A Serengeti luxury safari will vault you and your loved ones into a world of splendour, opulence and breathtaking natural beauty surrounded by the most incredible wildlife Africa has to offer.
The continent’s finest lodges await, each offering something a little different, with exquisite old-country designs and all modern comforts.
Your neighbours will largely consist of elephants, hippos, and giraffes and more whilst you sip a sundowner cocktail on your veranda wooden walkway toasting the African sunset.
The best Serengeti luxury safari tours
How to organise a luxury safari in the Serengeti?
Pre-trip planning
To organise your luxury safari in the Serengeti, the recommended route is to hire a travel agency specializing in Tanzania safaris.
Their expertise of the top luxury lodges, tours and logistics required will be of significant benefit to guests. Trips can also be customised per the customers requirements or requests for particular activities.
International flights into the country arrive via Dar es Salaam (DAR) airport for visitors wondering how to get to Tanzania. DAR airport is located 18km south of Dar Es Salaam and a Tanzania visa and certain vaccinations may be required to enter the country.
Carrying a small amount of Tanzanian currency, the Tanzania Shilling (TZS) is recommended as back-up when paying for items where credit card facilities are unavailable. Visitors can also review further details on overall Tanzania safari prices here.
Luxury safari components
Potential visitors are advised to detail their wish list in terms of accommodation, activities, preferred means of transport and food requirements, as these can vary significantly depending on preferences and budget.
The travel agency will then be able to provide a more detailed estimate.
Chartered flights are often used to arrive at different parts of the Serengeti and will save the visitor a lot of time. Various safari types can be explored in 4 × 4 vehicles with a private guide.
For a luxury trip to the Serengeti, some visitors prefer the tranquillity of private reserves with a hot-air balloon safari or they may prefer concessions with more adrenaline packed activities including quad biking and white water rafting activities.
Lastly, choosing the right accommodation for you is what will make your safari an unforgettable luxurious experience. In this regard, Tanzania has some of the most exceptional lodges in the world making your stay unforgettable.
Top 10 Serengeti Luxury Safari Lodges & Camps
The Serengeti is home to some of the continent’s most beautiful reserves and luxury lodges, offering magnificent food, service, wildlife and scenic views to match.
Singita Sasakwa Lodge
The award-winning Singita Sasakwa Lodge epitomises old-world luxury and grace, resembling a manor straight out of the Edwardian era.
Regal indulgence is evident in every corner of the lodge, from the vintage collectibles dotted around the rooms to the Persian carpets laid out on polished parquet floors.
The atmosphere might be that of a bygone era, but Sasakwa ensures not one creature comfort of the modern age is missing, whether that’s something as simple as a hairdryer in each room or the large infinity pool overlooking the sprawling Serengeti plains.
Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp
Makoma Hills is home to Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp, which has a panoramic view of the throngs of wildlife across the Serengeti plains. This exclusive camp is a marriage of excitement, serenity and luxury.
Explore on a safari vehicle to find the Big Five, big cats and the herds of the great migration. Relax on your deck at camp and listen to the call of the wild, enjoy a romantic bush picnic or take a bath with a view.
Do a Maasai culture tour to learn about their traditions, song and dance. Drift over the herds and landscapes at dawn in a hot-air balloon.
Ang’ata Serengeti Camp
Ang’ata is the Maasai word for wilderness, appropriate for a camp with a natural setting and view of plains and wildlife. It lies at the hub of the park.
The camp offers game drives in all directions, including to Moru Kopjes, Maasai Kopjes with their rock art, Ngong Rocks, and the Grumeti River and western corridor.
Expect to see big cats and the Big Five year-round, with the thrill of massive herds crossing the plains during the annual migration and relax at camp between game drives or enjoy a private bush lunch. Make time for a hot-air balloon ride high above the plains for a memory to treasure.
Mwiba Lodge
Hidden high upon massive stone boulders ensconced by ancient coral and acacia trees, Mwiba Lodge exudes the grandeur and awe-inspiring affluence of a fabled lost city.
This opulent lodge seamlessly blends top-tier contemporary design with traditional African elements, elevating your safari experience to a level fit for royalty.
Guest satisfaction is at the very top of the priority list, with the assurance of a private safari vehicle and guide per booking.
Namiri Plains
Authentic African safari meets extravagant intercontinental getaway at Namiri Plains. Constructed on wooden decks and set under canvas in the Eastern Serengeti wilderness, this luxury tented camp offers top-tier modern comforts and designs.
Couple this with impeccable personalised service and you’ll forget that you’re in the middle of the Tanzanian bushland, not a five-star hotel.
Sanctuary Kichakani Camp
View the most climactic moments of the Great Migration in the lap of luxury at Kichakani Camp.
