The 7 Best Safari Lodges in Tanzania
A tented suite at Fort Ikoma Gate, a mobile camp that follows the herds or a manor house on a coffee estate: among the safari lodges in Tanzania, our travel advisors will personally help you find the place that fits your route and travel dates. Anyone booking through suitespot also receives breakfast for two, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – a package of more than €500.
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Safari lodges in Tanzania at a glance
Planning a luxury safari in Tanzania and looking for the right lodge? Here you can see all seven houses at a glance, with location, suitespot Score and nightly rate. Our tip: the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania for a first safari, the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti for night safaris and the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park if you want to travel with the herds of the Great Migration.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania | – | ★ 4.8/5 | 456 € |
| Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro | – | ★ 4.5/5 | – |
| Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti | Ikoma Region | ★ 4.4/5 | 2112 € |
| Siringit Villa Usa River | Mount Meru | ★ 4.1/5 | 398 € |
| Wilderness Usawa Serengeti | Serengeti | – | 1300 € |
| Singita Grumeti Serengeti | Mara Region | ★ 4.2/5 | 1913 € |
| Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park | Mara Region | ★ 4.2/5 | 1523 € |
Safari lodges in Tanzania: your guide to lodges, tented camps and villas
Meliá Serengeti Lodge TanzaniaWhich lodge suits you depends on your route. For a first luxury safari in Tanzania, we recommend the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania: it sits right inside the national park above the Mbalageti River Valley, with a pool, a kids' club and walking safaris straight from the lodge. Families who want to stay near the Ngorongoro Crater book the two-story Stable Cottage at Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro, where horse rides from the estate's own stables are part of the experience.If you want to go out after dark, stay at the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti: because it lies outside the park, night safaris and bush walks are possible here. And if you want to be entirely among yourselves before or after the safari, rent the Siringit Villa Usa River near Usa River as a private villa with a private chef and views of Mount Meru.
At no extra cost: booking through suitespot costs the same as booking direct with the hotel – the benefits come on top, free of charge.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Arusha: where the safari lodges in Tanzania are
Inside Serengeti National Park: The Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania stands on the terraced southern slope of the Nyamuma Hills in the west of the park, about 45 minutes from Seronera Airstrip. Its 50 rooms and suites take their cue from Maasai culture and have terraces, and the lodge runs off the grid on solar power. Two mobile camps also move around inside the park without a fixed site; more on them in the next section.
Singita Grumeti Serengeti · Mara RegionOn the edge of the Serengeti: The private Grumeti reserve covers 350,000 acres on the western corridor, right next to the national park. Here the lodges, camps and villas of Singita Grumeti Serengeti share exclusive traversing rights on the migration route. The Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti sits on a 25-acre site in Robanda, just outside the park at Fort Ikoma Gate, with access to both the central and the western Serengeti.
Siringit Villa Usa River · Mount MeruNgorongoro: South of the crater, in green hills on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro lies on a 1,500-acre Arabica coffee estate. The Cape Dutch-style manor has 19 rooms, 18 of them suites.
Usa River near Arusha: Near Usa River, the Siringit Villa Usa River stands on the Kilimanjaro Golf & Wildlife Estate with views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro; impala and gazelle graze on the fairways of the 18-hole course. Arusha National Park is about 20 minutes away by car.
Choose your camp by travel dates
The Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park stands at Kogatende in the north from early June to early November, close to the Mara River crossings, and at Ndutu in the south from mid-December to early April. In between, the camp relocates and is closed. Settle your travel dates first, and our travel advisors will tell you which site fits them.
Lodge or tented camp? Tents, pools and privacy at the safari lodges in Tanzania
A lodge with a pool: If you expect a pool at your luxury safari lodge in Tanzania after a game drive, the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania is the right choice: the pool and its loungers look out over the savannah, with the restaurant and bar right next to it. At Singita Grumeti Serengeti, every cottage at Sasakwa Lodge, an Edwardian-style manor on a hill, has its own plunge pool, and Faru Faru Lodge on the Grumeti River has two pools.
Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti · Ikoma RegionTented suites with comfort: At the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti, you roll back the canvas roof of your tented suite in the evening and look at the stars through your own telescope. The infinity pool with its pool bar overlooks the plains, and the Two-Bedroom Villa has a private pool. The camp was designed by Dunia Designs of Arusha.
Mobile camps: The Bedouin-style tents of the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park are hand-stitched in Tanzania and stand on raised platforms with 360-degree views; each has a fireplace and an en-suite bathroom with double vanity. Wilderness Usawa Serengeti runs two mobile camps with six tents each, every tent with its own coffee bar. Both camps run on solar power and move with the herds over the course of the year.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
All to yourself: For more privacy, choose a place you can book exclusively. The six-room Siringit Villa Usa River can be rented as a private villa with house staff and a private chef, including a solar-heated 15-meter pool with views of Mount Meru. At Singita Grumeti Serengeti, the Serengeti House, Milele and Kilima villas are reserved for exclusive use, and Wilderness Usawa Serengeti can also be booked for your own group.
