Asilia vs Nomad Tanzania 2026: Where Each Has Camps, What Each Costs and Who Each Suits
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 20 October 2026
Asilia Africa is best for a safari across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda; Nomad Tanzania is best for remote western Tanzania, where it runs Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale and Asilia has no camp. Entry prices are close: Asilia publishes rates from USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026) against USD 667 to 855 at Nomad when read on 24 September 2026. Nomad's camps hold 4.9 to 5.0 on Tripadvisor (read 24 September 2026). This page replaces the illustrative bars and unsourced prices it carried in July 2026.
Best for, by trip
- Kenya or Uganda as well as Tanzania: Asilia. It lists camps in all three countries; Nomad runs camps in Tanzania only.
- Katavi and the Mahale Mountains: Nomad Tanzania. It runs Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale; Asilia has no camp in either park.
- Chimpanzee trekking: Nomad Tanzania. Greystoke Mahale is its chimpanzee-trekking camp; Asilia's Rubondo Island offers habituation.
- Seeing a price before you enquire: Asilia. It publishes rates for its camps, from USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026); Nomad's site showed rates only for its Charlie walking camps, USD 855 to 1,540 a night, when read on 24 September 2026.
- Dedicated walking camps: Nomad Tanzania. Its four Charlie expeditionary camps (Ruaha, Ugalla, Sanjan and Southwest Serengeti) are walking camps. Asilia offers walking safaris at nine of its camps.
Neither Asilia nor Nomad Tanzania is bookable through this site. Each best-for line names the fact it rests on.
On this page
Is Asilia better than Nomad Tanzania?
Neither is better for every trip. Asilia Africa is best for a safari that adds Kenya or Uganda: it runs camps in three countries and publishes rates for its camps, from USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026). Nomad Tanzania is best for remote western Tanzania, where it runs Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale and Asilia has no camp.
The two run camps in many of the same Tanzanian parks and they are built differently. Asilia Africa was formed in Arusha in 2004 and spread across East Africa: the Serengeti and the southern parks in Tanzania, then the Maasai Mara conservancies and Ol Pejeta in Kenya. It has since added Bwindi in Uganda. Nomad Tanzania stayed in one country and went deeper into it, with camps in Katavi and the Mahale Mountains that take a charter flight to reach.
That difference decides which suits a trip. Asilia suits a traveller who wants Kenya or Uganda on the same booking, or a published rate before enquiring. Nomad sells one country. When its site was read on 24 September 2026, it priced only its Charlie walking camps.
Asilia and Nomad Tanzania at a glance
| Fact | Asilia Africa | Nomad Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004, Arusha; heritage from Rekero (1986) and Oliver's Camp (1992) | 1990s, Arusha, by independent accounts; the pages read give no year |
| Countries | Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda | Tanzania only |
| Camps | About 20 camps and houses: 21 entries on its camps page on 7 October 2026, with The Retreats and Jabali Private House listed separately | 13 camps and houses in seven parks, plus four Charlie walking camps, on its camps page on 7 October 2026 |
| Tanzania parks | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha, Nyerere, Rubondo Island | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha, Nyerere, Katavi, Mahale Mountains |
| Signature camps | Sayari and Namiri Plains (Serengeti), The Highlands (Ngorongoro), Jabali Ridge (Ruaha) | Lamai (Serengeti), Greystoke Mahale, Chada Katavi, Sand Rivers (Nyerere) |
| Lowest published rate | USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026); Namiri Plains green season USD 780 (read 19 October 2026) | USD 855, Charlie walking camps, on its site when read on 24 September 2026; no other camps priced there |
| Deposit and balance | 20% deposit, balance 60 days before arrival | 20% within 7 days of confirmation, balance 60 days before |
| Ownership | Nawiri Group; B Corp since June 2012, B Impact Score 99.6 | Nomad Tanzania Limited, Arusha; UK holding company Conservation Travel Investments Limited; no owner named on the pages read of its site |
| Recent awards | Travel + Leisure World's Best 2025, safari outfitters: 8th, 98.72 | World Travel Awards 2025: Africa's Leading Safari Lodge (Greystoke), Tanzania's Leading Safari Lodge (Lamai), Tanzania's Leading Tented Safari Camp (Kuro) |
Which is cheaper, Asilia or Nomad Tanzania?