The resplendent mobile camp prides itself on providing prime viewing spots to nature’s best show. Watch as wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and predators alike make their way down the seasonal path, all from the comfort of a 19th century-inspired setting.
Bushtops Luxury Tented Camp
Calling all newlyweds, your perfect honeymoon getaway awaits at Bushtops! The mix of secluded locale, the soothing sounds of nature and the magical backdrop of the Serengeti landscape make for a unique romantic ambiance.
Stargazing from the deck of your tent, sipping bubbly while soaking in the private hot tub or sharing a couple’s massage after a game drive – Bushtops opulent setting and five-start service will make you even happier to be betrothed.
Lamai Camp
Peeking out from a ridge atop the Kogakuria Kopje, Lamai Camp stands tall among giant boulders. The camp’s heightened position gives it rolling views of the Serengeti plains and plenty of opportunity to sight the wildlife below.
The comfort of living spaces have an authentic safari atmosphere; think wood, thatch and whitewashed stone walls. The living quarters make the most of the beautiful location, with glassless floor-to-ceiling windows opening up the space to nature.
Here, African design and décor take centre stage, with all furnishings designed and handmade by local artisans.
Singita Faru Faru Camp
Set on a hill overlooking the glistening Grumeti River, you can’t help but leave Faru Faru Camp feeling refreshed and renewed. A perfect mix of stone and canvas, every inch of Faru Faru gives guests a sense of the peace that only nature can provide.
The camp provides guests with a host of leisure activities, including archery, hot-air ballooning and mountain biking, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in this unique safari experience.
Four Seasons Safari Lodge
Four Seasons Safari Lodge is one of the most sophisticated of the Serengeti safari lodges. It lies in one of the best areas to see the Big Five, plains wildlife and predator–prey action during the migration.
Elevated platforms give superb views of the surrounding landscape. Sit on your balcony to watch elephants and other animals come to drink at the waterhole below. Go game driving or bush walking with your guide. Return to camp to relax in the spa or at the infinity pool or plunge pool.
Go hot-air ballooning to watch the sunrise over the plains and get a different perspective of the wildlife.
Luxury safari tour in the the Serengeti: Pricing and itinerary
There are numerous different luxury safari tours in the southern Serengeti and northern Serengeti that can be designed and customised per the customer’s requirements, with tours of combined with the Ngorongoro Crater or Masai Mara in Kenya.
4 day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Luxury safari itinerary
Days | Itinerary | Stay |
1 | Arrival and transfer to Serengeti National Park Evening game drive, with the help of a flashlight you will be able to spot predators such as lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hyenas and leopards as they hunt the prey. Then head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight. | Luxury lodge, Serengeti |
2 | Full day in Serengeti National Park. Wake up for early breakfast then head to the park together with your packed lunch for a full day game drive in the plains of Serengeti. Enjoy the unequalled natural beauty of Serengeti and a high population of wildlife species composed of animals like wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, prides of lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, rhinos, cape buffaloes and many more. Your lunch will be set in the wilderness of Serengeti national park and will be treated to delicious meals and the scenic natural views of the park then go for another game drive. In the evening you will return to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight. | Melia Serengeti Lodge |
3 | Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area Have early breakfast, meet your safari guide and head to Serengeti for the last morning game drive, later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation area with an en-route game drive. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the 8 wonders of the world due to hosting the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world in the names of Ngorongoro crater said to have been formed million years ago due to volcanic eruption. On your arrival, you will check into your lodge for lunch then descend to the crater floor for a game drive on which you will enjoy watching many animals. These include lions, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, wildebeests, zebras, Jackals, hyenas, Thomson and grants gazelles and many birds such as storks, herons, secretary birds and many more. Return to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight. | Luxury farm accommodation, Ngorongoro area |
4 | Departure. After breakfast, descend into the floor for the last game drive of your safari lasting for 5 hours with picnic lunch, the crater floor is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world. It hosts an estimated 30,000 animals including some of the last remaining black rhinos in Tanzania. Apart from rhinos, other animals you will watch on the game drive include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, leopards and many more. After the game drive and lunch you will head on a drive back to Arusha for a drop off either at your lodge or at the airport. |
Pricing for luxury tours start from £460/$600 per person per day.
In addition to day and night drives, visitors can take a scenic helicopter transfer or a sunrise hot air balloon ride followed by a champagne breakfast.
FAQs
What other areas in Tanzania are worth visiting for luxury safaris?
Luxury safaris in Ngorongoro Crater or Selous Game Reserve are a great alternative, with incredible lodges, scenery, exceptional service and wildlife on offer.
What is the budget for a luxury safari in the Serengeti?
The price of a luxury safari in the Serengeti will depend on multiple factors including the accommodation and transport means chosen. Visitors can budget for a minimum of £460/$600 per person per day.