58 Best Hotels in Tanzania

Turn back the clock and stay at a camp that any well-heeled Victorian traveler would have felt completely at home in. This pleasant tented camp overlooks the western corridor just west of Seronara. Kirawira's Victorian decor is pervasive—polished wooden floors, gleaming antique furniture, handmade patchwork bedspreads, copper urns, and shining brass lamps. Your spacious double en suite tent on a raised platform overlooks the plains where you can go for game drives and guided walks. Venture farther afield to go fishing or sailing on Lake Victoria. A crocodile safari—brave souls go out at night to track and watch crocs—by the Grumeti River is a highlight.

This intimate camp is set among indigenous bush high on the escarpment and will make you feel much closer to Africa than some of the bigger lodges. Spacious thatch-roof tents, each with its own verandah, are built on wooden platforms with great views overlooking Lake Manyara. Gaily decorated with animal-motif furnishings, woven straw mats, and carved bedside lamps, all tents have an en suite bathroom with flush toilet and ceramic hand basins. Larger family tents are also available. The camp is an ideal base for game drives in the park, mountain biking, hiking, and bird-watching and a highlight is their hike down to the waterfalls below the ridge, but you need to be quite fit for this. After an action-packed day sip your sundowner in the attractive open-sided bar with stunning views over the Rift Valley floor.

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.

On the edge of an escarpment this lodge presents a cluster of clean, en suite, double-story rondavels with breathtaking views over the lake. Good for a short stopover, the decor is slightly dated and the showers tiny, but what it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in a program of varied activities. You can take Swahili lessons, amble along a gentle nature walk, or jog around the demarcated track of the lodge. There's also hiking nearby where you can explore thickly forested hillsides. A special outing is a village walk to the nearby town of Mto wa Mbu, which is home to more than 100 different tribes and one of the richest linguistic mixes in Africa.

Manze camp is found in the far eastern section of the reserve in a bountiful game-viewing area—just follow the well-worn elephant trail from the river to a large thatch roof spreading out over the sand floor. Meru-style walk-in tents perched between shady palms come with private verandas, flush toilets, and an outdoor shower. It's all basic but authentic, with warm hospitality and in a beautiful location. Game drives are customized to your specifications, and walking or boating safaris to view crocs, wild dogs, hippos, lions, elephants, zebras, and hundreds of bird species are offered.

Perfect for large dive groups, this location has one of the only beaches that is not consumed by the tide, and it's spacious and neat—perfect if you're spending most of your time outside and in the water. A voluminous central dining and lounge area opens up to the expansive gardens and it's just down a path to the beach and dive center. Spanning either side, along walkways, are simple rooms, each with their own small patio that overlooks the grounds. Try and get rooms on the left-hand side of the lodge as they are more updated.

High season has a $15 per person, per night supplement.

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.

Considered one of the top properties in the Northern Serengeti, the luxurious Mara River Camp has spectacular views over its namesake river and a funky, bohemian, and oh-so-chic style. Situated in the Lamai triangle—the 98,000 hectares between the Serengeti Park, the Masai Mara, and the Mara River—the camp is within an area of one of the highest concentrations of year-round wildlife. Solar-powered, natural ventilation and attentive staff create an unfussy, gentle environment in your private tent. Art pieces by young African designers slot neatly with simple, natural fabrics. Time it right for the migration and you are in for one amazing experience.

The only accommodation inside Gombe National Park, the cozy and intimate Forest Lodge sits amid the mopane trees as a series of stand-alone canvas tents raised off the ground on wooden platforms. Spacious, with en suite bathroom facilities and large four-poster beds, all have locally crafted furnishings and decks that overlook the jungle and often some visiting wildlife. The well-equipped and comfortable dining and lounge decks maximize the views over the lake beyond. This is a unique place to start your chimp safari trekking.

On the same stretch of the lakeshore as Greystoke, this lodge is the only other alternative for chimp trekking in Mahale Park. Raised up off the ground on wooden decks with beautiful hardwood floors, Kungwe's tents have four-poster beds layered with mosquito nets and soft linens. A writing desk and modern African-inspired furnishings complete the overall light and airy tented safari look. The outside verandahs are perfect for a lazy restful day after the long journey getting to one of the more remote parks in Tanzania.

The main attraction of this secluded bush camp, apart from its reasonable price, is its location in an indigenous forest just 2 km (1.2 miles) from the town of Mto wa Mbu and only five minutes from the entrance of Lake Manyara National Park. En suite tents with hot-water showers are basic and comfortable, and meals are included in the price. There's a bar and restaurant, and the staff will arrange game drives and other activities for you. It's a no-frills, no-fuss kind of place, with clean, comfortable tents that blend into the surrounding forest, providing plenty of privacy.