Game drives, walking safaris and balloons: what you experience at the safari lodges in Tanzania
No safari can guarantee which animals you will see, but you can choose how you explore. On foot: At the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania, walking safaris start right at the lodge, and booking through suitespot adds a $50 voucher for one. At Wilderness Usawa Serengeti, guided walks and stargazing evenings complement the game drives, and a private walk in the park is included once per stay when you book through suitespot.
Wilderness Usawa Serengeti · SerengetiAfter dark: Because the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti lies outside the park boundary, it can offer night safaris, bush camping and walks that park rules do not allow inside. Add cultural experiences with the Ikoma community and balloon safaris on the migration route.
From the air: Balloon flights can also be booked at the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park, here at sunrise, followed by picnics and safari lunches on the plains at midday. At Singita Grumeti Serengeti, bush walks and tennis at Sasakwa Lodge join the balloon flights on the program.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
In the saddle: The Siringit Villa Usa River offers horseback safaris, bush walks and bike rides on the estate. At Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro, you ride out from the coffee estate's own stables, and a guided coffee tour is included when you book through suitespot.
Lunch in the crater
From Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro, you can combine a day in the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Ask our travel advisors how best to fit the excursion around your nights on the coffee estate.
Getting there and the beach: how to reach the safari lodges in Tanzania
Arriving at Kilimanjaro: The Siringit Villa Usa River is about 30 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport, with the 18-hole Kiligolf course right on its doorstep. The villa arranges a car transfer on request at extra cost, and a two-night minimum stay applies.
Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park · Mara RegionBy light aircraft into the Serengeti: Guests of Singita Grumeti Serengeti land at Sasakwa Airstrip inside the reserve, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Kilimanjaro and about 1 hour from Arusha. For Wilderness Usawa Serengeti, you fly to an airstrip such as Kogatende, Lamai or Seronera, depending on the camp's location, followed by a 30- to 90-minute game drive to camp. At the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park, transfers from the airstrips are included in the game package.Elewana the Manor at NgorongoroBy road to the crater: Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro is about 2 hours 45 minutes by road from Arusha and about 3 hours 45 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport. It is quicker to take the 25-minute flight from Arusha to Manyara airstrip followed by a drive of about 40 minutes. The Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti can pick you up at the airport on request.
Safari and beach: Many travelers add a few days on the Indian Ocean after their safari. You will find the beach hotels on Zanzibar and every other address in the country in our guide to the luxury hotels in Tanzania.
Share dietary requests in advance
At the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park, set lunch and dinner menus come with wines from the cellar, served indoors or under the open sky depending on the weather. Vegetarian, vegan, raw-food and kosher meals are available on request. Tell our travel advisors about your wishes when you book, so the mobile camp can plan ahead.
What a safari lodge in Tanzania costs: rates and suitespot benefits
Rates start at the Siringit Villa Usa River near Usa River from 398 €, with a two-night minimum stay. In the Serengeti, a night begins at 455 € at the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania and goes up to 2,111 € at the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti, where booking through suitespot includes all-inclusive for two. Our travel advisors can give you the rate for Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro on request. Alongside rates and benefits, the table shows the park or location of each house. You will find all houses with live availability in the hotel list below.
| Hotel | From | Park / location | suitespot benefits (selection) | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siringit Villa Usa River | 398 € | Usa River, about 20 minutes from Arusha National Park | Breakfast for two, $50 hotel credit, two-night minimum stay | ★ 4.1/5 |
| Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania | 455 € | Serengeti National Park, Nyamuma Hills | $50 walking safari voucher, $50 spa credit | ★ 4.8/5 |
| Wilderness Usawa Serengeti | 1,300 € | Serengeti National Park, mobile camp | Breakfast for all guests, private walk in the park (once per stay) | – |
| Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park | 1,522 € | Serengeti National Park, mobile: Kogatende and Ndutu | Breakfast for two, $50 hotel credit, two-night minimum stay | ★ 4.2/5 |
| Singita Grumeti Serengeti | 1,913 € | Private Grumeti reserve, western Serengeti | Full English breakfast for two, 30-minute spa treatment per person | ★ 4.2/5 |
| Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti | 2,111 € | Fort Ikoma Gate, just outside Serengeti National Park | All-inclusive for two, welcome gift | ★ 4.4/5 |
| Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro | on request | Coffee estate on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Sundowner or a bottle of sparkling wine, guided coffee tour | ★ 4.5/5 |
Included everywhere: Six of the seven houses include daily breakfast, usually for two, and for all guests at Wilderness Usawa Serengeti; the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti goes further with all-inclusive for two. Early check-in and late check-out subject to availability apply everywhere, and six houses offer an upgrade on arrival subject to availability.
