Haven Nature Safari Camp and Lodge: Mid-Range Tanzania Safari Accommodation Near Lake Manyara National Park.
Not every extraordinary Tanzania safari experience requires a luxury price tag. Haven Nature Safari Camp and Lodge proves that point quietly and convincingly, a thoughtfully designed mid-range safari property sitting on 20 acres of lush, fig-tree-shaded landscape in the Mto wa Mbu region of northern Tanzania, just 15 minutes from the entrance of Lake Manyara National Park. For travellers planning Tanzania safaris through the northern circuit, a base at Haven Nature Safari Camp delivers genuine bush atmosphere, comfortable accommodation, and outstanding access to three of Tanzania’s most rewarding national parks at a price point that makes extended East Africa safari travel genuinely accessible.
Location: Gateway to Northern Tanzania’s Safari Circuit
Haven Nature Safari Camp and Lodge occupies a quiet, green corner of Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant small town on the edge of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, 126 kilometres southwest of Arusha and within easy driving distance of Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park. The camp’s setting is immediately appealing: 20 acres of indigenous woodland with fig trees, acacia canopy, and lush green vegetation framing spectacular views of the Rift Valley escarpment, with the constant sound of birds moving through the surrounding trees providing an immersive natural soundtrack throughout every stay.
Getting to Haven Nature Safari Camp:
- By road from Arusha: approximately three to four hours’ driving through northern Tanzania’s scenic safari corridor
- By air: a 50-minute domestic flight to Lake Manyara airstrip, followed by a short transfer of a few minutes to the camp
- The camp’s central position makes it an ideal operational base for Tanzania wildlife safaris, combining Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire in a single northern circuit itinerary
Accommodation: Comfortable Safari Tents in African Style
Haven Nature Safari Camp and Lodge offers over ten spacious, elevated safari tents built in traditional African style using natural local woods and materials, a design approach that sits comfortably within the surrounding landscape while delivering the practical comfort that Tanzania safari travellers need after full days in the field.
Each tent includes:
- Private en-suite facilities with flushing toilet and hot and cold shower
- Comfortable queen-sized beds with single, double, twin, and family room configurations
- Wrapped mosquito nets and complimentary toiletries
- Free bottled water, slippers, and a private chair
- Private veranda, sitting area, and balcony with garden and wilderness views
Campfire places provide warmth during the cool Rift Valley evenings and serve as a natural gathering point where guests share game drive stories and unwind after a day of Tanzanian wildlife safari activity. The overall atmosphere is warm, unhurried, and genuinely connected to the natural environment, exactly what a mid-range Tanzania safari camp should feel like.
Dining and Bar
The camp’s restaurant serves a daily menu of both international continental cuisine and traditional Tanzanian local dishes, prepared by a trained kitchen team using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast is substantial and well-timed for early game drive departures, with picnic lunches prepared for guests spending full days in the national parks. Dinner is a relaxed, sociable occasion served by welcoming and attentive staff.
The well-stocked bar and shared lounge offer a full selection of local cocktails, wines, spirits, international beers, and non-alcoholic refreshments. Sundowner drinks on the veranda overlooking the surrounding Rift Valley landscape close each safari day with a simplicity and beauty that require no further embellishment.
Services and Facilities
Haven Nature Safari Camp and Lodge provides a comprehensive range of practical services ensuring every aspect of a Tanzania safari stay runs smoothly and comfortably:
- WiFi: hotspot internet connectivity available in the main area for staying connected with family and colleagues
- Laundry and housekeeping: full laundry, ironing, and daily tent housekeeping services
- Airport and airstrip transfers: Lake Manyara airstrip pickups and drop-offs arranged for all guests
- Free parking: ample secure vehicle parking for self-drive and guided safari arrivals
Safari Activities at Haven Nature Safari Camp
The activity programme available from Haven Nature Safari Camp covers the full range of northern Tanzania safari experiences:
- Lake Manyara National Park game drives: wildlife viewing across the park’s groundwater forest, open floodplain, and soda lake zones, targeting tree-climbing lions, elephant herds, hippo pools, buffalo, zebra, impala, giraffes, warthogs, baboons, and flamingo concentrations along the lake shore
- Boat cruise on Lake Manyara: relaxed water-based wildlife and birding experience on the lake’s shallow alkaline waters
- Birdwatching: over 350 recorded species in and around the camp and park, including Eurasian migratory species, Acacia-associated birds, raptors, and three endangered Tanzanian endemics, including the Black-collared Lovebird and Ashy Starling
- Mto wa Mbu village cultural visits: guided walks through the local community exploring the remarkable cultural diversity of one of Tanzania’s most ethnically varied market towns
- Nature walks: guided walks through the camp’s woodland surroundings and Mto wa Mbu landscape
- Hot air balloon safaris: sunrise balloon flights over the Rift Valley and Lake Manyara landscape
- Football: recreational facilities available for guests
About Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park covers 352 square kilometres of northern Tanzania, of which 230 square kilometres is the surface of the alkaline lake itself. Situated between the lake and the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park supports remarkable habitat diversity from dense groundwater forest at the escarpment base through open acacia woodland, seasonal floodplain, and the alkaline lake margin, creating an extraordinary variety of Tanzania wildlife safari experiences within a compact and easily navigable protected area.
The park’s wildlife community includes elephants, buffalo, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, impalas, antelopes, warthogs, monkeys, baboons, hyenas, and the park’s most famous residents, the tree-climbing lions, whose unusual habit of resting in mahogany and fig trees remains one of Tanzania’s most sought-after and distinctive Big Five safari sightings. Lake Manyara is equally celebrated for its flamingo concentrations along the soda lake shore and its extraordinary bird diversity of over 350 recorded species. The park integrates naturally into Tanzania safari itineraries, combining Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, two of East Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations, within a single northern Tanzania circuit that Haven Nature Safari Camp is perfectly positioned to serve.
