Who ever said that wilderness and luxury don’t go together? Certainly not us! And Tanzania is just the place to prove it, with its heady mix of wildlife encounters, untarnished and people-free landscapes, and a delicious selection of camps and lodges to stay in. Whether it’s the vistas, the private guides or the amenities that seem impossible in such a remote location, these trips showcase Tanzania in all her luxurious glory.
The very best of northern Tanzania
Your first peek of Tanzania on this trip is the quaint town of Arusha, where you’ll take in views of Mount Meru over a steaming cup of Arabica coffee. Then, make a beeline for the shores of Lake Manyara to spot herds of wildebeest, elephant and zebra on a walking safari, before exploring the pretty forests that reveal an entirely different cast of creatures. And you just never know when you might catch sight of a lion draped across the branch of a shady tree…
One of the most biologically diverse places on Earth, the Ngorongoro Crater is up next. This giant caldera is home to a variety of mammals including the Big Five – and an unbelievable number of black rhino and birdlife too. Game drives are among the most rewarding and exhilarating in Africa, but you can also explore on foot, either on the forested floors or in the Highlands with a Maasai guide.
The final stop on your adventure is the Serengeti, where a million wildebeest form snaking lines across the savannah on the iconic Great Migration. Depending on the month you visit, you’ll witness the calving, during which 500 000 babies are born over a few weeks, or catch the heart-in-your-mouth scenes as the wildebeest clatter across the rivers, snapping crocs lying in wait. But no matter the time of year, the Serengeti is a hive of wildlife from endangered rhino to big cats on the prowl.
Opulent spots to stay
In pretty, flowering gardens on a working coffee farm, Legendary Lodge is one of our favourite spots in Arusha. The team sees to every detail and a massage at the spa is never a bad idea, pre or post-safari. &Beyond’s Tree Lodge is the only property inside Lake Manyara National Park and, on top of that, they make you feel like their sole guests, especially during peaceful siestas or private dinners on your treehouse deck.
Onto the Ngorongoro Crater, and the futuristic domes at the Highlands Camp promise supreme comfort and panoramic views – even from bed – whilst in the Serengeti, any of Singita’s properties fit the bill, from Faru Faru, with its aesthetics to make you drool and infinity pools overlooking the Serengeti and Grumeti River, to the eye-catching Mara River Tented Camp in the northern section of the park.
Off-the-beaten-track in southern Tanzania
This trip does what it says on the tin, and after stopping to get your bearings in the booming, beachside city of Dar es Salaam, you’ll say goodbye to the well-worn path and step into rugged and remote southern Tanzania. Katavi is up first, and with just a handful of camps in the park, there’s certainly no jostling for a good view… Keep those cameras at the ready to capture herds of buffalo gathering in their thousands alongside some of the highest numbers of hippo and crocodile anywhere in Tanzania.
But the adventure is far from over! Epic driving and walking safaris await in Ruaha, home to 10% of the world’s lions – prides can easily reach 20 or more! – and the largest population of elephants in Tanzania. Your expert guides will reveal the secrets to tracking African painted dogs and, if luck is on your side, you’ll spy a pack on the hunt.
The finale to this trio of southern Tanzania gems is Nyerere National Park, where boat rides down the mighty Rufiji River reveal a host of dazzling wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for the distinctive flick of pink hippo ears or the iridescent sheen of over 400 species of birdlife, and lose count of the buffalo, elephant, zebra and giraffe that congregate along the banks.
Opulent spots to stay
We wouldn’t say no to delectable seafood and cool ocean views at the Oyster Bay Hotel in Dar es Salaam, before the real safari begins in Katavi. Here, it has to be Chada Katavi, where luxuries come in the form of its proximity to nature, the levels of privacy – and a steaming hot shower whenever you need it. In Ruaha, Ikuka Safari Camp is the one to beat with its inviting infinity pool and open-fronted bandas with sublime views. In Nyerere National Park, the creative ‘tents’ at Roho ya Selous are a delight with views over the river – and we’ve heard the guides have a knack for spotting African painted dogs.
Iconic wildlife & beach bliss
Refill the safari-shaped hole in your heart (and your camera roll) on this epic trip from one Tanzania wildlife giant to the next, before Zanzibar beckons for a little oceanside R&R. First up is Tarangire, a sprawling, grassy park where elephant and buffalo gather and lions swagger across the plains. Examine it all in the finest detail on a walking safari or take to the skies in a helicopter – or better yet, do both!
Venture north to the vast Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site that always warrants a double take. You’ll rumble over the rim in a 4×4, scanning the lush bowl for herds of wildebeest, prowling cheetah and the Big Five, before stopping for a picnic in this surreal setting. For an entirely different side to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, take a field trip to the Olduvai Gorge, a fascinating archaeological site where 2-million-year-old hominid fossils were discovered.
The safari portion of your adventure ends with an almighty bang in the Serengeti, where the Great Migration moves across the grasslands in a clattering of hooves, and big cats follow the constant lure of herds of antelope, zebra and buffalo. And in the Serengeti, the world-renowned guides always manage to pull off something extra special.
At the end of the trip, East Africa’s original island paradise Zanzibar has all the ingredients for a few days of bliss. The inviting waters allow for amazing diving and snorkelling, and zipping between untouched isles in a dhow offers the perfect opportunity to bask on the sand.
