Best hotels in Tanzania

This mid-sized, owner-run lodge is located in the hills of rural Karatu, about halfway between Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park - and a short drive to Tarangire National Park and the extraordinary Serengeti. Set in 10 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, Plantation Lodge offers a great mix of lush surroundings, lodge comfort, excellent food, spa pampering, aesthetically pleasing African style and access to Tanzania's most scenic national parks.

With two rather lovely camps in Ruaha under their belts, the clever chaps at Asilia Africa have expanded to the Nyerere National Park ('The Selous'). Combining Nyerere and Ruaha make an excellent combination in Tanzania’s slightly more off-the-beaten track southern circuit, and this spangly camp is as good as ever. It’s in a waterside spot in one of the best game-viewing areas in the reserve and you can expect funky, stretch-canvas tents, all with views out to pods of harrumphing hippos, a good array of water- and land-based activities and a healthy dose of that genuine Asilia charm. Sounds good to us!

This permanent tented lodge offers wonderful safari isolation from a private concession. Bush simplicity is incorporated into the style of the camp, creating a rustic charm. The open air thatched structures offer inspiring views of Amboseli Plains, Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro. However, the draw card is not the big 5 but rather a unique experience away from the crowds.

The undeniably glam Dar es Salaam Serena is a perfect short-stay hotel located near both the airport and hub of this coastal city. Once the country's capital, Dar es Salaam is a real melting pot – the people are vibrant, the traffic is predictably busy and the trade is brisk. The 230-bed hotel itself, however, is an oasis of calm, with lush gardens, a palm tree-studded pool area, two restaurants, two bars (including one pool-side) and a coffee shop. Staff are friendly and prompt, their service matching those of other international hotels. And the rooms are spacious and super-comfortable.

Tucked among Stone Town's winding alleys, where stalls offer heaped bowls of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, and the walls are ablaze with curios, sunshine-bright fabrics and local artworks, is an alley that is unexpectedly quiet. And it's here, behind a traditionally ornate wooden door, that you'll find 170-year-old Kisiwa House. Built by a wealthy Omani merchant as a family home, the house is now a modern boutique hotel. Kisiwa (Swahili for 'island') was one of Stone Town's first buildings, so there's a profound sense of history embedded in its walls, antique furniture and original photographs of past residents.

Welcome to Luwela Camp, an authentic safari sanctuary nestled in the secluded slopes of Makoma Hill in the heart of Tanzania’s Central Serengeti. As the sister property to the renowned Lake Duluti Lodge, the camp blends warm hospitality with an immersive wilderness experience.

It's prime location is the epicenter of a vibrant ecosystem, celebrated for its incredible density of resident wildlife. Unlike other regions that rely on seasons, the Makoma Hill area offers phenomenal, year-round game viewing, ensuring that every day is an opportunity to witness the Serengeti's untamed drama, from the legendary Big Five to the more than 500 species of birds that grace the skies.

The Wayo Serengeti Green Camp North is a seasonal camp which follows the main wildebeest events. This camp is located in the northern section of the Serengeti where herds follow the rain showers, leaving behind the drying volcanic plains in the south. The wildebeest track through the corridor where our camp resides to reach the Mara River where they cross back and forth between the months of July and October. These Mara River regions are densely populated by tourists and camps so we prefer to be tucked quietly away from others to enjoy solitude. The river is still accessible for our guests on their daily game drives. The Wayo Serengeti Green Camp features beautifully designed tents sewn by local teams located on the boundary of Arusha National Park. With a picture-window of mesh at the front of the tent, you can lie on your bed and enjoy breathtaking 180 degree panoramic views. Encased in a beautiful stretch canvas overhead, tents sensitively blend into the landscape whilst also providing shade and privacy. The ensuite bathroom is enclosed and covered with bucket showers and low-flush toilets. The camp prioritises adventure, authentic safari experiences, and ecotourism. You will love the personalised service and prime access to some of the world's best game viewing.

Sitting within an acacia woodland on the Ngorongoro Crater's north-eastern rim, this Tanzanian-owned beauty offers 15 tented suites with views that'll have you glued to your private deck. But here's the real kicker: you're just a four-minute drive from the Lemala gate, meaning you'll be among the first vehicles descending to the crater floor each morning. Combine that privileged access with gas fireplaces for chilly highland evenings, crater-floor picnic lunches, and a commitment to eco-conscious design, and you've got yourself a rather impressive base for exploring one of Africa's Seven Natural Wonders.

Perched dramatically on the edge of the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, Melia brings a good helping of luxury to Tanzania's most iconic natural wonder. This is where you'll wake to views that most visitors only glimpse from crowded viewpoints – the sweeping 600-metre-deep crater stretching endlessly below your window. With 52 rooms and suites decorated with Maasai-inspired touches, two excellent restaurants serving everything from wood-fired pizzas to gourmet African fusion, and an infinity pool that seems to spill into the caldera itself, this is a safari done exceptionally well. And honestly, you might struggle to tear yourself away from that terrace.

Ycona Luxury Resort in Uroa, Zanzibar, is a 5-star, award-winning eco-conscious boutique retreat blending Italian design with African style. Experts in sustainable luxury, Ycona is located on a private 500m beach, featuring 40 private villas with private pools, lush gardens and multiple dining options with a huge focus on sustainability, wellness, and high-end service

Zanzibar’s allure is hardly a secret but picturesque Pongwe Beach, on the quieter eastern side of the island, has managed to remain somewhat under the radar. There’s no high-gloss, glitzy resorts here either and Pongwe Beach Hotel is as unpretentious, laid back and utterly divine as it gets. Think airy, white-washed cottages scattered along a secluded stretch of white sand, hammocks and palm trees blowing in the breeze and sapphire waves lapping at the shore. So what are you waiting for? Grab a fresh pineapple juice and a bikini and come to Pongwe for some relaxation of the sun, sea and sand kind.

Perched dramatically atop an escarpment overlooking the Tarangire River valley, this sophisticated safari lodge delivers front-row seats to one of East Africa's most unique ecosystems. With 15 luxurious tented suites positioned to maximise both sweeping views and cooling breezes, you're perfectly placed to watch vast elephant herds wander beneath towering baobab trees that have stood sentinel for centuries. Beyond the spectacular wildlife sightings below, the lodge itself impresses with its safari elegance, an infinity pool that seems to spill into the wilderness, and outdoor bathtubs where you can enjoy a soak whilst watching the sun set over the plains.