Tanzania’s safari accommodation stretches from the short-grass plains of the Serengeti to the crater floor of Ngorongoro and the baobab-studded landscape of Tarangire, with Zanzibar’s beach lodges often added on as a coastal extension after the safari circuit. The sheer size of the Serengeti means camps and lodges are spread across several distinct areas, each timed to a different stage of the wildebeest migration.
Budget accommodation
Public campsites inside Serengeti, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara national parks, along with budget guesthouses in gateway towns such as Karatu near Ngorongoro, give budget travellers an affordable way to cover Tanzania’s northern circuit.
Mid-range accommodation
The Serena and Sopa lodge groups both operate well-located mid-range properties across the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara, offering full-board comfort with dependable access to each park’s key wildlife areas.
Luxury accommodation
Tanzania’s luxury tier includes Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Singita Grumeti’s camps in the western Serengeti, &Beyond’s Kleins Camp, and Ngorongoro Crater Lodge perched on the crater rim. In Ruaha and the southern circuit, Jongomero and Kigelia Ruaha offer a quieter, less-visited luxury alternative to the northern parks.
Choosing where to stay
- The Serengeti’s migration moves seasonally, so where you stay should follow the herds: the southern plains from roughly December to March, the western corridor around May and June, and the northern Serengeti and Mara River from around July to October.
- Ngorongoro Crater lodges sit on the crater rim, with a steep descent each morning to the crater floor for game viewing.
- See our National Parks of Tanzania guide for how the northern and southern circuits compare.
Plan where you’ll stay in Tanzania
Our safari planners match accommodation to your budget, travel style, and the parks on your route. Get in touch to build a stay-by-stay plan, or browse our safari packages for itineraries with accommodation already included.