Their entry prices are close. Asilia's lowest published rate is USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026); its Namiri Plains green-season rate is USD 780 (read 19 October 2026). When read on 24 September 2026, Nomad's own site priced only its Charlie walking camps, at USD 855 to 1,540; Go2Africa listed Nomad's permanent camps from USD 667 at Mkombe's House to USD 2,365 at Lamai and Greystoke when read on 24 September 2026. The July 2026 version gave Asilia from USD 500 and Nomad from USD 700 without a source; Asilia's USD 500 is now sourced to its own rates pages (19 October 2026) and the Nomad figure stays withdrawn.
| Camp | Company | Park | USD per person sharing, per night | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namiri Plains | Asilia | Eastern Serengeti | 740 (green season, April and May 2026) | Asilia rate, on the price comparison, 21 Sep 2026 |
| Namiri Plains | Asilia | Eastern Serengeti | 780 to 2,320 | Go2Africa camp page, 7 Oct 2026 |
| Charlie walking camps | Nomad | Ruaha, Ugalla, Serengeti | 855 to 1,540 | Nomad's own page, 24 Sep 2026 |
| Mkombe's House Lamai | Nomad | Northern Serengeti | 667 to 1,333 | Go2Africa, 24 Sep 2026 |
| Kigelia | Nomad | Ruaha | 815 to 875 | Go2Africa, 24 Sep 2026 |
| Lamai Serengeti | Nomad | Northern Serengeti | 990 to 2,365 | Go2Africa, 24 Sep 2026 |
| Greystoke Mahale | Nomad | Mahale Mountains | 1,125 to 2,365 | Go2Africa, 24 Sep 2026 |
Two things move the real total more than the nightly rate. Nomad's western camps need charter flights, which its record shows it discounts by half on longer stays. And both companies sell mostly through specialists, so the quote you receive will bundle flights and park fees. The Tanzania safari cost guide shows how the whole trip adds up. The safari deposits and payment terms page covers what to ask before paying.
Where does each company have camps?
Both run camps in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere. Only Nomad is in Katavi and the Mahale Mountains; only Asilia is on Rubondo Island, in Kenya and in Uganda.
For the migration the two are neighbours. Asilia has Sayari in the northern Serengeti for the Mara River crossings from about July to October. It moves Olakira and Ubuntu between the north and Ndutu. Nomad has Lamai in the north and the mobile Serengeti Safari Camp; its site describes Kusini, in the south, as new in 2026. The migration month by month page shows where the herds are in each season.
The difference is at the edges. Nomad's Chada camp is in Katavi and Greystoke is on Lake Tanganyika below the Mahale Mountains, the base for chimpanzee trekking. Asilia's reach goes the other way: north into Kenya with Rekero, Naboisho, Encounter Mara and Ol Pejeta Bush Camp. It also reaches Bwindi in Uganda. The Tanzania luxury safari guide sets the parks side by side.
Which has the better reviews and awards?
Nomad's camps hold high Tripadvisor ratings: Lamai holds 5.0 from 559 reviews, Sand Rivers 4.9 from 372 and Greystoke 4.9 from 205, read on 24 September 2026. Asilia as a company holds 4.0 on Google from 180 reviews (read 20 October 2026) and 4.3 on Trustpilot from 24 (read 19 October 2026). Those are company profiles, not camp pages, so the two records are not compared directly.
On awards the two are recognised by different bodies. Nomad's camps won three titles at the 2025 World Travel Awards. Asilia placed eighth among safari outfitters in Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best reader survey, with a score of 98.72. A reader survey and an industry vote measure different things; the award and credentials page sets out what each one measures.
Pick by what matters to you
| Your priority | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first safari in East Africa | Asilia | Tanzania and Kenya on one booking, with published rates to budget against and camps on the main northern circuit. |
| The Mara River crossings, July to October | Either | Asilia's Sayari and Nomad's Lamai both sit in the northern Serengeti. Lamai holds 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 559 reviews. |
| Following the herds all year | Either | Asilia moves Olakira and Ubuntu; Nomad moves Serengeti Safari Camp four or five times a year. |
| Chimpanzees | Nomad | Greystoke Mahale is a dedicated chimpanzee-trekking camp. Asilia's Rubondo Island offers habituation, not the same certainty. |
| The emptiest parks | Nomad | Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale are in western Tanzania, where Asilia has no camp. |
| Kenya as well as Tanzania | Asilia | Rekero, Naboisho, Encounter Mara and Ol Pejeta Bush Camp. Nomad does not operate in Kenya. |
| Knowing the price before you enquire | Asilia | It publishes rates for its camps, from USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026); Nomad's site showed rates only for its Charlie walking camps when read on 24 September 2026. |
| Dedicated walking camps | Nomad | Nomad's four Charlie camps are walking camps; its site showed them at USD 855 to 1,540 a night when read on 24 September 2026. |
What are the best alternatives to Asilia in 2026?
