Ilmisigiyo Bivouac

taking your safari to another level

Ilmisigiyo Bivouac is located in the Ngorongoro South area of northern Tanzania.

This mobile tented camp is used to position guests for the spectacular day hike up over the last volcano of the Ngorongoro Highlands and down into the plains of the Serengeti.

It is located up in the highlands, in a forested valley, out the back of a large traditional Maasai village.

The bivouac is comprised of simple dome tents with stretcher beds, simple shared camping ablutions, a table and chairs around a campfire.

It is worth noting that this is a private camp experience, the bivouac is driven out here in a separate vehicle, with a crew of 3 or 4 guys, all just for you. Although there may be other groups camped in the same general area.

At night you all share the campfire with the staff, making for a really intimate and personable experience.

The hike

This hike is an incredible cultural experience. You are accompanied by real Maasai warriors, with whom it is a real honour to spend time.

Your walking guides and camp crew come mainly from the villages in this immediate area, this is their home patch. As you pass by herders or through villages, your guides will personally know most of the people you meet and will introduce you as personal friends.

The trail leads up for a couple of hours towards the first summit of the extinct Mount Makarot, from where there are distant views back over the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Eyasi.

From there we enter an atmospheric cloud forest, heavily draped in lichen, eventually emerging onto the grassy main summit of the mountain. Below we can now see the Serengeti Plains disappearing off into the haze.

The next hour or two is spent strolling largely downhill, through beautiful grassy valleys dotted with authentic Maasai villages, where our guide is well known.

Eventually after a total of 6-10 hours walking we emerge onto the Serengeti Plains themselves, perhaps encountering various wildlife, depending on the season. Our guide is then able to radio to our driver-guide for a pick-up.

The Ngorongoro South is very rarely visited, it is highly unlikely that you will see other tourist vehicles in this remote area, just local Maasai people.

The usual stay duration is 1 night, in advance of a hike, but you could stay longer if you want to explore this magical area and interact with the locals.

Seasonality

The only factor which affects seasonality in Ngorongoro South is the weather, since wildlife movements are not particularly relevant and visitor numbers are always low.

The best months to visit are generally considered to be Jun-Oct, although the early part of that season can be very cold at night.

Getting around

All our visitors to the Ngorongoro South area arrive by guided overland safari, so travel around in their private vehicle.

We almost always service any bivouac camps by using a separate vehicle to deliver the staff and equipment to Ilmisigiyo Village. Whilst you are hiking, your guide, vehicle and support vehicle will drive back and around the main safari route to meet with you down in the Olduvai area.

the epic experience of arriving into the Serengeti on foot