10 Luxury Safari Lodges in Tanzania and What They Cost

Picking a luxury safari lodge in Tanzania is harder than it looks. Prices run from about $600 to well over $2,000 per person per night, and two lodges with the same star rating can feel nothing alike. One sits on a ridge above the Serengeti plains. Another is a tented camp that moves with the herds. You need to know which one fits your dates, your budget, and the kind of trip you want.

Here is the short answer. For most travelers, the best luxury lodges sit in the central and northern Serengeti, close to the Great Migration river crossings, and cost roughly $900 to $1,800 per person per night with meals, drives, and park fees often bundled in. Ngorongoro Crater rim lodges and Tarangire camps usually cost less and make strong add-ons.

Below you will find 10 lodges and camps, each with its location, standout features, and a realistic price range. We have run private safaris across Kenya and Tanzania since 2007, so we also note who each place suits best, from honeymooners to families, and how to pair it with a Kenya itinerary.

1. Singita Sasakwa Lodge

Location and setting

Singita Sasakwa Lodge sits on a hilltop in the Grumeti Reserves, a private concession of roughly 350,000 acres in the western Serengeti. From the terrace you look across open plains toward the Grumeti River. Because the land is private, guides can run night drives, walking safaris, and off-road tracking that national park rules restrict.

Most guests arrive on a short charter flight from Arusha or Kilimanjaro and land on a nearby airstrip. The transfer takes minutes, not hours, which matters if you only have three or four nights.

Rooms and standout features

The lodge feels like an Edwardian country house that happens to overlook lions. Accommodation is a small collection of spacious suites and cottages with fireplaces, private plunge pools, and wide plains views. Beyond the rooms, you get:

• Horseback safaris across the open plains
• A spa, a tennis court, and a large pool
• Fine dining backed by a serious wine cellar
• A private guide and vehicle for most stays

Best for and best season

Honeymooners, anniversary trips, and travelers who want a polished, resort-level stay fit here best. It suits you less if you want canvas walls and the sounds of the bush at night. Sabora, covered below, does that better.

Timing matters. June to October is the dry season and the easiest for game viewing. The Grumeti River crossings usually fall between May and July, earlier than the northern Serengeti crossings, so Sasakwa pairs well with a second stay further north.

What it costs

Sasakwa sits at the top of the market among luxury safari lodges in Tanzania. Expect roughly $1,800 to $2,500 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, game drives, and laundry included. Rates drop in the green season. These figures are approximate and change yearly, so confirm with a quote.

Sasakwa is a splurge for the lodge itself, so book it for two or three nights, not a week.

2. Singita Faru Faru

Location and setting

Faru Faru sits on the banks of the Grumeti River in the same private reserve as Sasakwa, but down on the plains instead of a hilltop. Its spot along the river's migration corridor means wildebeest and zebra often pass within sight of the deck.

Guests land at the nearby airstrip and drive a short transfer to the lodge. The same off-road and night-drive freedoms apply here as at Sasakwa.

Rooms and standout features

Suites at Faru Faru feel smaller and more relaxed than Sasakwa's grand country-house style. Each one has glass walls, a private plunge pool, and river views. You also get:

• Indoor-outdoor lounges and decks over the water
• A main lodge with a pool, gym, and spa
• Walking safaris and night drives on the private concession

Best for and best season

Couples and small groups fit best, especially if you want Singita's service in a more intimate, earthy setting. Teens can enjoy it too, since the pace is easy.

Timing follows Sasakwa. June to October gives the clearest dry-season viewing, and the Grumeti crossings from May to July are the main draw. Pair it with a northern Serengeti camp for a full migration trip.

What it costs

Expect roughly $1,600 to $2,300 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and game drives included. That makes it one of the pricier luxury safari lodges in Tanzania, though a little under Sasakwa.

Faru Faru gives you Singita's standard at a slightly lower price than its hilltop sibling.

Rates ease in the green season. These are approximate figures, so ask for a current quote before you commit.

3. Singita Sabora Tented Camp

Location and setting

Sabora sits on the Sabora plains inside the Grumeti Reserves, a short distance from Sasakwa and Faru Faru. The land is open grassland dotted with acacia, so game wanders past your tent most mornings.

