Alex Walker’s camp was exactly what we wanted. You were right, we felt really involved with the actual bush – especially when we were out walking with the Massai and Hadza guides who were with us; they did tracking and dug up roots for us to eat and taught us about the plants. The honey guide also came with us and opened up his ‘hanging log’ hive to find us some honey. We loved it all, so interesting. It was also great to have our own truck, driver and guide when we went out; we saw masses of animals and absolutely masses of birds. All in all a great mix, especially as there was only one other couple there, so camp life was tremendous fun.
C+D Summers 2012
Our trip to Alex Walker's Serian was unforgettable! The camp was picturesque and just blended in with the bush to make you really feel part of nature - so much so that we had a herd of elephants roam through our site one night! Our guide Geoffrey taught us so many fascinating facts about the wildlife and the Serengeti and we were even lucky enough to see two (yes two!) leopards on our last day! Our spotter, Pius was incredible - you've never known eyesight like it! He could spot a lizard from 300 feet away! We had so many laughs with them both and we were sad to leave! We hope to go back again in the future and would recommend Alex Walker and his team to everyone.
B Casalis 2011 (he proposed whilst at Serian....she said YES...huge congrats to the future 'Mr and Mrs Casilis'!!)
Alex Walker's Serian Maswa mobile camp for three nights. This was excellent. The personal service was outstanding, nothing was too much trouble and it was completely up to us what we did. Staying here is not like staying at a permanent lodge (as some of the other guests seem to have expected) - it is a camp where hot water is carried to your tent for you to shower and food is cooked in a mobile kitchen - but that is what makes it so great. During the days we went on walking as well as driving safaris, visited local villages and relaxed with a stunning view out over the plains. We cannot recommend this place highly enough, especially in contrast to the zoo like atmosphere of the Ngorongoro crater - at Alex's we didn't see anyone else on safari until we drove to the airstrip to fly out on our last day!
Shawn Kirby 2011
We had a fantastic time this Christmas in Tanzania and Zanzibar. We've been on safari before - to Kenya - but this surpassed anything we'd experienced. We started off with 2 days in the Ngorogoro Crater, with our guide Ammy. The crater is teeming with wildlife, and we saw huge amounts of game, which Ammy was expert at getting exceptionally close to. On the third day, as we were travelling round the rim early in the morning to rendezvous with our next driver, we saw a leopard walking along the road.
He disappeared into the bush, but then reappeared behind us, and walked towards us - totally unconcerned. It was the first time in 3 safaris we had seen a leopard, so it was extra special for us. We then spent four days in Serian Camp, which was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. As we arrived, we were met by Alex Walker and his partner Billie, who were exceptionally welcoming and lovely, and showed us to our tents. As our children are quite young (10 & 12), and the tents were quite far apart, the girls had one, and the boys another. We had the most amazing time at Serian - this seemed like real safari, rather than the rather sanitised version you encounter at most hotels or lodges.
Show me more >
Alex Walker’s camp was exactly what we wanted. You were right, we felt really involved with the actual bush – especially when we were out walking with the Massai and Hadza guides who were with us; they did tracking and dug up roots for us to eat and taught us about the plants. The honey guide also came with us and opened up his ‘hanging log’ hive to find us some honey. We loved it all, so interesting. It was also great to have our own truck, driver and guide when we went out; we saw masses of animals and absolutely masses of birds. All in all a great mix, especially as there was only one other couple there, so camp life was tremendous fun.
C+D Summers 2012
Our trip to Alex Walker's Serian was unforgettable! The camp was picturesque and just blended in with the bush to make you really feel part of nature - so much so that we had a herd of elephants roam through our site one night! Our guide Geoffrey taught us so many fascinating facts about the wildlife and the Serengeti and we were even lucky enough to see two (yes two!) leopards on our last day! Our spotter, Pius was incredible - you've never known eyesight like it! He could spot a lizard from 300 feet away! We had so many laughs with them both and we were sad to leave! We hope to go back again in the future and would recommend Alex Walker and his team to everyone.
B Casalis 2011 (he proposed whilst at Serian....she said YES...huge congrats to the future 'Mr and Mrs Casilis'!!)
Alex Walker's Serian Maswa mobile camp for three nights. This was excellent. The personal service was outstanding, nothing was too much trouble and it was completely up to us what we did. Staying here is not like staying at a permanent lodge (as some of the other guests seem to have expected) - it is a camp where hot water is carried to your tent for you to shower and food is cooked in a mobile kitchen - but that is what makes it so great. During the days we went on walking as well as driving safaris, visited local villages and relaxed with a stunning view out over the plains. We cannot recommend this place highly enough, especially in contrast to the zoo like atmosphere of the Ngorongoro crater - at Alex's we didn't see anyone else on safari until we drove to the airstrip to fly out on our last day!
