16 Best Hotels in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

This mobile camp, in the southern part of the Serengeti, follows the migration (usually in March) from an acacia-covered bluff that overlooks a small river. The camp stays put for a couple of months at a time and then moves northward with the herds. Comfortable walk-in tents (Tanzania's largest mobile tents) with chandeliers that tinkle in the breeze have en suite bucket showers; copper washbasins; a flush toilet; deep, comfortable beds with crisp linen and fluffy mohair blankets; Indian rugs; a dawn chorus of joyous birdsong; and an evening serenade of whooping hyenas with backup vocals by softly calling lions. It's certainly not cheap but it's a delightful way to experience the migrations and the wonders of the Serengeti.

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.

Situated on the banks of a Grumeti River tributary, in the western corridor of the Serengeti Grumeti, is a hospitable, delightful lodge that seamlessly mixes rustic safari tents with easy sophistication. Seemingly floating in the distance, rooms are spacious and well appointed with a large bed, indoor shower with a view, and a private plunge pool. The service is flawless with a butler assigned to each room. There's an abundance of birdlife and game, especially when the migration passes through. As you settle in for the evening you'll hear the resident hippos munching outside the tents and grunting to one another.

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.

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. 

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.

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 midsize 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.

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.

Although this popular lodge is attractively located around huge rocks and boulders next to numerous waterholes, it's also plumb in the middle of Serengeti—an ideal place for superb wildlife viewing—but don't expect the levels of service and luxury you would get from some of the smaller, more exclusive camps. Bedrooms are in serious need of updating (small, rather drab en-suite rooms) and the lodge could do with a facelift, however, it's cheaper than most accommodations in the park. A large cafeteria-style restaurant and bar comes alive in the evenings when the day's game-viewing or ballooning experiences are shared. (You're only five minutes from balloon lift-off here.) You'll certainly see lots of game at close quarters, but you'll also see lots of other visitors and vehicles, too.

Sprawling but intimate, Faru Faru is built in a contemporary style with lots of stone, wood, and sand emphasizing the natural surroundings. It's located under sycamore trees on a hill that overlooks a gorgeous pool, river, waterhole, and the bush beyond. Suites, all with outdoor showers, are made out of stone and thatch, and are glass-fronted, allowing for expansive views of the waterhole or river below. The Great Migration moves through the reserve between June and August, although there's plenty of game all year round. Bird life is prolific with more than 400 species including lots of raptors. Viewing decks and public areas jut out over the rock pool and overlook the Grumeti River, making imaginative use of local stone and wooden poles; although the effect is rustic, there is nothing rustic about the elegantly furnished tents and superb service.

Considered one of the top properties in the Northern Serengeti, this luxurious 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 your visit right for the migration and you are in for one amazing experience.

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 veranda as you gaze out at the never-ending plains. At night, enjoy the brilliance of the night sky before or after a superlative meal.