Camp owners with camps in the same parks as Asilia, listed alphabetically, are andBeyond, Elewana Collection, Great Plains Conservation in Kenya, Nomad Tanzania and Singita in the western Serengeti. Nomad overlaps in Tanzania; andBeyond and Great Plains overlap in the Mara.
| Alternative | Where it overlaps with Asilia |
|---|---|
| andBeyond | Serengeti, Ngorongoro and the Maasai Mara, at higher rates. |
| Elewana Collection | Camps and lodges in northern Tanzania and Kenya. |
| Great Plains Conservation | Private conservancies beside the Maasai Mara in Kenya. |
| Nomad Tanzania | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere; adds Katavi and Mahale. |
| Singita | The Grumeti concession in the western Serengeti, at the top of the market. |
What are the best alternatives to Nomad Tanzania in 2026?
Camp owners with camps in the same parks as Nomad Tanzania, listed alphabetically, are andBeyond, at higher prices in the Serengeti; Asilia Africa, with camps in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere; Elewana Collection, in northern Tanzania; and Singita, at higher prices in the western Serengeti. None of them has a camp in Katavi or Mahale.
| Alternative | Where it overlaps with Nomad |
|---|---|
| andBeyond | Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater rim. |
| Asilia Africa | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere; adds Kenya and Uganda. |
| Elewana Collection | Northern Tanzania, including Tarangire and the Serengeti. |
| Singita | The western Serengeti, at higher rates. |
Straight answers to the questions readers ask
Is Asilia better than Nomad Tanzania?
Neither is better for every trip. Asilia Africa is best for a safari that adds Kenya or Uganda: it runs camps in three countries and publishes rates for its camps, from USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026). Nomad Tanzania is best for remote western Tanzania, where it runs Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale and Asilia has no camp.
Which is cheaper, Asilia or Nomad Tanzania?
Their entry prices are close. Asilia's lowest published rate is USD 500 a person a night (Encounter Mara and Emboo, green season 2027, read on 19 October 2026); its Namiri Plains green-season rate is USD 780 (read 19 October 2026). When read on 24 September 2026, Nomad's own site priced only its Charlie walking camps, at USD 855 to 1,540; Go2Africa listed Nomad's permanent camps from USD 667 at Mkombe's House to USD 2,365 at Lamai and Greystoke when read on 24 September 2026.
What are the best alternatives to Asilia in 2026?
Camp owners with camps in the same parks as Asilia, listed alphabetically, are andBeyond, Elewana Collection, Great Plains Conservation in Kenya, Nomad Tanzania and Singita in the western Serengeti. Nomad overlaps in Tanzania; andBeyond and Great Plains overlap in the Mara.
What are the best alternatives to Nomad Tanzania in 2026?
Camp owners with camps in the same parks as Nomad Tanzania, listed alphabetically, are andBeyond, at higher prices in the Serengeti; Asilia Africa, with camps in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere; Elewana Collection, in northern Tanzania; and Singita, at higher prices in the western Serengeti. None of them has a camp in Katavi or Mahale.
Which is better for the Great Migration?
Both are well placed. Asilia has Sayari in the northern Serengeti and the mobile Olakira and Ubuntu camps, which move between the north and Ndutu. Nomad has Lamai in the north and the mobile Serengeti Safari Camp; its site lists Kusini, in the south, as new in 2026.
Which is better for chimpanzee trekking?
Nomad Tanzania. Greystoke Mahale, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, is its chimpanzee-trekking camp and won Africa's Leading Safari Lodge at the 2025 World Travel Awards. Asilia's Rubondo Island Camp on Lake Victoria offers chimpanzee habituation, a different and less certain experience.
Does Asilia or Nomad operate outside Tanzania?
Asilia does. It lists camps in Kenya, in the Maasai Mara, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy and Ol Pejeta. It lists one in Uganda, at Bwindi. Nomad Tanzania runs camps in Tanzania only and suggests Zanzibar as an add-on it does not run.
Who owns Asilia and Nomad Tanzania?
Asilia Africa is part of Nawiri Group, a B Corp certified since June 2012. Nomad Tanzania Limited is registered in Arusha; UK company records show a holding company, Conservation Travel Investments Limited. PitchBook lists the investor Blink. The pages read of Nomad's own site name no owner.
The two companies are the ones this page's question names; the alternatives are camp owners with camps in the same parks, listed alphabetically. Neither Asilia Africa nor Nomad Tanzania is bookable through this site. Neither had input into this page. Asilia is named first in the title and tables because the question names it first; nothing on this page is ranked. Nobody paid to appear on it. The Go2Africa links are not paid. Sources: each company's own site, the B Lab directory, UK company records (Companies House), PitchBook, Go2Africa, Google, Trustpilot, Tripadvisor, the World Travel Awards, Travel + Leisure and this site's safari operator price comparison, read between 21 September and 19 October 2026.