Our Story
How We Got Here
Our Story
Great Migration Camps mobile was designed in the traditional way of explorers of yesteryear in true camping safari style – similar to a luxury fly-camp, rather than budget tented accommodation. The camp was initially designed for research and filming, as a working camp. Due to the demand for affordable and authentic accommodation needs near the great migration, Great Migration Camps (GMC-Mobile) opened to guests in 2017, with a few added comforts.
How It Began
Our Journey
Carel’s passion for the natural world was ignited during his childhood in working camps in Kruger National Park. One of the Kruger challenges was managing the carrying capacity of large herbivores in a fenced eco-system. This left a lasting impression on him and sparked Carel’s adult interest in Tanzania’s unfenced eco-systems as a conservation method.
The Serengeti, with its vast open landscapes, is home to one of the planet’s last great migrations, largely due to the open spaces. How and why the wildebeest migrate fascinated him, though he was determined to figure out where they would be and when. He dedicated himself to studying the wildebeest migration patterns, striving to predict their movements with remarkable accuracy. Even with year-on-year trends and current data, the easiest way to guarantee seeing the great migration was to move with them. The concept of a truly mobile camp was born.
Our first camp thrived for eight years, following the great migration around the Serengeti. During the pandemic, we lived in the camp for 8 months, refining our approach & identifying areas for improvement. Our camps are designed to be small and compact in order to set up quickly, pack up quickly and move anywhere. We focus on the essentials – and do those things really well, though we don’t leave comfort to chance. Our philosophy is simple: Less is more.
How It Grew
Our Camp Evolution
Today, our camps are even smaller, more intimate, durable, and efficient. We have multiple camps, each designed to offer a home on wheels for up to six guests. Using top-of-the-range equipment, we ensure the best conditions for our guests, our staff & ourselves! Our small size camps grant us access to exclusive camping sites within the Serengeti, that are inaccessible to larger camps.
Each trailer is meticulously organised, with a fully-equipped covered kitchen on one side and a service area leading to the mess tent on the other. Every inch of space is utilised for packing and storage, ensuring guests have everything they need and nothing they don’t. Our trailers are equipped with more solar power, better batteries, and inverters, allowing for greater energy efficiency. Our chefs now have the luxury of using a blender! We’ve even refined our water collection, storage and reduced our water usage by being more efficient in all our camp practices.
How it Got Easier
Our Comfort Journey
Sally’s background in physiotherapy influenced our commitment to comfort and quality equipment. We provide the best Memory Foam mattresses and pillows for a good night’s sleep, supportive chairs, and handrails in ablution blocks for balance and support. Our beds & linen are insanely cozy but good for you too! The original short-drop toilet in an open air cubicle is now a bio-chemical toilet with manual flush and no smell, in a private closed cubicle
How We Eat
Our Food Journey
Our food, meals and service has ramped up to another level, with the introduction of sous vide meals and the expertise of our long-standing Head Chef Alex. Sous vide has been a game changer. Gone are the days of worrying about raw meat in the solar freezer; we now serve gourmet dishes like calamari, pork ribs and lamb shanks in the bush. This innovative approach ensures consistent quality and variety in our meals.
How We Adapt
Our Camp Capabilities
We love the intimacy of our small bush camps in the bush but sometimes there are more than 6 people travelling together. The camp and trailer were designed to be modular, and capable of adapting to different group sizes. Its fantastic to be able to host groups up to twenty-four. Each camp can be hired exclusively, ensuring a personalised experience.
How We Get Around
Our Camp Mobility
One camp cannot be everywhere, so now we have mobile camps in key destinations, so we can enjoy more GMC hospitality at more than one location.
- GMC Migration-Camp: Always close to the migrating herds for the best sightings. We don’t wait for the herds to come to us; we take you to them.
- GMC Serengeti-Camp: Located near central Serengeti, a great option for an overnight stay en route to the Migration-Camp. Great wildlife viewing all year round.
- GMC Northern-Circuit-Camp: Moves around the Northern Circuit, including Tarangire NP, Mkomazi NP, and West Kilimanjaro.
- GMC Explorer-Camp: Travels to any remote destination for a variety of needs beyond tourism.
- Ideal for exclusive groups or unique needs, from Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) solutions to remote medical units, multi-day events and NGO surveys.
Who Leads Us
Our Camp Guides
Our guiding team is part of a network that adheres to the TATO Guide Code of Conduct. We prioritize knowledge, respect, and ethical practices in all our operations. Our commitment to conservation and ethical guiding is unwavering.
Adventure With Us
From Camping to Safari Planning
Our journey from research camps and wildlife videography to hosting clients has evolved into planning comprehensive tours and itineraries. Our firsthand experience of living and working in the Serengeti, exploring East African peaks, and actively engaging in the activities we offer, has helped us plan nature-based travel solutions in East Africa – from the bush, to mountains, lakes, rivers, rainforests, islands and oceans. We invite you to adventure with us.
All companies, guides and accommodation establishments we work with, have been selected for their ethics, values and their safety procedures, taking risk factors into consideration.
Let's Talk
Ready to Start Your Adventure?
Contact us today to customize your safari experience and take advantage of our exclusive offers.
