Kirawira Tented Lodge, Western Corridor, West Serengeti
Gibbs Farm, Ngorongoro slopes, Karatu
Lemala Mara River Camp, North Serengeti, near the Mara
River Camp, North Serengeti, near the Mara

Accommodation · Tier two of three

Boutique Camps
& Lodges.

Karibu · what this is

Boutique Camps
& Lodges.

These are permanent camps and lodges, more advanced, and offering more services and resources than the canvas tier. They accommodate relatively big groups, holding between thirty and forty standard rooms.

They provide a wide variety of services and resources: swimming pool, wifi, laundry machine, curio shops, hair dryer, massage, 24-hour electricity, safe boxes, and more choice at every meal and on the drinks list. It is the tier most of our repeat clients settle into after their first trip.

From our Arusha team

Lodges in this tier

Characterful lodges in prime wildlife country.

Every property in this tier, listed in full — 21 of them, across 4 parks. Every one we have stayed in, sent guests to, or both.

Lake Masek Tented Lodge, Lake Masek, Ndutu 01 Lake Masek Tented Lodge Lake Masek, Ndutu·Serengeti Twenty chalets on the soda shore of Lake Masek in Ndutu, private soaking tubs, outdoor showers, and the February calving on the plain in front. Permanent tented·20 chalets·Dec–Mar View the property Kirawira Tented Lodge, Western Corridor, West Serengeti 02 Kirawira Tented Lodge Western Corridor, West Serengeti A hilltop ’grand safari’ camp, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World, Edwardian opulence under canvas in the remote west. Edwardian tented lodge·Tented suites·May–Jul View the property Elephant Springs, Remote southwest corner 03 Elephant Springs Remote southwest corner·Tarangire A 2024 camp hidden in Tarangire’s wild southwest, ten suites, elephant herds at hand, the nearest neighbour an hour away. Tented suites·10 suites + 2 family villas·Jun–Oct View the property Escarpment Luxury Lodge, Above Lake Manyara on the escarpment 04 Escarpment Luxury Lodge Above Lake Manyara on the escarpment Sixteen chalets on the escarpment, with the lake and the Rift wall in front of them. Escarpment lodge·16 private luxury chalets·Year-round View the property Kitela Lodge, Karatu highlands 05 Kitela Lodge Karatu highlands·Ngorongoro A coffee estate in the Karatu highlands, below the Ngorongoro rim. Highland farm lodge·Cottage rooms and suites·Year-round View the property Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge, Central Serengeti 06 Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge Central Serengeti Twenty-five contemporary tented suites on a ridge above the central plains, an infinity pool, and easy reach of the Seronera predators. Ridge-top tented lodge·25 suites·Year-round View the property Lahia Tented Lodge, Western Corridor, West Serengeti 07 Lahia Tented Lodge Western Corridor, West Serengeti A hilltop lodge with 360-degree views and sunset verandas, organic stone-and-timber design in the western corridor. Hilltop tented lodge·Tents·May–Jul View the property Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, On the escarpment above the lake 08 Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge On the escarpment above the lake·Lake Manyara On the escarpment, with Lake Manyara and the Rift floor spread out below. Escarpment lodge·Rondavel-style rooms·Year-round View the property Lemala Mara River Camp, North Serengeti, near the Mara 09 Lemala Mara River Camp North Serengeti, near the Mara A tented camp in the far north near the Mara River, positioned for the dry-season migration and the crossings. Tented camp·Canvas tents·Jul–Oct View the property Lion's Paw Camp, Eastern crater rim, inside the gate 10 Lion’s Paw Camp Eastern crater rim, inside the gate·Ngorongoro A misty forest camp on the eastern crater rim inside the park gates, so you’re the first vehicle down into the caldera at dawn. Tented camp·Canvas tents·Jun–Oct View the property Mara Mara Tented Lodge, Kogatende, North Serengeti 11 Mara Mara Tented Lodge Kogatende, North Serengeti Fifteen suites built around the northern migration, three hundred metres from the Mara River. Boutique tented camp·15 luxury suites·Jul–Oct View the property Maramboi Tented Lodge, Manyara–Tarangire corridor 12 Maramboi Tented Lodge Manyara–Tarangire corridor An under-canvas camp on a 25,000-acre private concession between Manyara and Tarangire, with walking safaris to a flamingo lakeshore. Tented lodge, private concession·Tents·Jun–Oct View the property Migration Tented Lodge, Lobo Valley, North Serengeti 13 Migration Tented Lodge Lobo Valley, North Serengeti Twenty suites strung along the Grumeti in the Lobo Valley, granite kopjes behind, hippos below, the migration on the horizon. Permanent tented·20 suites·Jun–Oct View the property Ndutu Lodge, Ndutu, South Serengeti 14 Ndutu Lodge Ndutu, South Serengeti A storied 1967 lodge in a forgotten acacia forest at Ndutu, character over opulence, and the calving herds at the door. Historic safari lodge·32 rooms·Dec–Mar View the property Neptune Lodge, Ngorongoro edge, Karatu 15 Neptune Lodge Ngorongoro edge, Karatu An all-suite log-cabin retreat on 50 acres just outside the Ngorongoro gate, twenty cabins with private fireplaces and a spa. Log-cabin lodge·20 cabins·Year-round View the property Ngorongoro Farm House, Karatu highlands 16 Ngorongoro Farm House Karatu highlands·Ngorongoro A working farm in the Karatu highlands, half an hour from the Ngorongoro gate. Farm lodge·Farm cottages·Year-round View the property Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Eastern crater rim 17 Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge Eastern crater rim·Ngorongoro On the eastern rim, with the crater floor laid out below the windows. Large traditional lodge·Rooms and suites·Year-round View the property Sametu Camp, Sametu Kopjes, East Serengeti 18 Sametu Camp Sametu Kopjes, East Serengeti A secluded camp by the Sametu Kopjes with access to the ’Greek Gods’ lion pride and Barafu Gorge, the wildlife of Seronera without the crowds. Tented camp·Canvas tents·Year-round View the property Serengeti Serena Lodge, Central Serengeti 19 Serengeti Serena Lodge Central Serengeti Thatched stone rondavels on a tree-shrouded bluff, an infinity pool and a lofty view over the Seronera big-cat country. Stone rondavel lodge·Rondavels·Year-round View the property Tloma Lodge, Karatu highlands 20 Tloma Lodge Karatu highlands·Ngorongoro Karatu highlands, coffee gardens, and the crater gate within easy reach. Highland farm lodge·Cottage rooms·Year-round View the property Togoro Plains Camp, Serengeti; position varies by season 21 Togoro Plains Camp Serengeti; position varies by season Classic Serengeti canvas, positioned for the season you travel in. Classic tented camp·En-suite tented units·Dec–Mar; Jun–Oct View the property
The garden terrace at an owner-run lodge

