Little Black Book of Private Safari Lodges in Tanzania

This premium 10-bedroomed lodge is located in its own private reserve,  Mwiba Wildlife Reserve, bordering on the south of the iconic Serengeti National Park and it blends unparalleled experiences with true privacy. Overlooking a wonderful river with cascading waterfalls, the tented lodge itself takes one’s breath away.  Facilities include a fitness center, rejuvenating in-house spa, well-stocked wine cellar and the main public areas offer airy living spaces.

Very well known for its wildlife and authentic opportunities to interact with the local people, this lodge is truly spectacular!  The expansive deck outside your room will likely deliver sightings of rare animals like caracal and the elusive bush-baby at night. A sure highlight is bound to be the game bush walks with some of the Hadzebe tribe who will provide local knowledge, followed by a visit to the Datoga tribe kraal where you will hear the tribe singing.  The lodge provides private game drive vehicles with a dedicated ranger and animal tracker plus a suite butler, who is there to attend to your every need.  The gourmet set menu meals can also be served at various locations with incredible views, including on large granite boulders with views of the plains.  The sundowners are often served on these granite boulders as well. We also recommend pre-booking a scenic helicopter flip.

The main reason we have decided to include this lodge for discerning clients, is not just due to it being one of the top luxury lodges in Tanzania, but also because of the exclusive location in a private reserve – it is far from the crowds – along the banks of the Arugusinyai River.

Part of the luxury lodges in Tanzania that are recommended for discerning clients who are interested in a small and intimate safari with just five suites and want a private safari experience. It has a premium location in a private reserve plus all guests are allocated a private vehicle, guide, and tracker for all bookings undertaking a safari adventure. A world-class location in a wildlife-rich region and it overlooks the vast Serengeti from its place atop an elevated ridge.

This is the most glamorous ‘camping’ experience, being a premium tented camp. With its romantic feel and being a smaller camp, we highly recommend this property for honeymooners or special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays. Although it does have a two-bedroom family tent, which however only accommodates children from 8 and older, it is still more adult-orientated.

It also offers a range of activities inlcuding day and night game drives, walking safaris, authentic cultural visits, and optional fly camping overnights. This is a perfect luxury slice of adventure in the Serengeti which is rich in wildlife & biodiversity.

For the ultimate in outdoor dining from two private decks, with a vast view of the Serengeti plains, we would suggest the hillside suite at Singita Sasakwa Lodge in the primate 35 000-acre private Grumeti Reserve, next to the famous Serengeti National Park.  This is an exclusive one-bedroom villa in the western corridor of the Serengeti in Tanzania and was built in mid-2019. This is a perfect hideaway retreat in a secluded location, away from the main lodge with a private road and entrance. The villa includes a private game vehicle, field guide, dedicated host/butler, and in-room dining.

The suite comes with a master suite, rim-flow pool, kitchenette, fully stocked bar with gourmet snacks and expansive interiors with views out of the frameless glass doors and windows.

Grumeti Reserve offers year-round game viewing with your private guide and is one of the highly recommended Singita lodges in Tanzania.

This is one of the many lodges in Tanzania that opened its doors in 2023 post COVID. It is located in the heart of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, next to the well-known and iconic Crater. The property offers one of the best views of the crater. The decor is extremely modern, chic and is in perfect harmony with its surroundings and is respectful of the natural environment.

We recommend visiting the in-house spa for a beauty treatment or excellent relaxing massage during your ‘downtime’ in between your private safaris (from 2024) or working out at the state-of-the-art fitness center. There is also an infinity pool with views of the Crater, to keep you cool and refreshed during the hot summer Tanzania months. We love the way the interiors are inspired by local artisans. In the evening a highlight is sure to be savoring the finest ingredients with a delicious meal at The Crater Restaurant or The Crater Grill, which both have magnificent views of their surroundings as well.

Activities include the private 4×4 game drives, a walking safari, a luxury picnic on the edge of the 610-meter deep Crater or visiting a local Maasai village.

