Over the years, we have found a number of very special (and private) places in the Tanzanian bush, which we have been able to secure for our own private Semi-Luxurt Tented Camps. These special places combine the luxury and away-from-the-crowds feeling of our Semi-Luxury Mobile Camps with real cultural experiences through local projects run by our Community Development foundation, the African Roots Foundation.

Semi-Luxury Permanent Tented Camp at Esilalei

The camp is unique in regards to its relationship and location with the Maasai of Esilalei, Bush 2 Beach along with its own foundation African Roots Foundation ( ARF) have been in partnership with the Maasai since 2007. As our relationship grew with the Maasai we slowly developed sustainable cultural tourism programs that would intern be an added value and very real experience for those who chose to travel with Bush 2 Beach. The positive feed back from clients was never ending with what we were doing out there and that the experiences of being able to roam freely amongst the Maasai and learn about their beliefs, traditions and rituals in a relaxed impersonal manner is the key factor we believe with any cultural encounters and experiences.

Esilalei Maasai community camp – A wild bush camp blended in its natural surroundings with as few changes as possible to the mother nature apart from manicuring it and creating suitable shady areas for both the mobile semi lux tents along with the new edition as of December 2010 with the establishments of x 2 permanent luxury tents that measure 8 x 4 meters and are fully furnished. In addition to this we have also added a permanent mess/bar tent that offers views through the bush across to the Great Rift Valley wall that towers above Lake Manyara National Park – we can assure you it makes for a great sundowner spot.

Only 21 km from Lake Manyara National Park and 60km from Tarangire N.P make it an ideal base to head out for game drives to both parks along with true grass roots cultural experiences that will come to you daily by simple staying amongst the Maasai people and witnessing their daily lives, what you see is not put on just for passing tourists. The camp has grown from a cleared piece of earth into a comfortable bush camp offering relaxed nature walks, shady camp spots with view to die for and an open air shower toilet facility that is a great treat at the end of hot day whilst out on game drives. This structure was built using traditional Maasai methods and style, with attention to the water situation or lack of it in the area. All water for the camp is brought in from the near by town of Mto wa Mbu and your visit, stay and cultural tours assist the ARF in further developing and researching ways of bringing fresh drinking water to the Maasai of Esilalei.

Semi-Luxury Permanent Tented Camp at Karatu

Bush 2 Beach Safaris newest addition to our growing bush camp locations throughout the North of Tanzania, as of November 2009. Bila Mwisho – Korongo Camp was born into life. With a quick translation from Swahili ‘Bill Mwisho’ meaning without end or endless – the views are stunning, stretching across open wilderness to the distant mountains of Lake Eyasi area, hunting ground and home of the Hazabe Bushman and Datoga tribes.

Located 5 km out of Karatu town only 6 km from the Ngorongoro gate offering views towards the crater rim itself and the Ngorongoro Forest reserve, makes it again an ideal location to rest up before heading or returning from the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National park.

The camp has been sculptured and designed around the natural land formation of the Korongo (erosion cut valley) each luxury tent is perched on its own private view point protected and hidden by the natural gardens and soil formations. In addition to showers, toilets inside the tent we have gone the full hurdle and added private outside double baths cut into the undulating land formations offering a unique experience to witness the Africa Milky way larger than life from the comfort of your own bath tub!!

There is also a similar round cushioned area completely hidden from the rest of the world to sit back and soak in the vista in front or above you as the case may be a perfect place for yoga or meditation.

Since the commencement of building began over 600 tons of earth has been returned to the major erosion cut areas that have been slowly eaten away after every rainy season for the last 10 years when crop farming ceased on the property, grazing of cows and goats slowly took over which has also been a major player in soil erosion with many shrubs and natural grasses simple non existent in the cleared area of the property. Our aim and goal in the next 3 years is to return the land to its former state which was a beautiful forest of yellow fever acacia bush land home to 300 or so bird species with two dozen cactus varieties dotting the landscape. We have already discovered that the camp lies on a migratory route of the Lesser East Africa Flamingo, they pretty much fly between Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara daily passing over head early evening as the sky turns to gold and we have also identified them after night has fallen, as one can hear their whooping calls as they fly in formation overhead.

To date we have planted over a 1000 indigenous trees and flora to the natural manicured sweeping gardens and will continue to nurture this delicate and important piece of bush land back to its former glory and look forward to receiving you as our guest along its transition, we can assure you even though the camp is in its early stages your time spent at Bila Mwisho – Korongo Camp will be a memorable one.