Tanzania's Private Concessions Explained

A private concession is land leased from the Tanzanian government — or from a community land trust — under a long-term agreement to a single operator or consortium. The operator sets the rules for activities within their concession: vehicle density, game drive hours, whether off-road tracking is permitted, whether walking safaris are allowed.

This is meaningfully different from a national park. TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority) governs Serengeti National Park. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority governs the NCA. Both impose vehicle caps, strict circuit routes, and standard operating hours. A concession is governed by its own management plan — which is why the three concessions below can offer genuinely different experiences despite sharing the same Greater Serengeti Ecosystem.

The practical differences that follow from this: no vehicle caps at sightings, night drives permitted in most concessions, off-road tracking in pursuit of wildlife, and guided walking safaris with armed rangers. None of these are available inside the national park.

Grumeti stretches across the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, following the Grumeti River as it carves through acacia woodland and open plains. The concession covers approximately 350,000 hectares. The landscape is a mix of riverine forest, open grassland, and density of wildlife that peaks from May when the wildebeest arrive from the eastern plains.

Grumeti's wildlife draw is both the migration and what lives here year-round: substantial lion prides with distinctive territory around the Grumeti River, some of the largest crocodiles in Africa basking at the river crossings, and dense populations of elephant that move through the woodland in family groups. The crossing logistics here differ from the Mara — the Grumeti River crossings happen earlier in the season (typically May through July) and the volume of vehicles at any single crossing is substantially lower than at the Mara River.

Best season: May through October. June and July for river crossings before the migration moves north. Late October for elephant aggregations before the short rains.

Who it suits: Travellers who want the migration experience without the Mara Triangle density. Photographers focused on river crossings, crocodiles, and Grumeti's lion prides. Those staying at the Grumeti concession or Sasakwa Lodge, both of which represent the top tier of concession-based accommodation.

Lamai lies in the northern Serengeti, adjacent to the Mara River but outside the boundary of the Mara Triangle. This distinction matters: Lamai offers proximity to the most dramatic crossing points on the Mara River without the vehicle management restrictions that apply inside the Triangle. The concession spans two distinct areas — the Lamai Wedge, a narrow stretch of riverfront north of the Mara River, and Namiri Plains, which lies east of the Lamai Wedge and is reached via a separate access route.

The advantage is flexibility: Lamai camps operate year-round with strong resident wildlife even outside the migration months. The area is productive from July through October for crossings, but also holds good game density in the shoulder months. Namiri Plains in particular has built its reputation on consistent leopard sightings and large buffalo herds throughout the year.

Best season: July through October for crossing season. Year-round for big cats and buffalo. Most flexible of the three concessions for timing.

Who it suits: Those who want the Mara River crossing experience with fewer vehicles at crossings. Photographers focused on leopards (Namiri Plains is one of the most consistent leopard areas in the Serengeti). Travellers with tighter timelines who need a concession that delivers across multiple months rather than requiring precise seasonal alignment.

Ndutu sits at the southeastern edge of the Serengeti, technically within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). This matters practically: the NCA has its own management framework, which means different rules for vehicle numbers, access routes, and camp placement. The landscape here is distinctive — a mix of open grass plains, seasonal soda lakes, and a more intimate, semi-open woodland character that feels distinct from the north.

Ndutu's primary draw is the calving season. From December through March, approximately 8,000 wildebeest drop their calves daily on the short grass plains around Ndutu and Loliondo. The density of newborns in a concentrated area draws predators — cheetah on the open plains, lion prides working the drainage lines, hyena in the woodland edges. This is arguably the most reliable predator-prey spectacle in Africa on a per-day basis.

A further practical advantage: Ndutu's position within the NCA allows day-trip access to Ngorongoro Crater. A Grumeti or Lamai itinerary typically does not include crater access without a significant repositioning flight. From Ndutu, it is a manageable drive.

Best season: December through March. Outside calving season, game density drops and the concession is less compelling than the north.

Who it suits: Travellers visiting December through March who want the calving spectacle. Families for whom the semi-open Ndutu landscape feels more accessible. Those combining a Serengeti visit with Ngorongoro Crater access. The price tier at Ndutu Under Canvas and Lemala Ndutu is typically below equivalent Grumeti or Lamai properties.

At the top tier, the Grumeti Reserve operator runs four camps across 350,000 hectares: Sasakwa Lodge (colonial manor house character, highest price point), Sabora Tented Camp (all-suite tented property, serious about privacy), Grumeti Serena Safari Lodge (more conventional lodge format), and Faru Faru River Camp (smaller footprint, strong on river sightings). All four share the concession's off-road and night-drive privileges.

Lamai's standout is Ubuntu Camp (moveable tented camp that follows the wildlife) alongside Namiri Plains (fixed camp, exceptional leopard density). Both operate under the same concession umbrella with full activity privileges.

Ndutu Under Canvas and Lemala Ndutu sit at a different price tier — moveable tented camps with strong guiding, focused squarely on the calving season. The trade-off against Grumeti and Lamai is lower overall wildlife density outside December through March.

The concession decision should follow the wildlife calendar, not the other way around:

• December through MarchNdutu. No other concession competes during calving season. Also allows Ngorongoro Crater access as a day trip.
• April through JuneGrumeti. The migration arrives from the eastern plains and the river crossings on the Grumeti begin. Good big cat density as the resident wildlife stays active.
• July through OctoberLamai. Mara River crossing access without Mara Triangle vehicle caps. Namiri Plains is at its best for leopards. Most reliable high-season option.

Lamai is the most flexible year-round. If timing is not yet fixed, it is the safest starting point for a concession conversation.

The concession question is the first place where an honest safari operator should push back on what you think you want. Grumeti in August is not automatically better than Lamai in August. The right answer depends on your group composition, how many nights you have, what wildlife experiences have shaped your expectations already, and how you weigh exclusivity against accessibility.

Bobby Safaris operates across all three concessions. We have no preferred camp arrangement that biases us toward one over another — our recommendation reflects what is right for your specific itinerary.

Discuss your itinerary with the team — include which months you are considering and how many nights you have. We will tell you which concession makes sense and why.