquely yours.