East Africa Safari Camps Join Hyatt Points Network

Hyatt East Africa safari camps just became a realistic way for loyalty minded travelers to book safaris on points, as World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem at 15 Asilia Africa properties in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda through Hyatt channels via Mr and Mrs Smith. Announced on December 9, 2025, the move takes safari stays that were usually outside global hotel programs and pulls them inside a familiar system of points, elite benefits, and branded credit card earning. For travelers, it turns a once in a lifetime style trip into something that can be planned around balances, transfer partners, and carefully chosen itineraries.

The change means World of Hyatt members can book a curated set of Asilia camps, then layer points earning, redemptions, and World of Hyatt Credit Card acceleration on top of already expensive safari rates. For some, the appeal is using large points balances on high impact trips instead of city hotels. For others, it is the comfort of booking remote camps through a platform they already know, rather than wiring funds to multiple regional operators.

The core shift is that Hyatt East Africa safari camps are no longer an abstract marketing phrase. They are specific addresses in Serengeti National Park and Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, and selected locations in Uganda, all tied into World of Hyatt. Hyatt's press release confirms 15 Asilia Africa properties are now live on Hyatt channels, framed as "luxury safari escapes" that combine wildlife viewing with community led conservation.

Headline camps include Dunia Camp and Namiri Plains in Serengeti National Park, Jabali Ridge and Usangu Expedition Camp in Ruaha National Park, The Highlands on the slopes of Olmoti Volcano above the Ngorongoro Crater, and Ol Pejeta Bush Camp in Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Together they cover classic savanna big cat territory, more remote southern Tanzania landscapes, and conservancy land where elephants and other wildlife move through community held terrain.

For loyalty strategy, the offer is rich but not cheap. Early checks from independent mileage sites show starting redemption levels above 100,000 World of Hyatt points per night at these camps, with Ol Pejeta Bush Camp pricing from roughly 126,250 points for a tent that can sleep up to three people. That sits far above typical Category 7 or 8 urban hotels but includes significantly more on site value.

Unlike standard hotel redemptions that cover only the room, stays at Asilia camps booked through World of Hyatt generally include accommodation with en suite bathrooms, full board meals, house alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, shared game drives, and transfers between the camp and the nearest bush airstrip. Wi Fi and electricity are available at all camps, though air conditioning is uncommon. Most camps accept children from about five years old, but certain activities have higher minimum ages, which is crucial for multi generational trips.

Background: Asilia's Impact Model

Asilia Africa is not a newcomer that has suddenly attached itself to a global chain. The company has been operating safari camps and lodges since 2004 and now sits inside Nawiri Group, a portfolio that focuses on conservation tourism across East and Southern Africa. It was the first African travel company to achieve B Corp certification in 2012, a status that requires regular recertification and independent checks on social and environmental impact, rather than on marketing alone.

Hyatt's announcement emphasizes that Asilia's impact framework steered more than $11 million in 2024 toward park fees, levies, and community led projects that support governance, education, diversified livelihoods, regenerative agriculture, and land restoration across East Africa. The group's long term involvement in initiatives such as the Naboisho Conservancy, where Maasai landowners lease land for wildlife while retaining rights and income, underpins a model where keeping corridors open and predator densities high is seen as an economic asset, not a liability.

From a traveler's perspective, that means a stay booked with points is not just paying for sundowners and game vehicles. It is also pushing funds into conservancies, schools, and local governance structures that attempt to make coexisting with lions, elephants, and other wildlife financially viable for nearby communities. For travelers who care about measurable impact, the combination of independent B Corp verification and disclosed impact totals goes further than generic "eco friendly" labels.

How Booking And Logistics Work

Hyatt is positioning these Asilia stays as fully supported journeys rather than plug and play hotel nights. Members can design multi camp itineraries that move between Serengeti, Ruaha, Ngorongoro, and Kenyan conservancies, with Asilia's travel coordinators handling bush flights, overland transfers, and timing between camps. The press release notes that once a booking is confirmed through Hyatt, Asilia's team contacts guests within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, to refine details and align expectations.

Because most travelers will first fly into hubs such as Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, or Entebbe, then connect to smaller aircraft, buffer is critical. Separate tickets between intercontinental flights and regional bush flights greatly increase misconnect risk if a long haul is delayed or diverted. Travelers using these new redemptions should plan at least one night in a gateway city on arrival, budget for travel insurance that covers missed connections, and keep itineraries flexible on the final day to allow for weather and operational delays.

World of Hyatt members paying cash can layer in card based earning, with Hyatt and Chase promising up to 9 points per dollar on eligible on property spend when using the World of Hyatt Credit Card, four bonus points from the card plus up to five base points from World of Hyatt. Transfer options from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards further expand how members can top off balances before committing to a high cost safari redemption.

Planning An Itinerary Around The New Camps

The practical challenge is not whether these camps are attractive, but how to structure a trip that makes sense for budget, wildlife goals, and time. Dunia Camp and Namiri Plains inside the Serengeti are well placed for big cat viewing and, at certain times of year, segments of the Great Migration. Jabali Ridge and Usangu Expedition Camp in Ruaha appeal to travelers who want a wilder, less crowded experience in a park known for elephants, lions, and varied landscapes. The Highlands speaks to travelers who like a mix of volcanic hiking, cultural visits, and classic game viewing in and around the Ngorongoro Crater.

Ol Pejeta Bush Camp in Kenya adds a conservancy base where elephants, rhinos, and views of Mount Kenya frame the stay, and where a mix of conservation projects and community partnerships are part of the narrative. Uganda, a new destination in the Mr and Mrs Smith portfolio, extends the reach of World of Hyatt into another East African country that already features prominently in gorilla tracking and primate focused itineraries.

Because these are high demand, low density camps, peak season dates around school holidays and the driest months will sell out fastest for both cash and points bookings. Travelers with flexible calendars can often find more space in shoulder periods, when wildlife viewing is still strong but rain risk slightly higher. Aligning camps with the East Africa Tourist Visa or overlapping national entry rules can also cut friction, especially for itineraries that cross Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.

What Travelers Should Do Next

For World of Hyatt members, the first decision is whether to treat these stays as aspirational redemptions or as cash bookings that happen to earn strong points. Given the six figure nightly rates in points and the fully inclusive nature of many fares, both approaches can make sense depending on a member's balance, valuation of Hyatt points, and other goals such as Category 1 to 4 free night usage elsewhere.

Beyond that, travelers should shortlist a small number of camps that match their style, run quick cash versus points comparisons for target dates, and then build air, visa, vaccination, and insurance plans around a confirmed itinerary rather than the other way around. For those new to East Africa or to safaris in general, pairing these Hyatt linked stays with a regional specialist travel advisor or tour operator can help align expectations and avoid common first timer mistakes.

Sources

• Where Adventure Earns Rewards: World of Hyatt Members Can Now Book Authentic Luxury Safaris with Asilia Africa
• World of Hyatt Members Can Now Earn and Redeem Points at 15 African Safari Camps
• Hyatt Adds 15 East Africa Safari Camps Through Mr and Mrs Smith
• World of Hyatt Adds Asilia Africa Safaris To Loyalty Portfolio
• Asilia Africa Is B Corp Certified
• What It Means To Be B Corp, Nawiri Group
• Asilia Africa Company Overview
• Visa Requirements for U.S. Travelers, East Africa Tourist Visa