Extras and stay: At Singita Grumeti Serengeti, every guest receives a 30-minute spa treatment once per stay, plus a Singita cap and shoe bag. At Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro, a sundowner or a bottle of sparkling wine and a guided coffee tour await you. Both Siringit properties require a two-night minimum stay; everywhere else the benefits apply from the first night.
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
Points and status: You earn Meliá Rewards at the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania and Marriott Bonvoy at the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti. Because suitespot books at direct rates, you keep your points and status benefits.
The hotels in Tanzania at a glance
What sets the hotels in Tanzania apart – from their opening year to the spa:
| Hotel | Opened | Pool | Spa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania | 2018 | ✓ | |
| Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Siringit Villa Usa River | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Singita Grumeti Serengeti | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park | 2021 | – |
Earn points & use your status in Tanzania
You can earn points on safari too: Meliá Rewards at the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania and Marriott Bonvoy at the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti. Because suitespot books at direct rates, you receive points and status benefits – on top of the suitespot benefits. At the other lodges and camps, benefits such as breakfast, hotel credit or a private walk are your extra.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1 hotel | Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti |
| Melia Rewards | 1 hotel | Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania |
More luxury destinations nearby
Explore all luxury hotels in Tanzania or browse nearby destinations:
FAQ: safari lodges in Tanzania
How much does a night at a safari lodge in Tanzania cost?
In this selection, rates start at 398 € at the Siringit Villa Usa River near Usa River, with a two-night minimum stay. In the Serengeti, you stay from 455 € at the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania, from 1,300 € at Wilderness Usawa Serengeti and from 2,111 € at the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti, which includes all-inclusive for two. Early check-in and late check-out subject to availability come with every suitespot booking, and breakfast at six of the seven houses.
Which safari lodges in Tanzania are right inside Serengeti National Park?
The Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania has a fixed site in the Nyamuma Hills above the Mbalageti River Valley. Moving with the herds are the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park, at Kogatende from June to November and at Ndutu from mid-December to March, and Wilderness Usawa Serengeti, which relocates several times a year between the Northern Hills, Lamai, Grumeti and the Southern Plains. Two more houses sit right on the park boundary.
Which safari lodge in the Serengeti is best placed for the Great Migration?
The mobile camps keep you close to the herds: the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park stands near the Mara River crossings from June to November and in the calving area at Ndutu from December to March, while Wilderness Usawa Serengeti relocates several times a year. At Singita Grumeti Serengeti and the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti, you stay at a fixed site on the migration route. Where the herds are at any given time cannot be guaranteed; our travel advisors help you choose camp and dates.
Can I earn points at safari lodges in Tanzania?
Yes, at two houses: Meliá Rewards applies at the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania and Marriott Bonvoy at the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti. Because suitespot books at direct rates, you keep your points and status benefits. At the other lodges and camps, suitespot benefits such as breakfast or hotel credit are your extra.
Which safari lodges in Tanzania are good for families?
At Elewana the Manor at Ngorongoro, families stay in the two-story Stable Cottage on the coffee estate. The Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park has an interconnected family tent for two adults and two children, and the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania has a kids' club. At Wilderness Usawa Serengeti, children aged six and over are welcome; with younger children you book the camp for sole use.
Which safari lodges in Tanzania have a pool?
At the Meliá Serengeti Lodge Tanzania, the pool looks out over the savannah, and at the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti the infinity pool with its pool bar overlooks the plains. At Singita Grumeti Serengeti, every cottage at Sasakwa Lodge has its own plunge pool. Near Usa River, the Siringit Villa Usa River has a solar-heated 15-meter pool with views of Mount Meru.
Where can I go on a night safari in Tanzania?
At the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti. The camp lies just outside Serengeti National Park at Fort Ikoma Gate and can therefore offer night safaris, bush camping and walks that are not allowed inside the park. Booking through suitespot includes all-inclusive for two.
Can I book a safari camp in Tanzania exclusively?
Yes. Wilderness Usawa Serengeti can be booked for your own group, and the Siringit Villa Usa River can be rented as a private six-room villa with house staff and a private chef. At Singita Grumeti Serengeti, the Serengeti House, Milele and Kilima villas are reserved for exclusive use.
Where should I stay before a safari in Tanzania?
Many northern safaris start in Arusha or at Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will find hotels for the night before in our Tanzania guide, and our travel advisors will gladly time the night around your onward flight. If you would rather stay privately before the safari, rent the Siringit Villa Usa River near Usa River, about 30 km from the airport; a two-night minimum stay applies.
Which luxury safari in Tanzania can be booked all-inclusive?
At the Mapito Safari Camp Serengeti, booking through suitespot includes all-inclusive for two, with no minimum stay. The newly built camp is the first safari camp in Marriott's Autograph Collection. At the Siringit Migration Camp Serengeti National Park, you choose between full board and a game package that includes transfers from the airstrips.
