Isoitok Camp Manyara
The camp is set in a rich rugged savannah with an altitude of 1075 meters above sea level overlooking The Great Rift Valley. It backs onto the Losimingori mountain range that acts as a natural wildlife corridor from the Ngorongoro highlands to Manyara Conservancy and into Tarangire National Park.
Isoitok Camp Manyara offers more than a place to lay your head after a day of safari and wildlife viewing. We do urge you to slow down to fully appreciate the essence and importance of time relaxing and soaking in the African bush with a few nights under canvas with us at Isoitok Camp Manyara.
Time is on your side to forget work and recharge your internal batteries so you can actually leave Tanzania not needing another holiday once you get home.
A grassroots experience since 2007
The story of Isoitok Camp Manyara started back in 2007. After a few name changes and a dramatic makeover that began early in 2012, our beautiful intimate tented camp was re-born.
For those heading out on wildlife safaris of Tanzania’s National Parks, the camp allows time to enjoy and experience nature at its purest, opening the door to Maasai culture unplugged. Our central location offers excellent access to three prime wildlife areas – Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro Crater.
We do not offer 5-star services or an infinity swimming pool for a reason!!
Isoitok’s‘ sustainable concept, was created in tune, respect, and consideration for our surrounding environment and Maasai neighbors. We are completely off-grid, using solar and rain harvesting systems. We try to recycle everything to lighten our impact on mother nature – encouraging and educating our guests to do the same.
Our reputation as an award-winning safari accommodation has grown through our personal service and creative flair from our kitchens, delivering an exciting fusion of Swahili international cuisine. Our subtle approach to working closely with our Maasai neighbors enables our guests to experience grassroots culture offering the real story of Maasai traditions and beliefs. Cultural preservation and community development go hand in hand with our business ethics.
We sincerely hope you enjoy a good night’s sleep with some fine dining and stories told around dancing campfires. The bush orchestra is always present and occasionally accompanied by the soulful call of hyenas, laughing Jackals or distant Maasai song the experience is mesmerizing.
Families and slow-paced safaris
Isoitok Camp Manyara is your home away from home being only 1.5 hours from the hustle and bustle of Arusha. It allows you to unpack those bags and simply flop back into a safari chair and breathe in the impressive views of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara.
Experience has proven that this works well with families with young children. The camp acts as a suitable, safe base to conduct day trips or the best weekend getaway from Arusha with great wildlife and active safaris close by.
The Isoitok Team
Isoitok Camp Manyara and the owners are not new to Tanzania or tourism. Chris Pilley and Ingrid Vaes have witnessed 20+years of positive growth in-country as the tourism industry developed and matured. This allowed time to implement and introduce their own sustainable, responsible ideas to their Maasai neighbors and the Isoitok team that now impeccably runs the day-to-day operations in camp.
Chris Pilley
Company and creative Director
Chris has been playing with timber since the young age of 13 years old. He got involved in the trade of an antique restorer during his summer holidays in Jersey Channel Islands, his birthplace. Over the years, adding to his skills list furniture design, joinery, cabinet making, and shop fitting.
Before arriving in Tanzania, Chris lived a life of adventure travel for many years, using his trade to fund his globetrotting hunger and naturally gaining life skills along the way. His eye for detail and flair to work with natural materials are clear throughout Isoitok Camp Manyara’s authentic design. Tents, furniture are designed and built by Chris and his small, dedicated team bringing his crazy sketches to life.
Chris often visits and hosts the camp. He is a keen birder and organizes private birding safaris and walks. He is also the main driving force behind Isoitok’s responsible tourism goals and continues to develop community and environmental projects. His knowledge of Maasai culture, beliefs, and traditions was a natural education after 15 years of living and working with the Maasai community of Esilalei.
Hubert Palangyo
General Camp Manager
Hubert – aka Palangyo, is a key player in Isoitok’s smooth operation in day-to-day planning. Often seen in the shadows, but rest assured he has all fingers and thumbs on every detail. A natural when it comes to team building, organization, and motivation.
He has a sharp sense of humor, loves music and football, and is not afraid to try his hand at new challenges and skill sets. Hubert has been working in tourism for over ten years. He is originally from Meru and is married with three children.
Joseph Nyaki
Food & Beverage Manager
Ingrid Vaes
Company Director
Ingrid, originally from the south of Holland, would never imagine in her wildest dreams that she would leave her creative florist days behind to find herself living and running a healthy, growing, tented safari camp in Tanzania.
No partnership is complete without the support and organization from the office team that Ingrid heads and manages flawlessly. Ingrid’s skills in communication, logistics, and execution are supreme, which are crucial links and key elements to a successful running safari camp.
Her grasp of the Swahili language is outstanding that goes a long way when explaining responsible tourism concepts and community development ideas back to the local community.
Ingrid, although not so present in the camp, has her finger on the pulse in ensuring that a stay at Isoitok Camp Manyara will be one that you wished you had allowed longer for.
Interested in staying at our camp?
Please send us an email by clicking below so we can contact you with our offer for your stay in Balance with Nature…