This well-established camp is situated on the shady banks of the Mwagusi River, giving it a prime position in Ruaha for game-viewing. The large, bright, comfortable bandas, crafted from local and organic materials, are tucked into the sandy banks, giving each a secluded view. Wake up to fresh-brewed coffee delivered by friendly staff and take in stunning views along the river on your private veranda. It's not unusual to encounter wildlife on your doorstep. Elephants are regular visitors to the camp, as well as large prides of lions. Mwagusi is run by an owner whose passion for Ruaha and African wildlife is sincere and infectious.

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.

Light, delicate linens, fantastic dining, and touches of romantic Africa scattered all around the campsite make Olakira one of the finest mobile camps in the Serengeti. The location in the north (July–November) sits atop a hill right near a popular wildebeest crossing where you can watch the excitement with relative ease and return to the comfort of your lounge area. When in the south (December–March) it faces the grassy Ndutu plains. Each tent has a king-size bed, large shower area, and canvas chaise lounge on a private verandah. You will be immersed in the African plains without sacrificing any comforts.

Check ahead when booking. If the camp is full they may place you at Olakira Kimondo—lovely, and run by the same company, but does not have the stunning location like Olakira.

On the more remote Shaminiani Island, a short boat ride from a small village, a series of bandas are built facing out over a bay. The bandas are decorated with bright Kanga material, private balconies, and are elevated a few meters off the ground on stilts. In line with eco-building principles they make use of solar power, composting toilets, and natural airflow to cool down the rooms. The beach curves into a picturesque natural bay facing out toward the ocean where you can watch local fishermen sail by on the tides. Expect little to no cell-phone signals, making it a place to have a simple, rustic holiday away from everything and enjoying a real localized slice of island life.

There is a two-night minimum.

This camp—the oldest in the reserve—has a great location on a wide bend on the Rufiji at the end of the eastern sector of the reserve. It has a homey and laid-back air about it, with caring and attentive staff and guides. Guests stay in comfortable, spacious en suite tents that are spread out along the river. Each tent has a private verandah, two large beds, and a sitting room. Depending on the length of your stay you can choose any or all of the activities on offer including game drives, walking safaris, boat safaris, and overnight fly-camping.

It's not often that you'll stay in a marquee-shaped tent elegantly furnished with silk curtains, antique furniture, stylish African artifacts, and a/c, but that's what you'll get at this ultra luxurious camp set among green lawns adjacent to the Great Migration route. The game-abundant terrain ranges from open plains and rocky outcrops to riverine forest and woodlands in this 350,000-acre Grumeti concession in Serengeti's western corridor. At night, glowing gas lamps transform the tents raised on polished wooden platforms into a bush fairyland, although the only winged creatures you'll see will be the night birds and the fluttering moths. For a soothing experience, have a spa treatment on your verandah as you gaze out at the never-ending plains. At night, enjoy the brilliance of the night sky before or after a superlative meal.

Deep in the southwest corner of Nyerere National Park, this lodge is just about as isolated and exclusive as you can get, but the attentive service and home-away-from-home atmosphere is unlike any other lodge in the park. Located just above a wide bend in the Rufiji River, the stone and thatch lodge and chalets are open to the surroundings, each with a incredibly comfortable king-size bed, elegant natural wooden furniture, cream and white soft furnishings, carefully chosen African artifacts, and great river views. In front of the main lodge, shaded by a 1,500-year-old baobab tree, there's a deck that curves along the riverbank, where you can sit and watch cavorting hippos and dozing crocs. Apart from its game drives and fun fishing safaris, the lodge prides itself on its walking safaris; you don't have to be super fit, but a ramble through the surrounding wilderness with some of Tanzania's best guides is something you'll never forget.

Located in the Grumeti Reserve, a 350,000-acre concession in Serengeti's western corridor, this superlative lodge is built in the style of a glamorous 1920s East African farm ranch. Guests stay in one of the honey-color stone suites, each elegantly furnished with hand-carved furniture and copies of antique animal prints lining the high walls. Private patios with soft, wicker lounge chairs and heated pools offer up perfect views for game spotting. There are game drives here—the game is as good as it gets as it is on the migration route—but there is also horseback riding, visits to anti-poaching stations, and fine china dining at its best.

