Tanzania
Luxury hotels, insider access, and bespoke itineraries
The Destination
Tanzania is the benchmark African safari — the endless plains of the Serengeti, the Great Migration's thundering river crossings, and Big Five game viewing on a scale found almost nowhere else. At the top of the market it rewards travellers who want remote, unpeopled wilderness without surrendering an ounce of comfort.
Two properties anchor what we book. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, opened in 2012, is the only major luxury lodge actually inside the national park — an elephant watering hole sits below its infinity pool, and during the Migration the wildebeest cross within view of the terrace. For total exclusivity, Singita Grumeti holds 350,000 private acres bordering the Serengeti: Edwardian-manor Sasakwa crowns a hill with infinity-pool views, riverside Faru Faru and tented Sabora complete the estate, and the Grumeti Fund's conservation work is among the most significant in Africa.
Tanzania is a country of light-aircraft hops and finely timed game viewing, and that is where we add the most value — sequencing the parks, positioning you for the river crossings alongside the lodge guides, arranging the flights between camps, and securing preferred-partner benefits at the same rate you would pay booking direct.
Our Recommended Properties
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Serengeti · $$$$$
A lodge built on a kopje above a Serengeti watering hole, where the rooms, suites and villas all face the plains
Singita Grumeti
Grumeti Reserve, Serengeti · $$$$$
Sole tourism operator on the 350,000-acre private Grumeti Reserve, bordering the Serengeti on the Great Migration route — seven Singita properties across it
Best Time to Visit
June to October is the dry-season default: grass low, game pinned to water, and the Mara River crossings in the far north at their most frequent in August and September. But the year holds three separate prizes. Late January into February is calving on the southern plains around Ndutu — several hundred thousand calves in a few weeks, peaking in February, and the finest predator viewing of the year. Late May into June brings the Grumeti crossings in the Western Corridor, sometimes running into early July: smaller than the Mara's, and far less crowded. March to May is the long rains — green, cheap, some seasonal camps closed and roads soft — though central Serengeti holds resident game whatever the herds are doing. One warning: nights in June and July are properly cold on the plains, down to about 13 to 15°C before dawn.
Insider Tips
Two lodges, two different jobs — choose on that, not on photographs. Singita Grumeti occupies a private concession in the Western Corridor, which permits off-road driving, night drives and walking safaris that the national park does not. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti sits in central Seronera, where resident lion and leopard deliver regardless of where the migration has got to. The usual mistake is chasing the herds with one night here and one night there; three nights minimum per camp, and let your guide decide the moves. Fly rather than drive — Kilimanjaro, then light aircraft to an airstrip, soft bag only, with a strict weight allowance around 15kg. Park fees are the line people forget, and they differ by lodge: inside the national park at Four Seasons, budget 70 US dollars per adult per 24 hours plus 18% VAT — about 83 dollars a day — on top of the room rate. At Singita Grumeti no national-park fee applies, and the reserve's conservation levy is already built into the all-inclusive rate. August and February book nine to twelve months out.
Frequently Asked
When is the best time to visit Tanzania for the Great Migration?
The dry season, June to October, brings the dramatic Grumeti and Mara river crossings and the easiest game viewing, as animals gather at water. January to March is calving season on the southern Serengeti plains — newborns, intense predator action and green landscapes. The Migration is a year-round cycle that moves with the rains, so the best window depends on which chapter you want to see; tell us your dates and we position you accordingly.
How many nights do you need for a Tanzania safari?
Most first safaris run six to eight nights, usually split across two areas of the Serengeti to follow the game, sometimes adding the Ngorongoro Crater. Many travellers then pair the safari with a few nights on the beach in Zanzibar. We build the light-aircraft connections so the transfers between camps eat as little of your trip as possible.
Is a Tanzania safari suitable for families, and what about malaria?
Many lodges welcome families and can arrange private vehicles and guides so children set their own pace. Tanzania's safari areas generally lie in malaria zones, so antimalarial precautions are usually recommended — this is a medical question, and we always suggest confirming the current guidance with your doctor or a travel-health clinic before you travel.
What are the best luxury safari lodges in Tanzania?
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti is the only major luxury lodge inside the national park, with an elephant watering hole below its infinity pool. For a vast private reserve, Singita Grumeti offers hilltop Sasakwa, riverside Faru Faru and tented Sabora across 350,000 acres bordering the Serengeti.
Is booking a Tanzania safari through an advisor worth it?
You pay the same rate as booking direct and gain preferred-partner benefits — breakfast, upgrades when available, and camp credits. The greater value on safari is the planning: choosing camps that match where the game will be on your dates, sequencing the parks, arranging the light aircraft between them, and briefing the lodge guides to position you for the river crossings.
More Destinations in Africa & Indian Ocean
Plan Your Journey
Discover Tanzania with Via Privata
Bespoke itineraries, preferred hotel access, and local expertise — tailored to your travel style.
Enquire NowEnquire Now