What it’s actually like

Owner-run kitchens, and the gardens that feed them.

Gibbs Farm is a working plantation of twenty en-suite cottages, each with a fireplace that wraps through both the living area and the bathroom. Coffee is grown, processed and roasted on site, the Harvest Table is fed by a ten-acre garden, and the spa runs an indigenous medicine walk with the farm’s own Maasai healer.

At Plantation Lodge no two rooms are alike, each furnished with antiques and Tanzanian crafts on a 45-acre coffee estate, with four-course organic dinners from the garden and 24-hour power and laundry. Ndutu Lodge has stood since 1967: thirty-two thatched stone bungalows, produce drawn from its sister property Gibb’s Farm, and the rare licence to drive off-road inside the NCA.

Nanyukie gives every suite a corner plunge pool and 24-hour solar power. Kubu Kubu’s infinity pool is rated among the best in the Serengeti for watching game while you swim, house drinks included. Boutique lodges book four to seven months ahead for peak season.

Tier 02 of 04

What’s included

Planned around you, for a seven-night boutique itinerary.

Includes the lodge nightly rate, shared vehicle and guide, all meals and most drinks, internal park fees, and the in-country flights between regions. Excludes the international flights and tips for the on-the-ground team.

Plan Your Safari

Karibu sana. The owners are looking forward to meeting you.

Compare all three tiers