Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Crater rim
Grumeti River Lodge, West Serengeti
Kuria Hills Lodge, Wogakuria, North Serengeti
Nimali Mara Lodge, North Serengeti, near the Mara

Accommodation · Tier three of three

Ultra-Luxury
Lodges.

Karibu · what this is

Ultra-Luxury
Lodges.

If you are looking for a lavish and opulent stay while on safari in the deep African wilderness, here you are. These are five-star luxurious lodges and hotels providing executive, high-end, even presidential service in the African middle of nowhere.

They hold to international standards and luxurious service while you sit a few metres from the big game of Africa, elephants, hippos, lions and buffalo. They are better equipped than either level below, their styles are magical, and medical assistance is on hand just in case.

From our Arusha team

Addresses in this tier

The most exclusive addresses in Tanzania, grand hotels, boutique lodges and canvas camps combined.

Every property in this tier, listed in full — 18 of them, across 4 parks. Every one we have stayed in, sent guests to, or both.

Four Seasons Lodge, Central Serengeti 01 Four Seasons Lodge Central Serengeti Five-star polish in the heart of the plains: an infinity pool over an elephant waterhole, air-conditioned suites, a Thai spa. Design-led lodge·Air-conditioned suites·Year-round View the property Grumeti River Lodge, West Serengeti 02 Grumeti River Lodge West Serengeti Ten suites following the bow of the Grumeti in the quiet west, plunge pools, a rim-flow pool over the hippos, closest to the Ruwana predator action. Design-led river lodge·10 suites·May–Jul View the property Crater's Edge Lodge, Eastern rim, inside the gate 03 Crater’s Edge Lodge Eastern rim, inside the gate·Ngorongoro A 2024 tented lodge on the quiet eastern rim, one of only two inside the crater gate, so you make the first descent at dawn. 5-star tented lodge·Suites·Jun–Oct View the property Gibbs Farm, Ngorongoro slopes, Karatu 04 Gibbs Farm Ngorongoro slopes, Karatu A historic working coffee farm on the forested slopes of Ngorongoro, ten acres of organic gardens, farm-to-table food and charming cottages. Historic coffee farm·Cottages·Year-round View the property Gran Meliá Arusha, Foot of Mount Meru 05 Gran Meliá Arusha Foot of Mount Meru·Arusha A sleek five-star resort on eighteen acres at the foot of Mount Meru, the polished first or last night of a safari. Five-star gateway resort·Suites & villas·Year-round View the property Kuria Hills Lodge, Wogakuria, North Serengeti 06 Kuria Hills Lodge Wogakuria, North Serengeti A glass-walled 5-star camp hidden in the granite Wogakuria Hills of the far north, fifteen suites, plunge pools, cheetah country. Glass-walled tented lodge·15 suites·Jun–Oct View the property Kuro Treetops Lodge, Kopje Hill, park interior 07 Kuro Treetops Lodge Kopje Hill, park interior·Tarangire Baobab treehouse suites atop Kopje Hill, deep inside Tarangire, with 180-degree views over the year-round Silale Swamp. Baobab treehouse suites·Suites·Jun–Oct View the property Mpingo Ridge Lodge, Escarpment over the river valley 08 Mpingo Ridge Lodge Escarpment over the river valley·Tarangire An opulent escarpment lodge over the Tarangire River valley, panoramic elephant plains, bonfires under the acacias, deep in the park. Escarpment lodge·Suites·Jun–Oct View the property Nanyukie Tented Lodge, Seronera kopjes, Central Serengeti 09 Nanyukie Tented Lodge Seronera kopjes, Central Serengeti Cathedral-like tented suites with private plunge pools among the Seronera kopjes, a contemporary, intimate alternative in big-cat country. Contemporary tented suites·Suites with plunge pools·Year-round View the property Ngorongoro Melia Lodge, Crater rim 10 Ngorongoro Melia Lodge Crater rim·Ngorongoro The rim’s original lodge, reborn in 2023 as sleek ’African Modernism’, glass walls, an infinity pool spilling toward the caldera, a spa. Crater-rim lodge, renovated 2023·Suites·Jun–Oct View the property Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Crater rim 11 Ngorongoro Serena Lodge Crater rim·Ngorongoro A stone-and-lava lodge cloaked in ivy and mist on the rim at 7,000 feet, arched passages, fireplaces, and picture windows onto the caldera. Stone crater-rim lodge·75 rooms·Jun–Oct View the property Nimali Mara Lodge, North Serengeti, near the Mara 12 Nimali Mara Lodge North Serengeti, near the Mara Ten glass-fronted suites hidden in a kopje near the Mara River, copper tubs and the crossings close by. Glass-fronted tented suites·10 suites·Jul–Oct View the property Nimali Serengeti Lodge, Seronera, Central Serengeti 13 Nimali Serengeti Lodge Seronera, Central Serengeti A 2024 tented lodge in the Seronera big-cat heartland, contemporary organic design and views over the Makoma plain, thick with lion. Contemporary tented lodge·12 tented suites·Year-round View the property One Nature Nyaruswiga, Nyaruswiga, Central Serengeti 14 One Nature Nyaruswiga Nyaruswiga, Central Serengeti Fourteen tents in the central Serengeti, all-inclusive, built for photographers. Ultra-luxury all-inclusive tented·14 tented lodges·Year-round View the property Serengeti Bushtops, Wogakuria, North Serengeti 15 Serengeti Bushtops Wogakuria, North Serengeti Fifteen suites in the quiet north, close to the Mara River. Bush-integrated luxury tented·15 luxury tented suites·Jul–Oct View the property Singita Grumeti, Grumeti private concession, Western Serengeti 16 Singita Grumeti Grumeti private concession, Western Serengeti Private-concession game viewing in the western Serengeti, at the top of the market. Ultra-luxury private concession·Varies by property·Year-round View the property Swala Tented Lodge, Remote southwest corner 17 Swala Tented Lodge Remote southwest corner·Tarangire Nine luxury tents in Tarangire’s remote southwest, elephants at the waterhole off your veranda, the nearest neighbour two hours away. Luxury tented·9 tents·Jun–Oct View the property The Manor at Ngorongoro, Karatu, Ngorongoro highlands 18 The Manor at Ngorongoro Karatu, Ngorongoro highlands A stately Afro-European estate on a 1,500-acre coffee plantation in the highlands, twenty suites with private fireplaces and heated floors. Country estate·20 suites·Year-round View the property
A stilted rondavel suite on the Ngorongoro crater rim

