Can I combine Tanzania with Zanzibar?

Yes. We plan the flights and timing.

Where should I stay for the Great Migration?

It depends on the month. Southern Serengeti and Ndutu in the green season, central and western Serengeti mid-year, and the north from July to October.

Which lodges are on the Ngorongoro Crater rim?

&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Entamanu Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge and Melia Ngorongoro Lodge are on or near the rim.

Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?

Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar's beaches, connected by a short flight.

Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?

Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.

How many national parks does Tanzania have?

Tanzania protects its landscapes across more than twenty national parks, alongside conservation areas and game reserves that together cover roughly a third of the country's total area; one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.

Is climbing Kilimanjaro part of a normal safari?

Kilimanjaro is usually planned as its own multi-day trek (typically 6–9 days depending on route) either before or after a separate safari itinerary, rather than combined into the same days, since it requires its own acclimatisation schedule.

Offmap Safaris

Luxury Accommodation in Tanzania: Best Safari Lodges and Camps in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro

Tanzania has some of the most spectacular luxury safari lodges and camps in Africa. The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and the Great Migration set the scene, and the top properties are built to match, with rim-of-crater suites, hilltop lodges, riverside tented camps and mobile camps that follow the herds. This guide to luxury accommodation in Tanzania explains what luxury means here, which lodges we use by region, how to match camp to month for the migration and how to add Zanzibar.

What luxury means in Tanzania

Luxury in Tanzania covers a wide range, from boutique lodges with a few suites to large, polished lodges with pools and spa facilities, and from fixed tented camps to seasonal mobile camps that move with the herds. Standards of food, service and guiding are high, and flying between airstrips keeps travel time short. In the Serengeti, location matters most, because the herds move through the year, so the right camp for July may be wrong for February.

Luxury lodges in the Serengeti

Singita Sasakwa Lodge and Singita Sabora lead the ultra-luxury end, with Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Meliá Serengeti Safari Lodge, Serengeti Explorer, Cherero Camp, Namiri Plains Camp, Mwiba Lodge, Sayari Camp and Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge covering other regions and styles. Sayari sits near the Mara River in the north, which suits crossings season, while Namiri Plains in the east and Mwiba in the south serve other months. Read our Serengeti guide, Tanzania migration guide and wildebeest page to choose.

Luxury at Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Manyara

On the Ngorongoro Crater rim, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Entamanu Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Melia Ngorongoro Lodge and The Highlands give you views over the crater floor, and Gibb's Farm near Karatu offers a farm setting. Elewana Tarangire Treetops and Little Chem Chem are luxury options near Tarangire and Manyara, famous for elephants and baobabs. Read our Ngorongoro guide, Tarangire guide and Manyara guide.

When to book and which camp when

The migration is in the south around Ndutu from December to March for calving, moves to the central and western Serengeti in the middle of the year, and reaches the north and the Mara River from about July to October. Book nine to twelve months ahead for peak months. Mobile camps and seasonal camps follow the herds, which is why we choose by month rather than by name alone. Ask us about the best option for your dates.

Every traveller to Tanzania does not need the same kind of stay, and many itineraries mix tiers: a budget stay in the park you care most about, then a mid-range option elsewhere. Our Tanzania accommodation guide shows all three side by side, and our team will tell you honestly where spending more changes the experience and where it does not.

A sample luxury route

A nine day route might be: Arusha, Tarangire for one night, Ngorongoro for one night, then three or four nights in two Serengeti camps by flight, with an optional balloon flight. Add Zanzibar for a beach finish. For a bigger trip, add Rwanda or Uganda for gorillas. See our luxury safaris and Tanzania safaris pages.

Zanzibar and the coast

Zanzibar is a natural end to a luxury Tanzania safari, with beach resorts and Stone Town. We plan the flight from the Serengeti or Arusha and the timing of your stay so that the trip flows. Ask about a safari and beach combination.

Luxury with a purpose

Many luxury lodges in Tanzania invest in local schools, anti-poaching, health clinics and community employment. Ask us which camps do the most for communities and conservation, because it varies. We choose partners with a real record, and we tell you what your stay supports.

Balloons, walking and night drives

Activities vary by park. In the Serengeti national park, game drives are on roads and off-road driving is restricted, while in private concessions such as Grumeti and Mwiba you can do walking safaris and night drives. Balloon flights over the central Serengeti are popular for sunrise and a champagne breakfast. Ngorongoro Crater descents are short and timed, so an early start matters. We design the activity mix with your lodge choices.

Photographers will appreciate lodges with private vehicles and flexible schedules, and families should check age rules on activities.

Luxury with Rwanda and Uganda gorillas

Tanzania pairs well with a gorilla trek. Many guests do the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, then fly to Kigali or Entebbe for Rwanda or Uganda, with lodges at a matching level. Our luxury gorilla safaris and gorilla tours pages explain the options. We sequence flights so you do not lose a day.

Choosing between regions

If the migration is your priority, your Serengeti camp choice decides the trip. If you prefer variety, combine Ngorongoro, Tarangire and the Serengeti. If you want solitude, the northern Serengeti and private concessions offer fewer vehicles. If you want a family-friendly stay, Ngorongoro rim lodges and Tarangire are comfortable. We map your wishes to a region and then to a camp.

Booking and payment

We confirm availability first, then send one clear total price. A deposit secures your lodges and flights, and the balance is due before travel. Cancellation terms vary by lodge, with stricter terms in the peak months, so we explain them before you pay. Flights between airstrips have baggage limits, and we send guidance on soft bags.

Families and honeymoons

Luxury Tanzania lodges suit honeymooners with private verandas, bush dinners and balloon flights, and families with connecting rooms and kids programmes at selected lodges. See our honeymoon safaris and family safaris pages.

At a glance

Serengeti camps matched to the herd position
Crater rim suites at Ngorongoro
Tarangire elephants and baobabs
Mobile camps follow the migration
Zanzibar extension available

Keep exploring

Plan a safari around Luxury Accommodation in Tanzania: Best Safari Lodges and Camps in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro

Tell us your dates and what you most want to see, and we’ll time your safari to match it as closely as nature allows. Talk to us, or browse our safari packages to see how a migration-timed itinerary is put together.