This is great to pair with its sister property’s – Gran Melia Arusha, Melia Serengeti and Melia Zanzibar.

No list of luxury lodges in the Tarangire National Park would be complete without including this special place.

Chem Chem is a premium lodge that boasts 3 camps – Chem Chem main Lodge, Little Chem Chem and then Forest Chem Chem which we are featuring. The forest lodge is an exclusive-use camp in the Chem Chem concession of Tarangire. Perfect for a group of family or friends who want to connect and enjoy a safari together, in this game-rich location.  There are 2 vintage tents which sleep a total of 4 guests and then another family tent for a further 2 adults and 2 children, therefore a total of 6 adults + 2 children. Each tent is complete with an indoor and outdoor shower and the public areas feature a dining room and lounge area.

This will feel like your own private luxury bush camp with private open-vehicle game drives with your own professional and experienced personal safari guides. You and your loved ones have the freedom to come and go as you please with this premium private safari experience.

Namiri Plains Retreat | Serengeti National Park

This is an ultra-luxurious private house that opened in July 2023, which is separate from the main camp of Asilia Africa Namiri Plains. If you and your family or friends want a deluxe safari with your own personal space with an elevated level of exclusivity, that is unrestricted, then Namiri Plains Retreat, one of the private lodges in Tanzania, is a must.

When we say that this is part of ‘big cat’ country, we really mean it, as the area of the Eastern Serengeti has been closed to visitors for the past 20 years to allow the cheetah population to grow. One of the activities we recommend is visiting the cheetah tracking project.

In 2014 Asilia Africa resumed operations of Namiri Plains camp and today there are large numbers of lion, cheetah, and leopards roaming the eastern Serengeti.  When returning from your private safari, relax around the dedicated fire pit – the perfect ending with pre-dinner drinks and snacks to add to the experience. Namiri proudly provides a private guide, a 6-seater vehicle, a chef and a host.

This retreat has 2 spacious en-suite bedrooms that boast a large shower and soaking bathtub. The bathroom is positioned to take in the phenomenal views of the plains outside.

Bailey’s Banda at Beho Beho | Nyerere National Park

This is a luxury private villa haven, in Nyerere National Park, which is also part of Selous Game Reserve. Beho Beho main camp has a long history with Selous as it was the first camp to be built here. As with the other properties featured in this Little Black Book of private safaris in Tanzania, Bailey’s Banda provides a private game drive vehicle and a dedicated expert and extremely knowledgeable guide plus an exclusive private boat on the nearby Lake Tagalala and also boasts an in-house chef for Bailey’s own kitchen. It comes with 100% flexibility to do activities, for the times that you request as game activities are tailored to your requirements.

We love the location on the hillside with sweeping views of the surroundings including the valley and hippo pools.  The private 2-bedroomed villa or opulent house comes with a refreshing swimming pool that is wrapped by a large sun deck with a wide undercover verandah, perfect for those balmy summer evenings to dine outside.

For a magical stay for the safari aficionado with sightings including lions, hippos, zebras, elephants, wildebeest and giraffes, we recommend Bailey’s Banda at Beho Beho.

Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp | Tarangire National Park

This is the second property we are featuring in the 25-000 hectares Tarangire. This property however is not an exclusive use camp like Forest Chem Chem featured above, this camp has 20 separate luxury tents, Each raised tent has a thatched roof that is slightly raised above the tent’s roof for extra shade during the hot summer months. One is built right next to a large ancient Baobab Tree and some are built on an elevated wooden platform.

The main areas include a dining and lounge area which leads out to a fire-pit on a large wooden deck and also a game viewing raised deck with fantastic views of this concession and river below. There is also a gift shop that stocks handmade items from the surrounding Maasai villages.

For a booking of 4 guests and more you are guaranteed to have a full day private safari 4×4 vehicle and ranger with tracker. Along with this amazing opportunity, they also provide complimentary laundry service. Tarangire is the sixth-largest national park in Africa and offers brilliant game viewing in this wildlife-rich national park.

The expert team at Ker & Downey® Africa is ready to book your private safari in Tanzania.