Shawn Kirby 2011
We had a fantastic time this Christmas in Tanzania and Zanzibar. We've been on safari before - to Kenya - but this surpassed anything we'd experienced. We started off with 2 days in the Ngorogoro Crater, with our guide Ammy. The crater is teeming with wildlife, and we saw huge amounts of game, which Ammy was expert at getting exceptionally close to. On the third day, as we were travelling round the rim early in the morning to rendezvous with our next driver, we saw a leopard walking along the road.
He disappeared into the bush, but then reappeared behind us, and walked towards us - totally unconcerned. It was the first time in 3 safaris we had seen a leopard, so it was extra special for us. We then spent four days in Serian Camp, which was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. As we arrived, we were met by Alex Walker and his partner Billie, who were exceptionally welcoming and lovely, and showed us to our tents. As our children are quite young (10 & 12), and the tents were quite far apart, the girls had one, and the boys another. We had the most amazing time at Serian - this seemed like real safari, rather than the rather sanitised version you encounter at most hotels or lodges.
The tents were great - large beds, hot showers on demand (from a canvas bag outside!), a toilet and a basin. Every morning, we were woken with hot water and tea or hot chocolate (a firm favourite with the kids), and every night when we went to bed, we had lovely hot water bottles to snuggle up with (who needs a husband!) Our tents looked directly out onto the Serengeti, and lying in bed, my daughter and I could see wildebeeste and Masai cattle, and hear all sort of very large bugs throwing themseves against the window nets! Our driver and spotter - Michael and Mbaraka - were fantastic, and we had 4 amazing days with them. Up early, and off for the day (none of this 1 game drive in the morning , 1 in the afternoon!). We'd set off at 6.00am, drive for a couple of hours, and them Michael and Mbaraka would pull up in the middle of the plains, under a shady acacia tree, set up 4 canvas chairs, and lay us out a breakfast fit for a king! If you haven't eaten breakfast under an acacia tree filled with weaver birds, watched by hyena and zebra, you haven't lived. Another few hours drive, then a repeat performance for lunch - perfect. Its the rainy season in the Serengeti at this time, so the ground was quite boggy, and we ended up stuck in the mud more than once. However, it was always fun, and even when we were stuck for 6 hours, we had the spectacle of the local tractor coming to pull us out, and getting stuck himself, and then being rescued, just as the sun went down, by Alex himself - luckily, our packed lunch included a bottle of chilled white wine, so Jeremy and I were happy.
The ride home in the dark in Alex's Land Cruiser (I want one of these!) was spectacular - racing through the pitch black bush, aquaplaning over the water at speed so we wouldn't get stuck, with my son Joe on my lap, Jeremy with our daughter Elena on his lap in the front and 6 Masai crammed in with us as well (in a 5 seater vehicle!) , is something I will never forget. The best thing was - 5 minutes out of camp, Alex radioed in for hot showers for all of us, 2 hot chocolates, and 2 gin and tonics, which were waiting for us as we arrived. I could go on: sundowners at the large rock outcrop near the camp, the camp fire every night, the Masai escort to and from the tents at night, the convivial dinners in the mess tent, the fact that they let the kids drive the land cruisers - not just a few hundred metres - but 20 kms each, up and down river beds, and at speeds up to 40kms!. The kids loved it - as they also loved being taught to shoot a Masai bow by Nuki and his friend, and having a go at making fire with two bits of wood (we didn't manage it). We loved every second of our time there, and were sorry to leave on Christmas Eve to go on to Zanzibar. However, we arrived at Breezes for Christmas, and had a great time there too. Very relaxing, with lots going on every day and evening. Staff were lovely, room was great and they did Christmas and New Year very well. All in all, a fantastic holiday - no downside at all - every flight was on time, every driver was there to meet us when they were supposed to be - we can't fault a thing. I think we all want to go back to Serian again - hopefully for longer next time.
Corn Family, 2012 UK
Serian had comfortable tents (most comfy beds of the places we stayed)
Warm, welcoming and efficient staff anticipating our wants before we could ask for anything. I loved being greeted at the end of the day with wash cloths and fresh squeezed juice. I was also amazed by the two men who managed to fix the broken cord to our shower water bucket by shimmying up a tree onto the tent roof (all for my hot shower).
Small but interesting library of books in mess tent sitting area.
While Oliver’s had the best desserts, Serian had the best main courses (I’d love their cheese soufflé and soup recipes). Great hot chocolate also delivered with a smile each morning. Suggestion: start dinner a little earlier than 8:15-8:30 as we found ourselves having to go to bed immediately after dinner on a full stomach without a pause in order to be up early each morning to make the most of the game drives.
Campfire cocktail hour was fun here as at Olivers.
Camp managers were also very efficient and organized and generous in providing various information. One however, seemed a less sensitive than I would have expected to travelers’ digestive problems (not uncommon regardless of country) when my friend declined the curry and salad one night (“try it anyway”, she said).