Access works the same as at its sister camps. You fly into the nearby airstrip and reach camp after a brief drive, with the same private-concession freedoms for night drives and walking safaris.

Rooms and standout features

A handful of tented suites echo a 1920s explorer's camp, with canvas walls, copper bathtubs, and private plunge pools. Inside and around them, expect:

• Vintage trunks and brass details beside modern comforts
• A library, a lounge tent, and open-air dining
• Campfire evenings under a dark, star-heavy sky

Best for and best season

Couples and photographers who want a true tented-camp feel with five-star service will love it. Choose it over Sasakwa if you prefer hearing the bush at night.

Go from June to October for easy dry-season viewing. The Grumeti crossings, usually May to July, are the highlight.

What it costs

Budget roughly $1,500 to $2,200 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and game drives included. That makes it the gentlest price among Singita's Grumeti camps, and a fair deal among Tanzania luxury safari lodges at this standard.

Sabora gives you the classic tented safari at Singita's level, without the hilltop lodge's price tag.

Rates fall in the green season, so request a current quote before you book.

4. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Location and setting

This lodge sits in the central Serengeti near Seronera, on a hillside above a busy waterhole. The area holds resident lions, leopards, and cheetahs year-round, so you never have to chase the herds.

Flights land at the Seronera airstrip, a short drive away. Unlike the Grumeti camps, you are inside the national park, so drives stay on tracks and end at dusk.

Rooms and standout features

The property is larger than Singita's, with thatched-roof rooms, suites, and villas linked by raised walkways. The highlights:

• An infinity pool facing the waterhole
• A full spa and gym
• Several restaurants and a lounge bar
• Villas with private decks, good for families

Best for and best season

Families and first-timers who want full resort comfort in the park's wildlife core will like it most. If you want a tiny, hushed camp, choose Sabora instead.

Game viewing works all year, and June to October is the easiest dry stretch. Do not expect river crossings here, because those happen further north.

What it costs

Plan on roughly $900 to $1,600 per person per night in peak season. That is clearly cheaper than the Singita camps. Check what the rate includes, since drives and park fees are not always bundled.

Four Seasons gives you five-star service in the Serengeti's busiest wildlife zone for far less than Grumeti.

These figures are approximate and shift yearly, so ask for a current quote.

5. andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge

Location and setting

This small lodge sits on the banks of the Grumeti River inside the private Grumeti Reserves, under a canopy of riverine forest. Hippos and crocodiles live below the decks, and the river crossings happen close by in season. You fly to the reserve airstrip and drive a short transfer to camp.

Rooms and standout features

Suites are few and spacious, with private decks and river views. The feel is warmer and more relaxed than Singita's grand style. You also get:

• A main lodge with a pool and shaded lounges
• Night drives, walking safaris, and off-road tracking on the private land
• Bush dinners under the stars

Best for and best season

Couples and families with older children fit best, especially if you want luxury with a friendlier, looser tone. Come between June and October for dry-season viewing. The Grumeti crossings, usually May to July, are the main draw.

What it costs

Expect roughly $1,300 to $2,000 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and game drives included. That puts it a step below the Singita camps, and it is a sensible pick if you want a luxury safari in Tanzania's western Serengeti without the top-tier bill.

andBeyond gives you the Grumeti Reserves' freedoms at a gentler price than Singita.

Green-season rates fall noticeably. These figures are approximate, so ask for a current quote.

6. Asilia Namiri Plains

Location and setting

Namiri Plains sits in the quiet eastern Serengeti, on open grassland far from the central park's traffic. You often share a sighting with one or two other vehicles, not ten. The area is known for cheetahs and leopards, which hunt across the plains and the rocky outcrops nearby. Most guests fly to a nearby airstrip and drive to camp.

Rooms and standout features

The camp is small, with spacious tented suites that each have a private veranda and an en-suite bathroom. It feels like a classic safari camp, not a resort. You also get:

• Open-air dining and campfire evenings
• Drives led by experienced Asilia guides
• Uncrowded sightings in a less-visited corner of the park

Best for and best season

Photographers, repeat visitors, and couples who care more about wildlife than amenities fit best. You get big cats without the crowds, which is rare in the Serengeti. The dry season from June to October is the easiest for tracking animals. Herds drift across the eastern plains in the green months, though timing shifts with the rains.

