Where You Stay Before and After Your Trip
Before a Kilimanjaro climb you stay in Moshi, and before most safaris in Arusha. Both have options at every level.
Kilimanjaro climbs include a hotel night in Moshi before and after the climb. Safari quotations add Arusha nights when you arrive the day before.
| Area | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arusha | Kizumba House/Ibrahim Garden, Parachichi House, The Charity Hotel, Mvuli Hotel Arusha | Njro Luxury Resort, Greenside Hotel, Shoki Shoki Lodge, Zondela House, Parrot Hotel, Pazuri Inn, Samora River Lodge, The Safari House, Olerai Lodge near Arusha Airport, Forest Hill Lodge | Gran Melia Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge by Elewana, Mount Meru Hotel, The African Tulip, Four Points by Sheraton |
| Moshi and Kilimanjaro | Jakaranda Homestay, B&B Hotel | Siarick Cottage, Lamama Hotel, Shose Farm House and Chalets, Tulivu Kilimanjaro Retreat, Weru Weru River Lodge | Kaliwa Lodge in Machame, Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel, The Maridadi Hotel |
See also where to stay before and after Kilimanjaro.
Safari Lodges and Camps by Park
Inside or close to each park we use a set of lodges and tented camps at budget, mid-range and luxury level.
Staying inside a park, as in the central Serengeti or on the Ngorongoro crater rim, means more time on game drives. It also adds a park concession fee for each night. Karatu and Mto wa Mbu are outside the parks and cost less.
| Area | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karatu (Ngorongoro highlands) | Kankari Lodge, Country Lodge Karatu, Crater Rim Inn, Bougainvillea Lodge, Karatu Villas | Pamoja Farm Villas, Karatu Tented Lodge, Africa Safari Karatu, Farm of Dreams Lodge, Eileens Tree Inn, Marera Valley Lodge | Marera Valley Lodge, Starwold Karatu Lodge, Maasailand Coffee Lodge, Escarpment Ngorongoro in Karatu, Gibbs' Farm, Acacia Farm Lodge |
| Mto wa Mbu (Lake Manyara) | Fanaka Campsite, Lake Manyara Lodge and Campsite, Fig Tree Lodge, Nsya Lodge, Ngare Lodge | Moonbow Lodge, Suricata Boma Lodge, Mawe Mawe Manyara, Manyara's Secret | Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge |
| Tarangire | Maasai Eco Lodge (outside), Sangaiwe Tented Camp | Ang'ata Tarangire Kuro, Baobab Tented Camp, Burunge Tented Lodge, Tarangire Katikati Camp | Lake Burunge Baobab Tented Lodge, Maramboi Tented Lodge, Elephant Springs by Karibu Camps |
| Ngorongoro | Simba Campsite, Ngorongoro Wild Camp | Ngorongoro Safari Lodge (Inside), Ang'ata Ngorongoro (Inside), Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp, Embalakai Ngorongoro Camp | Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (Inside), Lion's Paw (Inside), Ngorongoro Oldeani (Outside), Melia Ngorongoro |
| Central Serengeti | Nyani Campsite, Engiterata Adventure Campsite, Maboresho Tented Camp | Serengeti Classic View Camp, Mberesero Serengeti Central Lodge, Manya Luxury Camp, Land of Nature Tented Lodge, Mawe Tented Camp, Baobab Tented Camp Central, Ang'ata Serengeti, Serengeti Tortilis Camp, Embalakai Serengeti Camp | Nyota Luxury Tented Camp, Serengeti Serena Lodge (Inside), Naisula Serengeti Camp (couples/family only), Melia Serengeti, Four Seasons Serengeti |
| Northern Serengeti (Mara River) | Serengeti Classic View Kogatende | Olmorijo Camp, Nyikani Migration Camp, GNU Migration Camp, Baobab Mara Luxury Camp | Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp, Serengeti Ark Safari Lodge, Mara Mara Tented Lodge, River Camp |
| Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) | Serengeti Classic View Ndutu | Ang'ata Camp Ndutu, Ndutu Katikati Camp, Ndutu Wildland Camp, Baobab Naabi Luxury Serengeti Camp | Malaika Ndutu Luxury Camp, Masek Tented Lodge |
For the Serengeti, the right area depends on the month. See where to stay in the Serengeti by season.
Hotels in Zanzibar
In Zanzibar we book hotels in Stone Town and on the main beaches: Nungwi and Kendwa, Kiwengwa, Pongwe and Jambiani.
Many guests split their stay between a night or two in Stone Town and the rest on a beach.
| Area | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town, Zanzibar | Rumaisa Hotel, Swahili House Stone Town, Golden Tulip Boutique Stone Town | Golden Tulip Airport Hotel, Sharazad Boutique Hotel, Maru Maru Hotel, The Neela Boutique Hotel | Zanzibar Serena Hotel, Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Hotel Verde Zanzibar |
| Nungwi and Kendwa, Zanzibar | Sunseabar Hotel, Sansi Kendwa Hotel, Sunset Kendwa Hotel | Kendwa Rocks, Nungwi Turaco Resort | Gold Zanzibar Resort |
| Kiwengwa, Zanzibar | — | Tembo Kiwengwa Beach Resort, Zanziblu Waves Kiwengwa | Tembo Kiwengwa Beach Resort, Zanziblu Waves Kiwengwa |
| Pongwe, Zanzibar | — | Toa Beach Hotel & Spa | Toa Beach Hotel & Spa |
| Jambiani, Zanzibar | — | Reef and Beach Resort | — |
Compare the beaches in our Zanzibar beach guide.
How the Accommodation Level Changes Your Price
The route, vehicle and guide are the same at every level. Only the hotels and lodges change, and with them the price.
For example, our 4-day Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari costs from US$1,680 per person on a budget basis, US$2,195 at mid-range and US$3,130 at luxury level, for 2 travelers.
| Level | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Budget | Campsites, simple lodges and guesthouses, with clean rooms and basic facilities |
| Mid-range | Comfortable lodges and tented camps with private bathrooms |
| Luxury | Top lodges and camps with the best locations and service |
Each tour page shows prices at all three levels.
How to Choose Your Accommodation Level
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want the lowest price and don't mind simple rooms | Budget |
| Want comfort and good locations | Mid-range |
| Are on a honeymoon or a special trip | Luxury |
| Want a mix | Mid-range on safari, luxury on Zanzibar |
Lodges are booked at the level you choose, or similar, and named in your quotation.
On safari, mid-range lodges give the best balance of comfort and price for most travelers; on Zanzibar, many guests upgrade for the beach. Book early for July to October and Christmas.
Booking Your Accommodation
We book every lodge and hotel as part of your quotation, at the level you choose, and confirm the names for your dates. If a lodge is full, we offer a similar alternative at the same level. Tell us about any special requests, such as connecting rooms, accessible rooms or a honeymoon, and we pass them on.
Common Questions About Accommodation in Tanzania
Can we choose a specific lodge?
Yes. Tell us which property you want and we will quote with it, subject to availability.
Do you book hotels without a tour?
We book accommodation as part of a climb, safari or Zanzibar trip.
What happens if our lodge is full?
We offer another property from the same level on this list and confirm it with you before booking.
Can I mix accommodation levels?
Yes: for example mid-range on safari and luxury on Zanzibar.