What it’s actually like

A butler lays the fire at dusk, and glass opens onto the crater.

At Ngorongoro Crater Lodge the suites are stilted rondavels under banana-leaf roofs, set in three small camps, each with floor-to-ceiling glass onto the crater floor. A butler lays the fire at dusk and draws the evening bath. Drinks, laundry and private game drives are included.

Kuria Hills gives all fifteen suites a private plunge pool behind a frameless glass wall that slides onto a west-facing balcony for the sunset. Grumeti River Lodge runs an open kitchen where guests plan the day’s menu with the chefs. Tarangire Treetops sits in a private conservancy, so night safaris are possible there.

Four Seasons keeps air conditioning and high-speed internet throughout, an infinity pool over a spring-fed waterhole and an in-room animal-tracking channel. Lead times run twelve to fourteen months, and full-camp buyouts book further out still.

Tier 04 of 04

What’s included

Planned around you, for a seven-night Ultra-Luxury itinerary.

Includes the lodge nightly rate, private vehicle and guide, all meals and most drinks, internal park and concession fees, and the in-country flights between properties. Excludes international flights and tips. Fully bespoke arrangements, a private villa, a sole-use camp built for a single PAX group, are quoted separately and typically run higher; Our Arusha team will scope those in conversation once they understand the trip.

Plan Your Safari

Karibu sana. The land is waiting, quietly.

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