What it costs

Expect roughly $850 to $1,300 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and game drives usually included. Park fees can sit on top, so check the quote line by line. That makes it one of the better-value picks among luxury safari lodges in Tanzania.

Namiri Plains is the lodge to choose if you would rather have a cheetah to yourself than a spa.

These figures are approximate and change yearly, so ask for a current quote.

7. Mwiba Lodge

Location and setting

Mwiba Lodge sits inside the Mwiba Wildlife Reserve, a private concession of roughly 130,000 acres on the southern edge of the Serengeti ecosystem, near Lake Eyasi. Granite outcrops, acacia woodland, and a seasonal river shape the land.

Guests usually arrive on a charter flight to a nearby airstrip and drive a short way to camp. Because the land is private, you get night drives and walking safaris that national parks do not allow.

Rooms and standout features

Suites are few and built from stone, timber, and canvas, with private decks and wide bush views. The mood is quiet and rustic-chic, not resort-grand. Beyond the rooms, expect:

• A pool and shaded lounge areas
• Guided walks and night drives on the reserve
• Visits to nearby Hadzabe communities, which you can ask your operator to arrange

Best for and best season

Couples and families who want luxury without crowds fit best. Few lodges at this level feel this private, and you can spend a full day without seeing another vehicle.

Timing is flexible. June to October is the easiest dry stretch for game viewing, and Mwiba pairs well with a northern Serengeti stay if you want the river crossings too.

What it costs

Expect roughly $900 to $1,400 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and activities usually included. That makes it one of the more affordable luxury safari lodges in Tanzania with private-land access.

Mwiba gives you private-concession freedom at a price well below Grumeti.

Rates drop in the green season. These figures are approximate, so ask for a current quote.

8. Lemala Kuria Hills

Location and setting

Kuria Hills sits on a rocky hilltop in the northern Serengeti, within reach of the Mara River. This is where the Great Migration river crossings happen, usually from July to October.

Most guests fly to a nearby airstrip and drive a short way to camp. The height gives you long views over the plains, so you can often spot herds from the lounge.

Rooms and standout features

Accommodation is a small set of tented suites with private decks, en-suite bathrooms, and hillside views. The mood is polished but relaxed, closer to a boutique camp than a resort. Expect:

• Open-air dining and campfire evenings
• A pool and a viewing deck
• Guided drives timed around the crossings

Best for and best season

Couples, photographers, and migration chasers fit best. You get northern Serengeti access without Grumeti prices. Skip it if you want night drives or walking safaris, since national park rules apply here.

Plan for July to October, when the herds reach the Mara River. Book early, because the best crossing weeks sell out months ahead.

What it costs

Budget roughly $900 to $1,400 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and game drives usually included. Park fees can sit on top, so read the quote line by line. That makes it a solid-value pick among luxury safari lodges in Tanzania's north.

Kuria Hills puts you beside the river crossings for less than a Grumeti camp.

These figures are approximate and change yearly, so ask for a current quote.

9. Jabali Ridge in Ruaha National Park

Location and setting

Jabali Ridge sits in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's largest park, in the rugged south. The lodge is tucked among giant granite boulders, with views over baobabs and dry riverbeds.

Getting there takes a flight of about two hours from Dar es Salaam or Arusha. Few vehicles share the tracks, so you get sightings largely to yourself.

Rooms and standout features

The suites are built into the rock, with stone walls, high ceilings, and private plunge pools. The look is modern and airy, closer to a design hotel than a canvas camp. You also get:

• An infinity pool among the boulders
• Open lounge and dining areas facing the bush
• Walking safaris with a guide and ranger

Best for and best season

Repeat safari-goers, couples, and anyone who loves lions and wild dogs fit best. Ruaha holds big prides and large elephant herds. Skip it if the Great Migration is your priority.

Go from June to October, when animals gather along the shrinking river and spotting is easiest. The green months bring thicker bush and tougher tracks.

