In short
- An ultra luxury safari in East Africa means small camps, a private guide and vehicle, access to private conservancies, and a price that includes flights, fees, meals and drinks.
- Our ultra luxury journeys run from 5 to 12 days and start from USD 10,500 per person sharing.
- The big difference is access. Private land allows night drives, off road driving and walking safaris, which national parks do not.
- Peak season sells out 9 to 12 months ahead for the best camps.
Many safaris call themselves luxury. Only a few earn the word ultra.
The difference is rarely marble or gold taps. It is space, access and the way a stay is run around you.
We are a Kenyan owned luxury safari company in Karen, Nairobi. Below is what ultra luxury really includes, and the 5 itineraries we sell most.
What makes a safari ultra luxury?
Five things separate an ultra luxury safari from a very good one.
- Small camps. Our ultra luxury stays have as few as 7 suites, and none has more than about 10 tents or cottages.
- A private guide and vehicle. On several journeys you get your own guide and Land Cruiser for every day in the reserve. No one else decides when you leave.
- Private land. Conservancies and private concessions allow night drives, off road driving and walking safaris. These are not permitted inside the national parks.
- One price. Flights between camps, park and conservancy fees, meals, drinks and medical evacuation cover are part of the rate.
- Quiet service. Airport meet and assist, immigration fast track and departure lounge access are built in, so the logistics disappear.
The best ultra luxury safaris in East Africa at a glance
| Journey | Days | Where | From USD per person sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Day Ultra Luxury Maasai Mara Safari | 8 | Angama Mara, Mara Plains Camp | 15,150 |
| 12 Day Ultra Luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari | 12 | Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | 19,400 |
| 8 Day Tanzania Grand Circuit | 8 | Ngorongoro, Grumeti, Mwiba | 30,100 |
| 5 Day andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge Safari | 5 | Grumeti, western Serengeti | 10,500 |
| 5 Day Singita Sasakwa Ultra Luxury Safari | 5 | Grumeti, western Serengeti | 13,950 |
8 Day Ultra Luxury Maasai Mara Safari: the best ultra luxury safari in Kenya
This journey pairs two of the best camps in the Maasai Mara. You spend 4 nights at Angama Mara, on the Oloololo Escarpment above the Mara Triangle, and 3 nights at Mara Plains Camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. A night at Hemingways Nairobi in Karen starts the trip.
At Angama you can picnic on the Out of Africa kopje, visit the photographic studio or take a dawn balloon flight. At Mara Plains you drive off road, walk with an armed Maasai guide and go out on night drives.
Every vehicle carries Swarovski binoculars, and you have your own guide and Land Cruiser. Flights, fees, meals, house drinks and medical evacuation cover are included.
In the low season, Angama gives a complimentary fourth night. Rates run from USD 15,150 in the low season to between USD 23,350 and USD 28,400 in peak season, per person sharing.
8 Day Ultra Luxury Maasai Mara Safari at a glance
- Where
- The Mara Triangle and the Olare Motorogi Conservancy
- Stays
- Hemingways Nairobi, Angama Mara, Mara Plains Camp
- Honeymoon touch
- A private picnic on the Out of Africa kopje
- Activities
- Game drives, night drives, walking, photography studio, balloon
- Best for
- Couples and photographers who want the Maasai Mara at its best
12 Day Ultra Luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari: the best ultra luxury journey across 2 countries
This is the grand tour. It begins at Hemingways Nairobi, then flies to Kitirua Plains Lodge in Amboseli for 2 nights, with Kilimanjaro in view.
From there you spend 3 nights at Mara Plains Camp, crossing into Tanzania for 3 nights at Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge. The finale is 2 nights at Lemala Osonjoi Lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim.
The suites at Grumeti are glass fronted with private plunge pools. You also get a full day in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and a descent into the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch.
All the internal flights are included, and so are the border crossing arrangements, fees and drinks at the camps. Rates run from USD 19,400 per person sharing, depending on the season.
12 Day Ultra Luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari at a glance
- Where
- Amboseli, the Maasai Mara, the western Serengeti and Ngorongoro
- Stays
- Kitirua Plains Lodge, Mara Plains Camp, Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, Lemala Osonjoi
- Honeymoon touch
- Glass fronted suites with private plunge pools at Grumeti
- Activities
- Game drives, night drives, a crater descent, optional balloon
- Best for
- Guests who want Kenya and Tanzania in one seamless trip
8 Day Tanzania Grand Circuit: the most exclusive ultra luxury safari in Tanzania
This is our most exclusive journey, from USD 30,100 per person sharing. Return flights from Kilimanjaro, Jomo Kenyatta or Zanzibar are in the price.
