Luxury Safari in Tanzania
A luxury safari in Tanzania is about location, privacy and time. It means sleeping in small camps placed exactly where the animals are, travelling with a private guide, flying between parks instead of spending hours on the road, and ending the day with a proper meal under the stars.
A luxury safari in Tanzania is about location, privacy and time. It means sleeping in small camps placed exactly where the animals are, travelling with a private guide, flying between parks instead of spending hours on the road, and ending the day with a proper meal under the stars.
Our luxury safaris start from USD 3,000 per person and include some of the best camps on the northern circuit, with options for a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti, the Great Migration river crossings and a Zanzibar beach finish.
What makes a safari luxury
Luxury is not the number of stars on a lodge. In Tanzania it is where the camp stands. A small luxury camp in the central Serengeti puts you among resident lions and leopards before breakfast, or a few minutes from the migration route in the northern Serengeti in the dry season. The camp may have only eight to twelve tents, so the dining tent is quiet, the staff know your name and the guide can take you out at any hour.
The other half of luxury is comfort between the camps. Fly-in itineraries replace a long day on dusty roads with a short flight over the Serengeti, and a private vehicle waits at the airstrip for your game drive.
Where to stay
In the Serengeti we choose luxury tented camps and lodges in the central region for year-round big cat viewing, in Ndutu for the calving season from January to March, and in the north for the Mara River crossings from July to October. On the Ngorongoro crater rim we use lodges with a view down into the crater. Around Tarangire and Lake Manyara we use boutique lodges and tented camps with a quiet, private feel.
Our accommodation page lists the properties we book, and we recommend the right one for your dates.
Experiences you can add
Luxury safaris are easy to enrich with experiences that are bookable only in advance:
- Dawn hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti plains, followed by a champagne bush breakfast
- Bush dinners and sundowners at a private spot on the plains
- Walking safaris with an armed ranger in selected areas
- Cultural visits to the Hadzabe or the Maasai, with proper time to talk and learn
- A beach finish on Zanzibar with a private villa or a resort on the east coast
Planning a luxury safari
The best camps are small and sell out early. For the migration season from July to October and for Christmas and New Year, book nine to twelve months ahead. The calving season in January and February requires at least six months. We hold camps for you while you decide and tell you the rules for each property.
A sample luxury itinerary
One of the most popular luxury plans is a seven night trip combining two parts of the Serengeti with a stay on the crater rim.
Nights 1 and 2: the central Serengeti
A flight from Arusha to the Seronera airstrip, a private game drive on arrival and an early morning balloon flight on day two. Your camp is small and quiet, with a view of the plains.
Nights 3 and 4: the north or the south
A short flight between airstrips takes you to the area where the herds are for your month. In July to October you stay near the Mara River, and in January to March near Ndutu.
Night 5: Ngorongoro crater rim
A flight to Lake Manyara airstrip, a transfer along the escarpment and a night in a lodge with a view over the caldera.
Nights 6 and 7: Zanzibar or Arusha
A private game drive in the crater in the morning, a flight to Zanzibar and a villa or beach hotel to finish the trip.
Is luxury worth the price?
It depends on what you value. If a quiet camp in the right location, a guide who spends the whole day with you and a good night's sleep are important, luxury is worth it. If you simply want to see a lot of wildlife, a midrange safari with the right guide and the right camps gives you most of the experience for less. We will tell you where we think the extra cost is justified, and where it is not.
Luxury safaris with children and teenagers
Some luxury camps do not accept young children, and others set up family tents and guided activities for them. We know which properties welcome families and which prefer adults, and we can build a trip around the children's ages, with private vehicles and a flexible pace.
Luxury safari packages
- 7 Day Northern Circuit Luxury Tanzania Safari: Drive to Serengeti & Fly Out (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,300 per person) A private 7 day luxury Northern Circuit safari: drive through Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro to the Serengeti, then fly out from Seronera Airstrip.
- 8 Day Luxury Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Escape (8 Days / 7 Nights, from USD 7,800 per person) An 8 Day luxury journey from Arusha through Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, finishing on Zanzibar’s beaches, USD 7,800 per person.
- 4 Day Luxury Tanzania Safari (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 3,000 per person) A 4 Day luxury northern-circuit safari: Arusha, a full day in Tarangire, the Serengeti, and a scenic flight back to Arusha, USD 3,000 per person.
- 5 Day Luxury Wildebeest Migration Safari (Serengeti Focus) (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 4,500 per person) A 5 Day luxury migration safari from Kilimanjaro Airport: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 4,500 per person.
- 7 Day Luxury Big Five & Wildebeest Migration Safari (From Arusha) (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,900 per person) A 7 Day luxury safari from Arusha: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, USD 5,900 per person.
- 4 Day Luxury Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari (2026–2027) (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 3,500 per person) A 4 Day luxury Serengeti safari with a sunrise hot air balloon flight, champagne bush breakfast, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 3,500 per person.
- 6 Day Luxury Great Migration River Crossing Safari (Northern Serengeti Focus) (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 4,800 per person) A 6 Day luxury Great Migration safari focused on Mara River crossings in Northern Serengeti, plus Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, USD 4,800 per person.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a luxury safari in Tanzania cost?
Luxury safaris generally cost USD 600 to USD 1,200 or more per person per day. Our packages currently start from USD 3,000 per person for the shortest trips.
Are flights included in a luxury safari?
Domestic flights between parks are included in our fly-in packages and are listed in each itinerary. International flights are not included.
Is a luxury safari good for a honeymoon?
Yes. Many couples combine a luxury safari with a beach stay on Zanzibar. See our honeymoon safari page for suggestions.
Can I do a luxury safari with children?
Many camps welcome children, but some have age limits. Tell us the ages of your children and we will choose properties that are suitable.
Are luxury safaris more crowded?
No. The best camps are small and quiet, and a private vehicle with a flexible pace means you can avoid the crowds at sightings.
Can I combine luxury camps with budget nights?
Yes. Many travellers mix a few nights in a luxury camp in the best location with simpler lodges elsewhere, to save money without losing the highlight.