12 Best Hotels in Tanzania

In the morning when the Maasai head out of their bomas along the Losimingorti mountain range, you'll hear the gentle clanking of their cattle's bells from your accommodations at this very authentic camp. After a day's safari, your nights are spent around a fire with the sounds of the Esilalei community around you. Then you retire to your breezy, well-appointed tent in supreme comfort. A good base to explore Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and the Ngorongoro Crater, Isoitok has a special partnership with the local community and when you're here you feel like you're a part of the community making this more than just your conventional safari camp stay. 

Hike up one of the hills at the back of the camp, especially at sunset to watch the Maasai herd their cattle home over the steppe.

Located on the outskirts of a forest, a 1905 farmhouse is now home to this intimate, family-run mountain lodge with converted cottages filled with handmade furniture and public lounging areas that invite you to stay for days. There are numerous activities provided by the lodge—boating on a pristine lake where you can spot some 200 different bird species, nature walks, horse riding, village tours, and an ever changing variety of outside dining areas nestled between lush lawns and jungle growth. The outdoor spa is one of a kind and not to be missed. Believe us when we say that this is a place you'll want to spend more than just a day pre- or post-safari.

Far from the traditional safari experience, at Four Seasons you'll find five-star amenities uncommon in the bush, such as white-glove service, multiple gourmet dining options, a fitness center, flat-screen TVs, rain showers, Internet, and air-conditioning. However, a sense of place is retained. The decor stays true to a modern safari style with accents of local artwork and textiles, and the cuisine highlights African ingredients and cooking techniques. Of course, there are also the sweeping views of Serengeti National Park and the on-site infinity pool overlooking a nearby waterhole, a gathering spot for local wildlife. In addition to standard game drives, the resort offers experiences like hot-air ballooning, photography classes, and bush picnics. There's also an indigenous-themed spa, a conservation- and research-focused Discovery Center highlighting local culture and history, and—surely a first for the bush—a business center.

Drawing inspiration from rich heritage of Omani sultans, this opulent award-winning hotel has various lounging areas and decor complete with carved wooden furnishings, copper urns, and billowing drapes, as well as beautifully appointed individual villas. Some have sea views and other garden views; all have private plunge pools, large bathrooms with tubs, and plenty of areas to relax in. All in all, it's an expensive but sublime place to refresh yourself after a safari, and has one of the best spas on the island. In the evening, enjoy a cocktail by the pool with other guests before an elaborate dinner in one of the two restaurants. The spa is exquisite with a full range of treatments, and there's a quiet pool at the spa where guests can retreat to if the main pool gets too noisy.

Built on the crest of the Kuka Hills with 360-degree panoramic views over the Grumeti River valley, this lovely intimate camp prides itself on good service and quality game-viewing along the river. As it lies just outside the national park on a private conservancy leased from the local Ololosokwan community, you can go on unrestricted game drives and three-hour bush walks—night drives are particularly thrilling. A visit with your Maasai guide to his village will be another highlight. Stone and thatch cottages have en suite bathrooms and a private verandah with great views. The beautifully decorated eclectic vintage-style dining and lounge area boasts exceptional views that some would argue are the best around.

Butiama Group runs three types of properties across Mafia Island including Bustani, an intimate 10-room lodge on a hillside with a large pool and gardens outside of the marine park; the Beach Lodge with 13 well-appointed, colorful bungalows that have wide outdoor verandas; and Marine Camp, which has a few basic bungalows and tents for the budget traveler. It may not have the overly romantic aesthetic of other resorts, but at low tide it has one of the best, most extensive beaches on the island, perfect for sunny strolls.

When it comes to seafront views at a price that won't break the bank, the Coral Beach Hotel is the place to head. With sweeping views out over the bay and simple, yet tastefully decorated rooms, the hotel has all the modern amenities you would need for a great stay in the city. A popular waterfront patio restaurant serves up tasty and hearty lunches and dinners; expect some lively entertainment on the weekends at the bar area.

A rare camp run entirely by women, Dunia Camp makes the most of its prime position alongside the Moru Kopjes which overlooks the lower grasslands in prime lion territory. Set into the Acacia Woodland, the permanent tented structures have an observation and lounge deck, king-sized beds, and soft neutral furnishings. Bathrooms are more traditional with actual showers and a separate toilet---no bucket showers here. The main lodge area stretches out to make the most of the views of the plains while also providing numerous private lounging spaces so guests don't feel too cramped. 

With the feel of an English country house, this working organic coffee farm sits midway between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. The 1929 farmhouse has managed to retain its old-fashioned genteel nature with a wide veranda, intimate lounges, inviting reading nooks, and a bar and dining room that look much as they must have done almost 100 years ago. Intimate, luxurious guest cottages with en suite bathrooms are scattered throughout the gardens and provide a perfect base to explore the crater and Lake Manyara National Park, as well as a perfect respite from exhilarating game drives. Expect excellent coffee and home-cooked food served with organic veggies and fruit from the farm's own gardens by friendly management dedicated to sustaining the land and supporting the nearby communities.

A charming mix of Afro-European Architecture from a bygone era greets you after a bumpy, dusty drive from the Crater. Your personal butler will escort you to your private cottage with sundeck, luxurious Victorian baths, fireplace, his-and-hers basins, and a rainfall shower. Separated from the main manor house is the stable room, a two-story family paradise perfect for those in groups or wanting to have a holiday with a difference for the kids—there's even a toddlers bathroom. You may never want to leave your room, but do try, because the main lodge is set around rolling hills and a working coffee plantation and has sophisticated and comfortable nooks.

Emerging from the natural surroundings and indigenous vines of the western rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serena Safari Lodge is home to one of the most famous views this side of the Mara River. The large lodge, built from local river stone, spreads out to maximize your ability to sit back and gaze over mountain-ringed caldera. Walk to your room through tunnels of stones and enter a large space with wooden flooring, a desk adorned with a hurricane lantern, and small, but comfortably functional bathrooms. Because of the lodge's size and the fact that it caters to large groups, you might find it difficult to find a quiet resting place outside your bedroom. But when it comes to the views over the forest and the beautiful expanse of the Crater, you'd be hard-pressed to find better.

This attractive camp on Lake Mzizimia's shores nestles among borassus palms and riverine bush with views over the Rufiji. Tents on wooden platforms raised on stilts, each with its own en suite bathroom and private verandah, have comfortable African-theme soft furnishings and rich, handmade wooden furniture. Join other guests in the main thatch lounge, which is also raised on a platform with magnificent views of the river, for meals and sundowners. If you're here in the dry season between June and October, you'll see plains game galore as the animals come to drink at the perennial river. Go for a guided game walk with an armed ranger, a game drive, or a boat safari; try fly camping or just chill out at the bar overlooking the river at this wonderfully comfortable and unpretentious camp.