Overlooking the Mara River in Serengeti's northwest, where the park borders Kenya's Masai Mara National Park, this mid-size tented camp is perfectly poised for watching the river crossing when in season—hundreds of thousands of wildebeest plunge into the crocodile-infested water on their relentless journey north. The spacious en suite tents, with hot water safari showers and flush toilets, colorfully decorated with handwoven rugs and wall hangings, are only a few hundred meters away from the river. Two lounge and dining tents exude classical safari charm with modern comfort. The horizon pool with lookout sun deck has plenty of space to take in the surrounds.

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.

Set high on a bluff above Tanzania's biggest river, the mighty Rufiji, Mivumo lodge hosts a beautiful location with relaxing river views. There are 12 large thatch-roof suites with wall-to-ceiling windows, a big en suite bathroom with chandelier, his-and-her marble basins, a claw-foot bath, and a hand-carved wooden screen and mirrors. You even have a private plunge pool (and rainshower) from where you can watch hippos snooze or crocodiles sunbathe. Spread over three levels, there is a pool deck, a viewing deck, and thatch-sheltered sitting and dining area overlooking the river. Daylong drives into the middle of the reserve where giraffe and lion abound are spectacular. A boat trip up the Stiegler Gorge (named after a famous early-1900s elephant hunter) is a must.

Found in northeast Serengeti among the rocky Ndasiata Hills, it's hard to believe that the accommodation is actually tented because it looks so luxurious. These spacious tents have hand-carved wooden furniture, big window-like screens, en suite bathrooms, and a verandah that faces the Grumeti River, which gives you a ringside seat of the migration. The main areas with their deep leather chairs, sofas, handsome rugs, and elegant fittings seem more like a gentlemen's club you'd find in London or Washington, D.C., than a tent. Game is good all year round, but when the migration passes through it is awesome. Need a change of pace? You can laze by the pool or take a balloon safari over the Serengeti.

Perched like a crow nest up in the hills overlooking the Moru Kopjes, the plush lodge showcases the expansive grasslands of the Serengeti, while the tents are generously dotted throughout a tranquil forest along the hillside; a large family tent option caters to those looking for a special family safari experience. Harking back to a 1930's style, the enormous luxury tents have that natural, classic safari feel, with copper and brass fittings, soft linens, and a traditional writers desk. Guides are passionate about their work and provide extensive knowledge on the area without coming off as regurgitating information.  

This Nomad camp delivers a classic mobile safari camp experience that does not compromise on comfort and quality. Guests are welcomed into a well-appointed lounge area filled with plush couches, charging stations, and delicate drapery; it feels as if you've walked into a peaceful space that really seeks to deliver on being part of the migration experience. Views open up at every angle so you never have a moment to miss out on any action. Tents are simple in layout with some lovely local touches and flourishes that lend themselves to being more than a simple far-flung safari. For the remoteness of the camps, the food is delicious and effortlessly prepared. Game drives are full-day events and depending on the site location you can come across herds of elephants, giraffes ambling past, and plenty of antelope---you may feel like you're in a National Geographic special as the wildlife moves right through the camp.

Situated high on a hill with superb views over the central Serengeti, the two-story thatch cottages are shaped like Maasai huts and are set among indigenous trees. Each is individually decorated with handcrafted African furniture and colorful Africa-theme soft furnishings with upper level rooms having balconies for you to spend evenings gazing over the plains. If you're in a sociable mood, head to the huge bar and dining area, also rondavel-shaped, which is supported by tall pillars embellished with traditional Makonde (traditional Tanzanian) carvings. There's a gorgeous horizon pool with another great view. All the Serengeti activities are an added cost, but it's worth spending those extra pennies on an exclusive balloon safari and champagne breakfast.

Because Tandala is in a private conservancy 5 km (3 miles) outside the entrance gate, guests can take early morning game walks and game drives, engage in bird-viewing, or experience authentic cultural visits to the Maasai bomas, local village, and market. There are no frills here, but it's comfortable, and you stay in an en suite tent that's built on a raised wooden platform that overlooks a seasonal river. There's an attractive restaurant and bar area beside the swimming pool. A nearby waterhole attracts game at all times, particularly during the dry season, although elephants are hanging around most of the time.

Although the standard rooms are somewhat plain and located in a two-story block, they all have balconies overlooking the beautiful gardens and, on the upper level, the turquoise sea beyond. There's an infinity pool, plenty of lounge chairs scattered around in various nooks and crannies, and three smaller plunge pools overlooking the ocean. At low tide you can walk along the beach to Nungwi village. Meals are taken in a soaring, open-air thatched banda, with a quirky bar made out of a dhow in one corner. The hotel has an intimate boutique feel with the suites, located closer to the ocean, being extremely spacious and offering good value.