The Serengeti’s Got A New Wild Child

06 Nov 2026

Luxury tents, lions for neighbours and a very good reason to set your alarm for sunrise.

There’s camping, there’s glamping, and then there’s waking up on the Serengeti with 55 acres of African wilderness outside your bedroom and a perfectly good excuse to stay in bed watching it.

Mereshi Safari Camp, the latest addition to Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is preparing to open its canvas doors this month (November 2026), bringing a rather swanky new address to Tanzania’s famous safari country.

Luxury canvas safari tent at Mereshi Safari Camp in the Serengeti, with a private wooden deck, outdoor dining area and views of wildlife roaming the plains.
Aerial view of Mereshi Safari Camp in Tanzania's Serengeti, showing luxury safari tents, swimming pools and the vast golden savannah at sunset.

Located near the Fort Ikoma Gate, the camp features just 18 elevated tented suites scattered across the savannah. Each clocks in at a generous 95 square metres, with almost half that space dedicated to outdoor living.

Private timber decks face east for prime sunrise viewing, while inside, dark greenwood furnishings, woven details and Tanzanian textiles give the whole place a distinctly local flavour.

And there’s plenty to get out of bed for. Game drives put you in the territory of some of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife, while afternoons are reserved for sundowners, and evenings for Tanzanian music, fireside storytelling and a healthy appreciation of the night sky. There’s also a pool, spa and two dining spots for anyone whose idea of roughing it involves a cocktail menu.

But Mereshi has something more interesting going on beneath all that safari chic.

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Outdoor swimming pool at Mereshi Safari Camp in the Serengeti, surrounded by sun loungers and umbrellas, with wildebeest grazing across the plains.

Around 95 per cent of the camp’s materials, furnishings and equipment were sourced and produced in Tanzania, with more than 150 locals involved in construction. Once operational, it’s expected to create approximately 100 permanent jobs, over 90 per cent of them for Tanzanians. A hospitality mentorship programme will also give young women opportunities to train and build careers in tourism.

So yes, the wildlife is the headline act. But it’s nice knowing the people behind the scenes are getting their share of the spotlight, too.


Because waking up to the Serengeti beats waking up to your neighbour’s leaf blower. Every single time.

Safari chic with a Tanzanian soul.

One of 18 seriously swanky tented suites, complete with an outdoor shower, private timber deck and a sunrise worth sacrificing your sleep-in for.

Heading out on a game drive in the Serengeti, where the wildlife has absolutely no interest in your carefully planned itinerary.

Sundowners overlooking the savannah, followed by a fireside feast beneath the stars.

Get up before the sun for an early game drive, then return to camp for a leisurely breakfast.

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