Marriott is undergoing quite the expansion when it comes to safari camps. In late April 2025, the company announced the details of its newest planned safari camp. There’s now an update, as the property is bookable, so we have a lot more details.
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Mapito Safari Camp, Tanzania, opens September 2025
Mapito Safari Camp, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, is accepting reservations for stays as of September 15, 2025. This will be the first Autograph Collection safari camp globally, and it’ll be located in Tanzania’s Serengeti wilderness, near the Fort Ikoma gate of Serengeti National Park. The camp lies on the Great Migration route, so May to July is the ideal time to visit.
Mapito Safari Camp will offer 15 tented suites, including a two-bedroom villa. Each suite will feature an outdoor deck, fire pit, and retractable roof for open-air stargazing, a first for the region. The camp will also have a spa, fitness center, swimming pool, and multiple dining options. The design is described as drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape and local Ikoma culture.
Mapito Safari Camp rates & points requirements
With Mapito Safari Camp now being bookable, what are rates and points requirements like? The property markets itself as offering an all-inclusive safari experience, so I’d assume that means that meals, drinks, and game drives, are all included. There could still be some fees, plus premium drinks, spa treatments, etc., are probably also going to be at an additional cost.
For those looking to pay cash, the rate varies based on whether you’re booking single or double occupancy. Single occupancy rates start at $800-1,200 per night, while double occupancy rates start at $1,400-2,000 per night.
For those looking to redeem Marriott points, rates are the same whether booking single or double occupancy (so obviously double occupancy is a much better deal on points). I see rates starting at 145,600 points per night, and if you stay five nights, you get a fifth night free, bringing the lowest average nightly cost down to 116,480 points. That’s a pretty solid deal, given the cash rates.
This safari camp sounds great!
Of course we only have a limited number of renderings so far, but this property sounds pretty promising, and is a nice addition to the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio.
In 2023, we saw the opening of the JW Marriott Masai Mara, which was the first of its kind property for Marriott. There are now two more Marriott properties coming to Masai Mara, with a Ritz-Carlton expected to open in the coming weeks, and a second JW Marriott expected to open in 2026.
I’ve gotta say, the Autograph Collection branding of this property makes a lot more sense to me than the JW Marriott branding that Marriott is using for two of the other camps, given what most of us typically associate with JW Marriott (large conference hotels).
Bottom line
Mapito Safari Camp is expected to open as of September 15, 2025, as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The 15-tent property will be located in Tanzania’s Serengeti. Rooms are now on sale, and pricing is roughly what you’d expect. If redeeming Bonvoy points, a stay here could represent a really good deal.
What do you make of the plans for this new Autograph Collection property?
Imagine being trapped here with loud Americans who paid for the trip with the points the got for buying toilet paper at Costco.
Tip for everyone: do not go to anywhere Americans can redeem their points. Also, make a business ripping them off. They're beyond stupid.
Israel is opening a similar concept property too.
They're opening a dozen of Camp Refoogee.
I don't understand their strategy. There are many countries and areas of the continent as well as other continents offering various safaris. They already have one property near there. They should branch out to other places. What will happen is that then the experience will be gone because it will become full of Marriotts and other brands.
Serengeti has been subjected to over tourism. Parts feel more like a zoo. Than a national park in Africa. Sad story.
Will there be air conditioning in the rooms?
Nice! This is right up my alley.
Planning a trip to see the Great Migration (my ultimate lifelong dream trip) and looking between the Four Seasons Serengeti, the "&Beyond" properties, and now this.
If anyone's stayed in the first two and have any tips/advice/suggestions, I'm all ears BTW. :)
My advice would be pick a smaller lodge. Four Seasons was nice but it's busy and seems like a corporate away week for a lot of the guests.
Looks like the basic rooms available for points bookings do not include meals, game drives, etc. Price appears much higher for "all inclusive" bookings.
All the points bookings I see have all inclusive Safari experience
I keep seeing you write this "given what most of us typically associate with JW Marriott (large conference hotels)" and I think you couldn't be more wrong about JW Marriott.
I'd say that the most well known JW Marriotts are probably their resorts.
Yeah, I don't understand why he keeps pushing this conference hotel message. The official JW Marriott description is "a haven designed to let guests focus on feeling whole – present in mind, nourished in body, and revitalized in spirit. " If anything, the conference hotels are the outliers, not the resorts.
Luxury Collection or Ritz Reserve would have seemed like good flags for some of these properties