Luxury Tanzania Safaris 2026 and 2027: Serengeti Lodges, the Great Migration and Zanzibar

Luxury Tanzania Safaris, in Brief

What a luxury Tanzania safari includes.

A luxury Tanzania safari follows the Great Migration across the Serengeti, from the calving plains of the south between December and March to the Mara River crossings in the north from July to October, then descends into the Ngorongoro Crater and the baobab country of Tarangire, and ends on the beaches of Zanzibar. The finest safaris stay in private reserves such as Grumeti and Mwiba, fly between parks and travel with a private guide. Our private Tanzania safari packages start from USD 9,000 per person.

December to MarchCalving in the south
July to OctoberMara River crossings
1 hour 15Arusha to Zanzibar by air
4.9From 170+ guest reviews

By Abner Ongeri, founder, Karen, Nairobi

Where to Go in Tanzania

Luxury Tanzania safari destinations, on the map.

Choose a region to see when to go, how long it takes from Arusha, and the luxury camps, lodges and villas we use there.

Luxury Northern Serengeti safaris

Northern Serengeti

The Mara River crossings on the Tanzanian side, with far fewer vehicles

Best months: July to October, for the Mara River crossings
From Arusha: About 2 hours by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Northern Serengeti 5 stays, scroll →

Northern SerengetiNimali Mara
Northern Serengeti&Beyond Klein's Camp
Northern SerengetiSayari Camp
LamaiSingita Mara River
Northern SerengetiLemala Kuria Hills

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Luxury Western Corridor safaris

Western Corridor and Grumeti

The Grumeti River crossings and the private Grumeti Reserve

Best months: May to July for the crossings, superb all year in the private reserve
From Arusha: About 1.5 hours by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Western Corridor and Grumeti 6 stays, scroll →

GrumetiSingita Sasakwa Lodge
GrumetiSingita Sabora
Grumeti&Beyond Grumeti
Western SerengetiMapito Camp
GrumetiSingita Faru Faru
Private villaSerengeti House

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Luxury Central Serengeti safaris

Central Serengeti

Seronera and the eastern plains, where big cats are seen all year

Best months: All year, with the herds passing in April, May and November
From Arusha: About 1 hour by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Central Serengeti 9 stays, scroll →

SerengetiWarangi Ridge
SerengetiNimali Serengeti
Central SerengetiLemala Nanyukie
SerengetiFour Seasons Serengeti
SerengetiSisini Serengeti
Eastern SerengetiNamiri Plains
SerengetiSerengeti Under Canvas
Central SerengetiOne Nature Nyaruswiga
Private villaFour Seasons Villas, Serengeti

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Luxury Ndutu Plains safaris

Ndutu Plains

The short grass plains where the herds give birth, with predators close behind

Best months: December to March, with the calving at its peak in February
From Arusha: About 1 hour by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Ndutu Plains 4 stays, scroll →

NdutuLaba Migration Camp
NdutuLemala Mara and Ndutu
NdutuLake Masek Tented Camp
Southern SerengetiUbuntu Migration Camp

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Luxury Southern Serengeti safaris

Southern Serengeti and Mwiba

Private reserves and remote kopjes on the edge of the calving grounds

Best months: December to March, and quiet and lovely all year at Mwiba
From Arusha: About 1 hour by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Southern Serengeti and Mwiba

Mwiba ReserveMwiba Lodge
KusiniKusini Serengeti
Mwiba ReserveMwiba Plains

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Luxury Ngorongoro safaris

Ngorongoro and Karatu

The crater, a caldera holding the Big Five

Best months: All year, with June to October the clearest
From Arusha: About 3 hours by road, or 1 hour by air to Manyara

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Ngorongoro and Karatu 5 stays, scroll →

NgorongoroCrater's Edge Lodge
NgorongoroThe Manor at Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
NgorongoroLemala Osonjoi
KaratuGibbs Farm

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Luxury Tarangire safaris

Tarangire

Baobabs and the largest elephant herds in the north

Best months: June to October, when the elephants gather at the river
From Arusha: About 2 hours by road, or 30 minutes by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Tarangire 5 stays, scroll →

TarangireLemala Mpingo Ridge
TarangireSwala Camp
TarangireTarangire Treetops
TarangireChem Chem Lodge
TarangireOliver's Camp

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Luxury Arusha safaris

Arusha

First and last nights, among coffee farms and forest

Best months: All year
From Arusha: Where most Tanzania safaris begin

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Arusha

ArushaArusha Coffee Lodge
ArushaLegendary Lodge

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Luxury Kilimanjaro safaris

Kilimanjaro

Africa's highest mountain, 5,895 metres

Best months: Clearest from June to October and in January and February
From Arusha: About 1 hour by road from Arusha

We arrange Kilimanjaro views rather than climbs. The mountain is at its most beautiful from Amboseli, just across the border in Kenya, and on clear mornings from the lodges around Arusha.

