Simba Campsite

Simba Campsite is the legendary budget option on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, and for many travellers it is the highlight of their entire Tanzania safari. For the price of a modest campsite fee, you wake up at 2,300 metres altitude with the entire Ngorongoro Crater spread below you — the same billion-dollar view that guests at neighbouring luxury lodges pay hundreds of dollars a night to enjoy. Elephants, buffaloes, and bushbuck regularly wander through camp, and the stargazing is extraordinary. This is camping in its purest form — bring your own tent and gear, or have your safari operator set everything up for you. There are basic toilet blocks and cold-water showers, but the real draw is the location. Most budget safari operators include Simba Campsite on their Northern Circuit itineraries, and the communal atmosphere around the campfires at night — with travellers from every corner of the world sharing safari stories — is something no luxury lodge can replicate.