What it costs

Expect roughly $700 to $1,100 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and game drives usually included. Park fees can sit on top, so read the quote line by line. That makes it one of the better-value luxury safari lodges in Tanzania.

Jabali Ridge is the pick when you want a design-led lodge and empty tracks instead of Serengeti crowds.

These figures are approximate and change yearly, so ask for a current quote.

10. The Highlands in Ngorongoro

Location and setting

The Highlands sits on the slopes of Olmoti Crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, at roughly 9,000 feet. The air is cool and often misty, and the scenery is green volcanic highland, nothing like the Serengeti plains.

The famous Ngorongoro Crater floor is a drive away, so you can visit it on a day trip. Most guests add The Highlands to a Serengeti stay by road or a short flight.

Rooms and standout features

The camp is small and built around domed suites with big windows, en-suite bathrooms, and wood-burning fireplaces. You will use the fireplace, because nights at this height are cold. Other highlights:

• Guided hikes to Olmoti and Empakaai craters
• Visits to nearby Maasai herding communities
• Cozy lounge and dining areas with highland views

Best for and best season

Couples, hikers, and families with teens fit best, especially if you want a break from long game drives. Skip it if you expect big game from your suite. The wildlife is on the crater floor, not at camp.

Go from June to October for the clearest crater viewing, and pack warm layers, since June to August nights are the coldest. Afternoon rain is common outside the dry season.

What it costs

Expect roughly $800 to $1,200 per person per night in peak season, with meals, drinks, and activities usually included. Crater descent fees can sit on top, so read the quote line by line. That makes it a mid-priced pick among luxury Tanzania safari lodges, and a smart two-night add-on to a longer trip.

The Highlands is the lodge to book for cool air, quiet hikes, and a crater visit between Serengeti stays.

These figures are approximate and change yearly, so ask for a current quote.

How much a luxury Tanzania safari costs

What the nightly rate covers

Across the ten lodges above, nightly rates run from about $700 to $2,500 per person. Private concessions like Grumeti sit at the top. Namiri Plains, Mwiba, and Jabali Ridge sit at the bottom. Most rates bundle meals, drinks, and game drives.

Extras add up, though. Park and conservation fees, charter flights between airstrips, and crater descent fees often sit outside the quote. Flights alone can run a few hundred dollars per person per sector, so ask for a line-by-line breakdown.

The nightly rate is only part of the bill, so compare total trip cost, not lodge prices.

Sample budgets per person

Here is what a luxury safari in Tanzania looks like, lodging only, using the peak-season ranges above. Totals are approximate.

Add international airfare, internal flights, and fees on top. Traveling in the green season can cut lodging costs by up to 40%, and a two-lodge itinerary usually costs less than a single stay at the top of the market.

How to choose the right lodge and time your stay

Match the lodge to your priorities

Start with what you most want to see, because that decides the region. The wildlife you want to see narrows the field fast, and your budget and style trim it further. Once you know the region, any luxury safari lodge in Tanzania on that shortlist will deliver the standard you are paying for.

Choose the region for the wildlife you want, then choose the lodge for the way you want to sleep.

Time your stay

Timing matters as much as the lodge. June to October is the dry season and the easiest window for game viewing. The northern crossings peak from July to October, so those camps fill first.

Book nine to twelve months ahead for July to September, since small camps have only a handful of suites. Green-season stays from March to May cost far less and bring fewer vehicles, though some roads get slow.

Finally, split your nights. Three nights in the west and three in the north usually beat six in one place, and you can end with two nights at The Highlands to rest before flying home.

Picking your lodge and planning the trip

The right luxury safari lodge in Tanzania comes down to three choices: region, season, and budget. Grumeti and the northern Serengeti give you river crossings, while Ruaha and Mwiba give you quiet bush. Rates run from about $700 to $2,500 per person per night, so compare total trip cost, not just the lodge price.

Splitting your nights between two lodges usually gives you the best mix of scenery and value. Book nine to twelve months ahead for July to September, because small camps have only a handful of suites, and ask for a line-by-line quote so fees and flights hold no surprises.

Share your dates, group size, and budget through our custom safari quote request, and our team will build a private itinerary around the lodges you like. We can also pair a Tanzania stay with Kenya's Masai Mara or Amboseli.