Nimali's tented suites connect you to the landscapes of Tanzania

There’s a reason we build with canvas. Not for nostalgia. Not for effect. But because, when paired with purposeful architecture and understated design, it brings a level of intimacy that no concrete structure ever can. At Nimali, our lodges are contemporary in form - with structured roofs, expansive glass windows, and sweeping decks - but the soul is still safari. And canvas, flowing along the edges and forming soft walls, is part of what keeps that soul alive.

These are not camps in the traditional sense. They’re lodges - architectural, curated, quietly confident. But they remain rooted in the ethos of classic safari: open to the landscape, immersed in the rhythm of the wild, and built to draw you closer rather than wall you off. With their layered textures and canvas-clad walls, our tented suites let the bush speak, softly and constantly, even as you rest in comfort.

At Nimali Tarangire, set on a private concession adjacent to Tarangire National Park, the tented suites overlook a dry riverbed and blend traditional canvas with contemporary architectural elements. Here, the canvas walls are integrated with structured roofs and netted windows that frame views of baobab-studded plains.

The canvas acts as a breathable, tactile skin that moves gently with the breeze, allowing sounds from the wilderness - the low rumble of elephants, birdsong, the rustle of acacia leaves - to drift into your personal sanctuary. This interaction between canvas and the surrounding environment ensures guests are cocooned in comfort while feeling deeply connected to the wild outside.

Further west, Nimali Serengeti elevates this design philosophy across the endless plains of the central Serengeti. The tented suites’ structured roofs soar high, combining glass walls with canvas panels that filter warm sunlight and facilitate airflow. This architectural layering creates intimate, light-filled spaces that invite the vast migration landscape inside, while the canvas walls provide soft, natural textures that maintain a sense of enclosure without obstructing views.

The lodge’s location allows guests to immerse fully in the Serengeti’s seasonal rhythms, the canvas subtly attuned to the breeze and changing light throughout the day.

Located further north in the Serengeti, close to the Mara River, Nimali Mara showcases how canvas and architectural innovation create an exceptional safari experience.

The tented suites feature expansive glass facades that provide uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscapes, while the canvas walls soften the spaces and bring a warm, tactile quality. The structured roofs provide shade and shelter, balancing the openness with protection from the equatorial sun.

The soundscape of birdsong, insects and distant wildlife filters through the canvas, keeping guests in constant dialogue with the raw energy of the place itself. The lodge is built around rocks, which feature heavily in the design, retaining a thoroughly natural feel.

From the moment you arrive at any Nimali lodge, the design sets the tone. Natural materials, warm tones, and a seamless flow between inside and out feel effortless. The structure is deliberate but never overworked. There are no gimmicks here - just thoughtful details and an unmistakable sense of place. Your suite doesn’t isolate you from the environment; it places you gently within it.

Wake to birdsong and soft light filtering through canvas. Watch elephants move silently across the plains from the comfort of your bed. Feel the breeze drift through as you soak in a luxurious bathtub or read quietly on your private deck. This is what canvas offers: not just shelter, but connection. Not just beauty, but presence.

And make no mistake - this is luxury. But it’s a quiet, unpretentious kind. Whether it’s the intimate, baobab-framed vista at Nimali Tarangire, the expansive Serengeti plains embraced by Nimali Serengeti, or the dramatic landscapes around Nimali Mara, the tented suites are designed with privacy and perspective in mind.

Interiors are spacious and serene, with rainfall showers, plush bedding, and handcrafted furnishings that elevate comfort without stealing the spotlight from what lies beyond the canvas walls.

What you don’t get here is noise. Or clutter. Or anything that pulls you out of the experience. Nimali’s lodges are about restoration - not just of the body, but of the senses. With every layer of concrete stripped away, there’s space to notice again. To hear again. To feel the shift in temperature before a storm, or the silence that precedes a lion’s call.

At Nimali, you have the space to be still. To sit with a gin and tonic and watch the sun go down behind the trees or across the endless horizon. To return from a game drive and find your suite turned down, a lantern lit, and the canvas walls glowing gold in the twilight.

This is the true luxury of the classic tented lodge. It’s not retro. It’s not staged. It’s simply a way of living in tune with the land - with comfort, with elegance, but always with reverence for what’s outside. Canvas reminds us to listen. Glass reminds us to look. And Nimali reminds us that safari, at its best, should never feel like a separation from nature - but a return to it.