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Luxury Ruaha safaris

Ruaha

Remote, wild and vast, with big lion prides and very few vehicles

Best months: June to October, the long dry season
From Arusha: About 2.5 to 3 hours by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Ruaha

RuahaUbuyu, a Banyan Escape
RuahaJabali Ridge

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Luxury Zanzibar safaris

Zanzibar and Mnemba

Spice island beaches and a private atoll after the safari

Best months: June to October and December to February
From Arusha: About 1 hour 15 by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Zanzibar and Mnemba 5 stays, scroll →

ZanzibarMelia Zanzibar
ZanzibarZuri Zanzibar
ZanzibarTulia Zanzibar
ZanzibarXanadu Villas
Mnemba Atoll&Beyond Mnemba Island

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Private Luxury Safaris

Private Tanzania safaris, away from the crowds.

Private reserves

Grumeti and Mwiba, private land on the edge of the Serengeti, where only a handful of guests drive, walk and go out at night.

Private guiding

Your own guide and Land Cruiser, positioned for the herds that week rather than a fixed route.

Private skies

Light aircraft between the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire, and on to Zanzibar, so no day is lost to the road.

Read about Singita Sasakwa, the luxury camps of the Serengeti and balloon safaris over the Serengeti.

Luxury Tanzania Safari Packages

Tanzania safari packages, priced and ready.

Every journey we offer in Tanzania, with its price. Filter by style, then travel it as it is or have us tailor it to your dates.

Road SafariThe classic circuit

8 Day Northern Tanzania Circuit by Road

DestinationsArusha · Tarangire · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Duration8 Days · 7 Nights
HighlightsThe circuit northern Tanzania was designed around, and the one place in East Africa where driving genuinely beats flying.

Starting fromUSD 9,000 per person

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Road SafariBorder crossing by road

12 Day Kenya and Tanzania Overland

DestinationsMaasai Mara · Isebania border · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Duration12 Days · 11 Nights
HighlightsTwo countries, one road, and a border crossing that becomes one of the stories you tell afterwards.

Starting fromUSD 12,500 per person

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Great MigrationJuly to October

8 Day Great Migration Safari

DestinationsMaasai Mara · Northern Serengeti
Duration8 Days · 7 Nights
HighlightsFollow the herds across the Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti in the river crossing season.

Starting fromUSD 16,750 per person

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Ultra LuxuryEvery flight included

12 Day Ultra Luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari

DestinationsAmboseli · Maasai Mara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Duration12 Days · 11 Nights
HighlightsThe finest address in Amboseli, the Mara, the Serengeti and on the crater rim, with every flight from Nairobi and back.

Starting fromUSD 19,400 per person

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Grand CircuitFlights includedPrivate reserves

8 Day Tanzania Grand Circuit

DestinationsNgorongoro · Grumeti · Mwiba
Duration8 Days · 7 Nights
HighlightsThe Ngorongoro Crater rim, the private Grumeti Reserve and the granite hills of the Mwiba Reserve, with flights included.

Starting fromUSD 30,100 per person

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Kenya and TanzaniaKenya and Tanzania

11 Day Luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari

DestinationsNairobi · Amboseli · Maasai Mara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Duration11 Days · 10 Nights
HighlightsAmboseli, the Mara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, crossing the border in one seamless journey.

Starting fromUSD 11,350 per person

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Private IslandTwo dives a day

7 Day Mnemba Island Luxury Beach Safari

DestinationsMnemba Atoll · Zanzibar
Duration7 Days · 6 Nights
HighlightsA private island of beach bandas off Zanzibar, with two dives a day included. The natural finale to a Tanzanian safari.

