Ubuntu Migration Camp, Serengeti

Ubuntu Migration Camp — The Authentic Migration Experience

Ubuntu Migration Camp is Asilia Africa's value-focused mobile camp, designed for travellers who want to follow the Great Wildebeest Migration through the Serengeti without the premium price tag of the brand's luxury properties. The name means "kindness" in Swahili, and the philosophy is matched by a camp that prioritises warmth, excellent guiding and genuine bush immersion over polished finishes.

Like its sister camp Olakira, Ubuntu moves twice a year to track the migration herds. From mid-June to mid-November, the camp sits on the Lamai Wedge in the northern Serengeti — a quieter area with fewer camps and vehicles, positioned for the dramatic Mara River crossings. From mid-December to mid-March, Ubuntu relocates to Kusini in the southern Serengeti, overlooking the vast short-grass plains where two million wildebeest gather to calve.

Camp and Accommodation

Ubuntu has ten classic canvas safari tents, including one family tent. These are traditional walk-in tents — no stargazing roofs or luxury finishes here. Each tent has a king-size or twin beds with quality linen, mesh side panels for natural light and ventilation, an en-suite bathroom with a hot-water bucket shower (fire-heated, the traditional safari way) and a flush toilet. A private veranda with seating overlooks the surrounding plains. Gumboots are provided for muddy days — a nice touch that reflects the camp's practical, no-pretence character.

The communal area consists of two canvas tents: a lounge with campaign chairs, sofas, beanbags and board games, and a dining tent with a small bar and tea-and-coffee station. Both are lit by lanterns in the evening. A crackling campfire is the social hub after dark — no electricity beyond essential lighting, no WiFi competing for attention. Meals are sociable affairs: continental and cooked breakfast, light buffet lunch, and a three-course dinner with South African wines, sometimes served at the fire under the stars.

Activities

Morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles are the core activity, led by experienced Asilia guides. Full-day drives with bush picnics are available during peak migration periods. Walking safaris are offered at the northern location at additional cost (must be pre-booked). Hot-air balloon safaris can be arranged. The camp provides walkie-talkies for guests to call staff for a night escort — a reminder that this is an unfenced camp in the middle of the Serengeti.

Who Is Ubuntu Best For?

Ubuntu is the right choice for travellers who want the migration experience at a significantly lower price point than Olakira or Sayari, and who value authenticity over luxury. The bucket showers, lantern-lit evenings and unfenced setting deliver a genuine "Out of Africa" safari atmosphere that more polished camps deliberately soften. It is excellent for first-time safari visitors, families with children aged five and above, and anyone who would rather spend their budget on more nights in the bush than on thread counts and infinity pools.