Mawe Ninga Camp

Built into the natural rock, the thatched main dining terrace has a small service bar to one side, and an outstandingly commanding view of Tarangire Park. The furnishings are simple, with wooden accents. The showstopper by far is the adjacent wooden deck, where a campfire is lit in the evening and you can enjoy a drink or two while gazing across the sycamore fig trees to the truly panoramic spectacle of the Rift Valley Escarpment and the Ngorongoro Highlands. Magical!

Small and naturally styled to blend into the surroundings, the 16 canvas tents housed under thatch are simple, clean and comfortable, with dressing-room alcoves, and an en-suite bathroom flush toilet and solar-powered shower. The tents are raised on wooden platforms built into the rocks, so the views from the canvas chairs on your private terrace are so awe-inspiring that the simplicity of the decor and amenities won't be a bother.

Visit Tarangire in the June-to-October dry season to witness animals migrating from the dry hinterland to the park's permanent sources of water. Huge herds of elephant gather at the river itself, and often lumber past the campsite in the evening. At the camp's waterhole, look out for buffalo, lion, kudu, fringe-eared oryx, cheetah and leopard. There's good birdwatching to be had on game drives and foot safaris, and the area is also known for its giant baobabs. Ballooning is available.