Asilia vs Nomad Tanzania 2026: Which Safari Camp Company Is Better, and What Each Costs
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 7 October 2026
Asilia Africa is the stronger all-round choice for an East African safari: it scores 72/100 on this site's owner-operator index against Nomad Tanzania's 55, runs camps in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, and publishes rates for some of them. Nomad Tanzania is the better choice for remote western Tanzania, where it runs Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale and Asilia has no camp, and its camps hold 4.9 to 5.0 on Tripadvisor. Entry prices are close: USD 740 a night at Asilia's Namiri Plains against USD 667 to 855 at Nomad. This page replaces the illustrative bars and unsourced prices it carried in July 2026.
| Measure | Asilia | Nomad | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner-operator index, five criteria | 72 | 55 | Asilia's 72 is made up of property quality 19 of 30, conservation 22 of 25, private concession access 13 of 20, country coverage 9 of 15 and pricing transparency 9 of 10. It is 8th of the ten listed. Nomad was assessed at 55, below the listing bar of 65, and the index prints a breakdown only for the operators it lists. Verified 21 September 2026 on the luxury safari operator index. |
| Price transparency | 81 | 15 | Asilia publishes rates for some properties; Nomad publishes nothing for its permanent camps without an enquiry. From the safari operator price comparison. |
| Operator review, six criteria | not yet scored | 57 | Nomad's company record was scored on 24 September 2026. Asilia's review predates that rubric and carries no score. |
Is Asilia better than Nomad Tanzania?
The two are the closest rivals in Tanzania 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, the Maasai Mara conservancies and Ol Pejeta in Kenya, and now 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.
The scores reflect that difference more than they reflect quality on the ground. The index rewards country coverage and published prices, and Nomad sells one country and prices one product. As a place to stay, Nomad's record is as strong as any on this site: its company record gives it full marks for first-hand African expertise.
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; its site gives 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 740 per person per night, Namiri Plains, green season 2026 | USD 855, Charlie walking camps; permanent camps are not priced on its site |
| 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 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) |
| Score on this site | 72/100, owner-operator index, 8th of 10 listed | 55/100 on the same index, not listed; 57/100 on the operator review |
Which is cheaper, Asilia or Nomad Tanzania?
| 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, and safari deposits and payment terms covers what to ask before paying.
Where does each company have camps?
For the migration the two are neighbours. Asilia has Sayari in the northern Serengeti for the Mara River crossings from about July to October, and moves Olakira and Ubuntu between the north and Ndutu. Nomad has Lamai in the north, the mobile Serengeti Safari Camp, and Kusini in the south, which its site describes 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, and to Bwindi in Uganda. The Tanzania luxury safari guide sets the parks side by side.
Which has the better reviews and awards?
On awards the two are recognised by different bodies. Nomad's camps won three titles at the 2025 World Travel Awards, and this site's safari awards winners page names it the most successful company in the 2025 and 2026 Safari 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 index weighs each.
Pick by what matters to you
| Your priority | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first safari in East Africa | Asilia | Tanzania and Kenya on one booking, 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 scores 81 for price transparency on this site's price comparison; Nomad scores 15. |
| Walking safaris | Nomad | The Charlie walking camps in Ruaha, Ugalla and the Serengeti are its one priced product, USD 855 to 1,540 a night. |
What are the best alternatives to Asilia in 2026?
| Alternative | Score | Where it overlaps with Asilia |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad Tanzania | 55 | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere; adds Katavi and Mahale. |
| andBeyond | 79 | Serengeti, Ngorongoro and the Maasai Mara, at higher rates. |
| Singita | 93 | The Grumeti concession in the western Serengeti, at the top of the market. |
| Great Plains Conservation | 80 | Private conservancies beside the Maasai Mara in Kenya. |
| Elewana Collection | 57 | Camps and lodges in northern Tanzania and Kenya. |
What are the best alternatives to Nomad Tanzania in 2026?
| Alternative | Score | Where it overlaps with Nomad |
|---|---|---|
| Asilia Africa | 72 | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere; adds Kenya and Uganda. |
| andBeyond | 79 | Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater rim. |
| Singita | 93 | The western Serengeti, at higher rates. |
| Elewana Collection | 57 | Northern Tanzania, including Tarangire and the Serengeti. |