Starting fromUSD 12,125 per person

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Ultra LuxuryFlights included

5 Day Singita Sasakwa Ultra Luxury Safari

DestinationsGrumeti Reserve · Western Serengeti
Duration5 Days · 4 Nights
HighlightsA hilltop manor house in the private Grumeti Reserve, with almost everything included and flights from Kilimanjaro or Nairobi.

Starting fromUSD 13,950 per person

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Private VehicleOff road and night drives

5 Day &Beyond Grumeti River Lodge Safari

DestinationsGrumeti Reserve · Western Serengeti
Duration5 Days · 4 Nights
HighlightsA private vehicle and guide throughout the Grumeti Reserve, with off road and night drives that the national park does not allow.

Starting fromUSD 10,500 per person

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SerengetiNgorongoro Crater

9 Day Luxury Tanzania Safari

DestinationsArusha · Tarangire · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Duration9 Days · 8 Nights
HighlightsTarangire's baobabs and elephants, the Ngorongoro Crater and the open plains of the Serengeti.

Starting fromUSD 10,950 per person

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Mara and SerengetiTwo countries in a week

7 Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Luxury Safari

DestinationsMaasai Mara · Serengeti
Duration7 Days · 6 Nights
HighlightsEast Africa's two most famous reserves in a single week.

Starting fromUSD 9,950 per person

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Best Time to Visit Tanzania

The Great Migration in Tanzania, month by month.

The herds are somewhere in the Serengeti every month of the year. The question is which chapter you want to see. Choose a month to see the weather, the wildlife, the prices and where we would send you.

The calving season

January in Tanzania

Weather: Warm, a short dry spell
Wildlife: Calving begins on the southern plains
Prices: High
Best for: The calving season
Where we would send you: Ndutu and the southern Serengeti, then Ngorongoro

The calving season

February in Tanzania

Weather: Warm and dry
Wildlife: Peak calving, with predators at their busiest
Prices: High
Best for: Calving and predators
Where we would send you: Ndutu or Mwiba, on the calving plains

The calving season

March in Tanzania

Weather: The rains begin
Wildlife: The herds linger on the southern plains
Prices: Shoulder
Best for: Late calving and value
Where we would send you: The southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro

Green season

April in Tanzania

Weather: Long rains
Wildlife: Herds move into the central Serengeti, some camps close
Prices: The lowest rates of the year
Best for: Green season value
Where we would send you: The central Serengeti and Tarangire, at camps that stay open

Green season

May in Tanzania

Weather: Long rains ease
Wildlife: Herds gather in the centre and west, the rut begins
Prices: Low
Best for: The rut and value
Where we would send you: The central Serengeti or the Western Corridor

The herds on the move

June in Tanzania

Weather: Dry and cool
Wildlife: Herds in the Western Corridor, crossing the Grumeti River
Prices: High
Best for: The Grumeti crossings
Where we would send you: The Grumeti Reserve

The Mara River crossings

July in Tanzania

Weather: Dry
Wildlife: Herds reach the north, the first Mara River crossings
Prices: Peak
Best for: The Great Migration
Where we would send you: The northern Serengeti, near Lamai and Kogatende

The Mara River crossings

August in Tanzania

Weather: Dry
Wildlife: Mara River crossings at their most frequent
Prices: Peak
Best for: River crossings
Where we would send you: Lamai and the northern Serengeti

The Mara River crossings

September in Tanzania

Weather: Dry
Wildlife: Crossings continue in the north
Prices: Peak
Best for: Crossings with fewer vehicles than the Mara
Where we would send you: The northern Serengeti, or Tarangire for elephants

The Mara River crossings

October in Tanzania

Weather: Dry, warming
Wildlife: Herds turn south, Tarangire elephants at their best
Prices: High
Best for: Tarangire and the north
Where we would send you: The northern Serengeti early, then Tarangire

The herds on the move

November in Tanzania

Weather: Short rains
Wildlife: Herds move south through the eastern Serengeti
Prices: Shoulder
Best for: Value and green plains
Where we would send you: The eastern Serengeti and Ngorongoro

The herds on the move

December in Tanzania

Weather: Short rains ease
Wildlife: Herds arrive back on the southern plains
Prices: High late
Best for: The return of the herds
Where we would send you: Ndutu for the herds, then Zanzibar

Luxury Private Villas in Tanzania

Private villas and exclusive use houses in the Serengeti.