Opulent spots to stay
For a brief stop in Arusha, try the Four Points Sheraton, where homemade pastries and Tanzanian coffee start the day off right before your safari begins. Set within a 50,000-acre concession (and not actually within Tarangire), Chem Chem Lodge is an homage to the beauty of Tanzania, with huge beds decorated in a mosaic of stones and gorgeous wooden cabanas beside the pool. And what better way to end the day than champagne at sunset? Occupying an envied position on the rim, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is one of the few lodges here with a view of the crater floor. In the Serengeti, One Nature Nyaruswiga takes luxury in the bush to a new level, complete with vintage decor and a swim-up bar overlooking the plains, and in Zanzibar head for Kilindi, a collection of white-washed, domed pavilions with private plunge pools and sublime spa treatments.
Undiscovered Tanzania & Mafia Island
On this Tanzanian itinerary, you’ll experience the joys of the adventurous south with a spot of beach time at the end for good measure. Your journey begins in Nyerere National Park, one of the most untouched parks in the entire country. Cut in half by the Rufiji River, Nyerere boasts some of the best boating safaris in Africa (the birdlife alone!) and the chance to spy some real rarities including packs of African painted dogs and lions hunting in broad daylight.
Next on the itinerary is Ruaha, a unique and rugged national park broken only by baobabs that reach their spindly limbs towards the sky. From thrilling and eye-opening walking safaris to night drives where you may just see one of Ruaha’s huge prides on a hunt, there’s no end to the opportunities for up-close encounters.
Then, the trip makes a 180° turn and you’ll be whisked off to Mafia Island for a few days of taking it easy with a capital ‘E’. For some, that may include sun-fuelled naps in a hammock and meanders along the beach, while others will be tempted with dolphin-spotting dhow excursions and some of the best diving in the world.
Opulent spots to stay
Begin your trip with a glimpse of the coast at the Oyster Bay Hotel in Dar es Salaam, a chic, designer idyll on the city’s beachfront. At Kiba Point in Nyerere, the tranquil Rufiji River is visible from every comfortable corner, including the private pools at the four open-fronted suites, and in Ruaha, we love Jabali Ridge for its pared-back style, spectacular, hilltop vistas across the plains and a penchant for planning dinners in unexpected locations. Last but not least, Fanjove near Mafia Island ticks every box on the beach escape list. Soothing, nature-inspired decor, hammocks galore and bandas that open straight onto the sand… Yes please!
Explore Tanzania’s wild west
Exploring Tanzania’s western parks on this trip will ensure you leave all thoughts of real life behind… Starting in Dar es Salaam, you’ll soar over the width of Tanzania, before touching down in beautiful Katavi where humans are a rare sight. Your days will be spent rumbling across the landscape, looking for elephant, buffalo, crocodile and hippo at the many rivers and lakes.
Just before reaching the border of the DRC, a distant shimmer lets you know that Lake Tanganyika awaits. Rising along the shoreline, the Mahale Mountains are the lush playground of around 1,000 chimpanzees and you’ll have the chance to track the primates on foot. Afterwards, there’s nothing better than returning from a hike to fall into the cool lake for a swim or a snorkel, or chilling out on the ‘beach’ with a drink. And sailing across the lake at sunset is a fitting and very picturesque end to your adventure…
Opulent spots to stay
Our favourite lodges for this trip, Chada Katavi and Mbali Mbali Mahale, truly prove that you can’t put a price tag on closeness with nature in a location where few others ever go. At Chada Katavi, it feels like there couldn’t be another soul around for miles and Mbali Mbali opens straight onto the sand where you can flop down into a lounger and enjoy a G&T whilst looking over the water.
Primates of Tanzania & Rwanda
Combining East and Central Africa, this trip is full of bucket list topping experiences, from the superlative wildlife of the Serengeti to close encounters with primates in the forests of Rwanda. After a little shut-eye in Arusha, the golden grasses of the Serengeti call, where sprawling herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope cover the landscape like ants (especially from a hot air balloon), and its furthest corners promise epic wildlife sightings of their own. Next up is Rubondo, a forested island in the waters of Lake Victoria where elephants, chimpanzees and shy sitatunga antelope dwell between the trees – and you’ll be one of the only people on the island.
Enjoy a warm welcome in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, before making your way to Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking will likely be first on your agenda and you’ll follow a guide into the depths of the forest to spend an incredible hour in the presence of a family of mountain gorillas. If you have the energy, there’s also a chance to spy rare golden monkeys in their treetop home too. Magical doesn’t begin to describe it…
Opulent spots to stay
Take in the views of Mount Meru at Arusha’s Legendary Lodge, before enjoying the superb hospitality at &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, which has a string of suites (each with a private pool!) along the river’s edge. The sole lodge on the island, Rubondo Island Camp wins in the location stakes – and you’ll certainly agree after a few sunset dinners on the beach. In Kigali, The Retreat by Heaven lives up to its name, offering a quiet setting to decompress (the hot tub definitely helps with that) before the next leg of your trip. If One&Only Gorilla’s Nest had a tag, it would read 100% luxury with incredible views from the stilted suites, gorgeous interiors and post-trek massages complete with a glass of bubbly.