You spend 2 nights at Lemala Osonjoi on the crater rim, 3 nights at andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge and 2 nights at Mwiba Lodge. Light aircraft link every leg.
Grumeti sits in a private concession of 350,000 acres where off road and night drives are permitted. At Mwiba, walking safaris with a guide are included, and you can visit Hadzabe and Datoga communities.
A complimentary night in Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha is included, with a gift hamper. A Zanzibar finale, such as Mnemba Island, is optional.
8 Day Tanzania Grand Circuit at a glance
- Where
- Ngorongoro, the Grumeti Reserve and Mwiba
- Stays
- Lemala Osonjoi, andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge, Mwiba Lodge
- Honeymoon touch
- Plunge pools at Mwiba and an optional Zanzibar finale
- Activities
- Crater descent, night drives, guided walks, community visits
- Best for
- Guests who want the finest of Tanzania with no compromises
5 Day andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge Safari: the best short ultra luxury safari in Tanzania
If you have 5 days, this is the one. You stay 4 nights at andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge, a camp of 10 tented suites on the bank of the Grumeti River.
Each suite has a private veranda, an en suite bathroom and an outdoor shower. There is a pool and a deck above the river.
Your own guide and Land Cruiser are with you every day in the reserve. Off road and night drives are permitted, and the price includes return flights, meals and selected drinks. It starts from USD 10,500 per person sharing.
5 Day andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge Safari at a glance
- Where
- The Grumeti Reserve, western Serengeti
- Stay
- andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge, 10 tented suites
- Honeymoon touch
- A river deck, a pool and a private guide
- Activities
- Off road drives, night drives, a long free day
- Best for
- Guests with 5 days who want a private Serengeti stay
5 Day Singita Sasakwa Ultra Luxury Safari: the best manor house stay in the Serengeti
Singita Sasakwa Lodge is an Edwardian manor house with a library, billiard room, stable and wine cellar. It has 9 cottages, and each has a private heated plunge pool and a fireplace.
Night drives and off road driving are available here, though not inside Serengeti National Park. Black rhinos have been reintroduced to the area, and lions and elephants live there.
The journey runs 5 days, with 4 nights at the lodge. It starts from USD 13,950 per person sharing and includes tennis, meals, beverages and twice daily game drives.
Singita Sasakwa at a glance
- Where
- The Grumeti Reserve, western Serengeti
- Stay
- Singita Sasakwa Lodge, 9 cottages
- Honeymoon touch
- A private heated plunge pool and a fireplace
- Activities
- Game drives, night drives, tennis, optional riding
- Best for
- Guests who love grand, historic design
What is included in an ultra luxury safari?
On our ultra luxury journeys, the price normally covers:
- Accommodation and all meals
- Drinks at the camps, usually the house list
- Internal flights and airstrip transfers
- Park, conservancy and concession fees
- Twice daily game drives with a private guide where stated
- Medical evacuation cover
- Airport meet and assist, and departure lounge access
What is usually not included?
Check the small print on any ultra luxury quote. These are normally extra:
- International flights
- Visas, the Kenya eTA and travel insurance
- Balloon flights, from USD 500 per adult in the Maasai Mara
- Spa treatments
- Premium wines and champagne outside the house list
- Gratuities and personal spending
When to go, and when to book
In Kenya, the low season runs from mid January to mid June and from November to mid December. Peak season runs from mid June to the end of October, and over the festive period.
The best camps sell out early in peak season. Book 9 to 12 months ahead if you want July to October.
Who is ultra luxury for?
It suits you if you value privacy, time and ease above price. It is especially popular for honeymoons, milestone celebrations and repeat safari guests.
It may not suit you if you are travelling on a tight budget, or if you prefer the buzz of a larger lodge.
What an ultra luxury safari costs
Prices range from USD 10,500 to USD 30,100 per person sharing, depending on the itinerary, the camp and the season. Single travellers are quoted separately.
Read our guide to honeymoon safari costs for how the total comes together. Ask us for current rates for your dates.
Written by Abner Ongeri of Ongeri Expeditions, a Kenyan owned luxury safari company in Karen, Nairobi. We visit every camp we sell, and we plan these journeys every week. Last checked 15 October 2026.