Serengeti Safari from Mwanza: 2 Day Private Game Drive & Camping

Summary

Wake to lion calls cross savannahs from mwanza with local guide

You’ll travel from Mwanza into Serengeti with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story along the way. Expect early starts, game drives past hippo pools and zebra herds, and a night under canvas with distant animal calls for company. Meals are simple but satisfying; comfort is built into the journey — sockets for charging, cold drinks on hand — so all you have to do is look out those wide windows and take it in.

What’s the experience like?

“If you see dust in the distance, it’s usually wildebeest — or sometimes our neighbor’s cows,” Joseph grinned as we left Mwanza before sunrise. I liked him right away. His laugh was easy, and he knew every pothole on the road out of town. The drive to Serengeti’s gate took about two hours, windows down, morning air already dry and a little sweet with grass. I kept watching for that first glimpse of the plains — it’s funny how you know you’re close when the sky just seems bigger somehow.

We rolled into the park around mid-morning, after a quick stop for coffee (instant, but honestly tasted perfect with that view). Joseph pointed out a group of Maasai kids waving near the entrance — “they always race us,” he said, and sure enough they beat us to the sign. Once inside Serengeti, everything slowed down. The light was softer than I expected; golden but not harsh. We passed a hippo pool where you could actually smell them before you saw them — kind of earthy and muddy, not bad really. Lunch was boxed but filling; I ate mine in the shade while watching zebras flick their tails at flies.

I didn’t expect how quiet it would feel at night. Our camp was simple but comfortable, set up with just enough distance from other tents that you could hear hyenas whooping somewhere out there (not scary, more like background music). There were sockets for charging phones in the car and Joseph kept an electric cooler stocked with cold water — small things but they mattered after hours in the sun. He told stories about his childhood here; I tried to repeat some Swahili words back and got them all wrong, which made him laugh so hard he nearly dropped his flashlight.

The second day felt like it went too fast — more game drives across those endless plains. Sometimes we’d stop just to watch giraffes moving slow through acacia trees or listen for birds I couldn’t name. Heading back toward Mwanza in the afternoon, I realized I hadn’t checked my phone once since entering Serengeti. That’s rare for me. Even now, I still think about that silence at dusk and how it felt to be part of something so wide open.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Serengeti National Park game drive

• Depart early from Mwanza
• Drive 2 hours to Serengeti gate
• Enter Serengeti National Park
• Game drive to Hippo Pool
• Overnight camping or lodge stay

Top questions

How long is the drive from Mwanza to Serengeti?

About two hours by private vehicle from Mwanza to Serengeti entrance gate.

Is camping included on this 2 day Serengeti safari?

Yes, one night camping or lodge accommodation inside Serengeti is included.

Are meals provided during the safari?

A boxed lunch is provided each day along with bottled water.

How many people fit in each safari vehicle?

Up to seven people per car can join this private tour from Mwanza.

Is there WiFi or charging available during the trip?

Yes, vehicles have WiFi onboard plus power sockets and USB ports for charging devices.

Are park fees included in the price?

Yes, park fees and concession fees are included in your booking cost.

What animals might we see on this Serengeti safari?

You may spot wildebeest herds, hippos at pools, zebras, giraffes and more during game drives.

Is pickup included from my hotel in Mwanza?

Private transportation including pickup from Mwanza is part of your tour package.

What’s included

Your journey includes private transportation with pickup from Mwanza, all park entry fees and concession charges covered up front, onboard WiFi plus sockets for charging your devices throughout both days, an electric cooler box stocked for your drinks and food needs along the way, daily boxed lunches and bottled water provided by your guide Joseph (or someone just as friendly), plus one night’s stay inside Serengeti—camping or lodge style depending on what suits you best—before heading back home after two days of real game viewing adventure.