Madebe (coincidentally my sister Carol’s guide too) and Joel, our guides were terrific. They were polite, attentive, good humored and always prepared. Madebe was a very skilled driver, crossing rocky stream beds, bumpy fields and maneuvering us into the best positions to see animals and accurately predicting when we might see both of our 2 river crossings.
Talk about being close to nature – hippos and wildebeest passed through camp and had a snack at night.
N Hanley 2011
A safari with a difference.
We went on safari in Tanzania last February and thanks to some sound advice and planning from Tanzania Odyssey we chose to spend a full week with Alex Walker and his team at Serian Maswa in the southern Serengetti. It was the best thing we could possibly have done. Alex encourages people to come and stay for as long as possible so that they can really immerse themselves into the full experience and we wholeheartedly endorse that approach. There is such a variety of things to do that it is impossible to fit them all in during a 2-3 day visit. More importantly, the longer stay allows you to learn so much more about the surroundings and the people as well. We had a brilliant crew looking after us - Alex himself, always enthusiastic and informative, our guide Marsha, the young Masai Sadala, old Singi the hunter. Altogether a wealth of experience and knowledge to tap into and they were all really enthusiastic.
Half way through our stay we went for a full day's walk toward the south, past all the Masai bomas and finishing up with a BBQ and fly-tenting right on the edge of the Rift valley overlooking Lake Eyasi - just spectacular. The next day combined driving into a new area and walking up a river gorge following leopard tracks, then meeting Munyati tribesmen searching for their lost cattle after a hyena raid on their boma.
A & S MacLeod 2011 (report continued below)
Other highlights.... Amazing comfort and luxury for a mobile camp but much more besides - - Dinner round a big table every evening with Alex and some very interesting fellow guests all swapping stories - the surprise 'bush bath' (whoops - sorry - shouldn't have mentioned it. a secret), the sundowner on the top of an amazing rock in the middle of the bush with the mountains in the distance. We never saw another safari operator while staying with Alex so you really felt special and immersed into the bush.
Yes it had all the big animals as well but if you really want to get into the experience & away from just the standard bush drives then this is the place to go.
Ali & Sally MacLeod 2011
This was a mobile tent. Far nicer than we expected. Staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Food was very good. A great experience. Could easily have stayed longer.
Marty Goldsmith 2011
Alex Walker's Serian was amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect of a tented camp literally in the middle of the Serenghetti, but we were definitely more than pleased with Serian. The tent's were spacious and beautifully decorated. The service at the camp was beyond exceptional, coffee or tea when you wake up in your tent along with hot water for a shower whenever you liked. The staff at Serian worked hard to prepare exceptional meals including picnic lunch and breakfast while on Safari. Our guide was Alex Walker himself who took us on a great safari and made sure we saw what we wanted in terms of animals. Alex was very knowledgeable and friendly. One of the best parts about Serian was dinner. It was a community dinner where all guest sit at a large round table and can share their stories from the day while on Safari. This truly creates a friendly atmosphere where great stories are shared. As it was our honeymoon, Alex and his staff set-up a private outdoor bath for us so we could enjoy a warm bath under the stars of which there were plenty. Would definitely visit again and recommended to friends and family.
F Cina 2011
Our favorite part of the trip was the Serian camp in the northern Serengeti. We loved the focus on game and the flexibility to customize each day according to our wishes and what was happening in the park. The vibe was great – wonderful and interesting guests and staff (including Alex) who were fantastic. Great food, accommodations and atmosphere. Top notch and good value.
B Silver 2011
The grand finale was of course the trip to the Northern Serengeti and to Alex Walker's Serian camp. This was definitely one of if not the best wildlife experiences we've ever had on our travels (and having backpacked all over the world - including places such as the Amazon and the Galapagos, hopefully this is saying a lot). The camp is extremely well organised with fancy plumbed "tents", great food and great service. However, the real reason this camp is so great is of course Alex himself. As well as making every evening meal memorable with his stories and general wildlife knowledge, he clearly cares a great deal about the experience that every one of his guests has. He works as hard as he can with your guides (who are also excellent) to get you to the right places at the right times and to make sure you are enjoying yourself. Consequently, we got to see all of the big five
within about 10m from our car. An intimidating site when one of those big five is a massive Rhino. Of course, ticking off the big five wasn't even the biggest highlight wildlife-wise - that had to be being in the middle of The Great Migration - and again we have you to thank for convincing us that this was the best idea for us and the best use of our money. I think in fact, our only negative point for the entire trip would be that we wanted more time at this camp. It was that good and every extra day is definitely worth it.
D & J Collis 2011
Alex Walker's camp was pretty special!
Peter and Jenni Merton 2011
Show me less
- Outstanding
- Very good
- Good
- Average
- Poor