A whole house above the Grumeti plains, or a villa with its own pool in the heart of the Serengeti, with your own guide, vehicle and chef.

Grumeti, Serengeti · Exclusive UseSerengeti HouseA four bedroom house on the hill above the Grumeti plains, with a private chef, pool and tennis court, and the Serengeti moving below it.Best forFamilies and groups who want the Grumeti to themselves

Central Serengeti · Exclusive UseFour Seasons Villas, SerengetiStandalone villas within the Four Seasons Safari Lodge, with private pools overlooking the waterhole the elephants come to at dusk.Best forFamilies who want space with full hotel service

See every luxury private villa and exclusive use house →

The Question Everyone Asks

Tanzania or Kenya?

Neither is better. They are different, and many of our guests combine them on one journey.

	Tanzania	Kenya
Getting around	Larger distances, longer flights	Short flights, parks close together
The Great Migration	Calving from December to March, crossings from July	River crossings, July to October
Private conservancies	Available, in fewer places	Invented here, widely available
Iconic sights	Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire	Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Kilimanjaro, Laikipia
Rhino	Possible in Ngorongoro, rarer elsewhere	Reliable in Lewa, Ol Pejeta and Solio
Beach finale	Zanzibar, very close	Diani, Watamu and Lamu, or the islands
Best for	Space, the crater, the full migration cycle	A first safari, shorter trips, variety in a week

See luxury Kenya safaris and read Kenya and Tanzania: where to go and when.

The safaris were intimate, never rushed, and our guide made each sighting significant.

Guest review · Rated 4.9 from more than 170 reviews

Good to Know

Luxury Tanzania safari questions, answered.

When is the best time for a Tanzania safari?

It depends on the Migration chapter you want. December to March for the calving on the southern Serengeti plains, June for the Grumeti River crossings in the west, and July to October for the Mara River crossings in the north. June to October is also the best time for Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater.

How much does a luxury Tanzania safari cost?

Our private Tanzania safari packages start from USD 9,000 per person. Most guests spend between USD 10,000 and USD 20,000 per person for eight to twelve nights, and ultra luxury journeys with Singita in the Grumeti or Mwiba run higher.

Where is the Great Migration in Tanzania each month?

On the southern plains around Ndutu from December to March for the calving, moving through the central Serengeti in April and May, in the Western Corridor and the Grumeti in June, in the northern Serengeti at the Mara River from July to October, and back south through the east in November.

What are the best luxury lodges in Tanzania?

Singita Sasakwa, Sabora and Faru Faru in the Grumeti, Singita Mara River in the north, Mwiba Lodge in the south, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and The Manor on the crater, Gibbs Farm in Karatu, Jabali Ridge in Ruaha and &Beyond Mnemba Island off Zanzibar.

Is Tanzania or Kenya better for a safari?

Tanzania offers vast space, the Ngorongoro Crater and the full Migration cycle, including the calving. Kenya offers shorter flights, the private conservancies of the Maasai Mara and an easy beach finale. Many of our guests combine the two in one journey.

How many days do I need for a Tanzania safari?

Eight to twelve nights for the northern circuit: Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and two areas of the Serengeti. Add three or four nights on Zanzibar, or three in Ruaha for a wilder finale.

How do you get around on a Tanzania safari?

By light aircraft between the parks, flying from Arusha or Kilimanjaro, or by private road safari with one guide throughout, which suits Tarangire and the Ngorongoro highlands particularly well.

What is included in a luxury Tanzania safari package?

Your camps and lodges with all meals, game drives with a professional guide, park and crater fees, light aircraft flights between parks, airport meet and assist and Rescue.co medical evacuation cover. A private vehicle and a balloon safari over the Serengeti can be added.

Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?

Yes, and it is the most popular finale. Zanzibar is about an hour and a quarter from Arusha by air, and &Beyond Mnemba Island offers a private atoll for the most exclusive end to a journey.

Can I see gorillas on a Tanzania safari?

Not in Tanzania, but Rwanda and Uganda are a short flight away, and our Ultimate East Africa journey combines gorilla trekking with the Serengeti by private charter.

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Plan your luxury Tanzania safari.

Share your dates and who is travelling. A designer in Nairobi will place you where the herds will be, hold the best lodges for your dates and send an exact price within 24 hours.

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Also in East Africa: Kenya, gorilla trekking and Zanzibar.