Arusha Area

Planet Lodge

Planet Lodge is our standard lodge in Arusha area before and after Kilimanjaro climbs, and if you need an affordable lodge before or after safari. Although it’s a budget-friendly option, it’s actually rather nice for the budget-conscious traveler. The grounds are spacious and they have a pool, with gorgeous views of Mount Meru (Tanzania's second highest mountain). The food is decent, as are the rooms. Bathrooms have simple stall showers. Sometimes the road nearby can be noisy or dusty, though the wall and plantings which are growing taller help with this. This isn’t a luxury lodge, but is generally much nicer than budget travelers expect. The lodge is set on the outskirts of Arusha; there is a free shuttle into central Arusha that goes in once in the morning and returns in the afternoon (needs to be booked with the lodge at check-in).

Ilboru Safari Lodge

Ilboru Safari Lodge is another reasonably priced/ budget friendly lodge that we like. The rooms are comfortable though simple. Food has been amazing in the past, though due to a recent management change we’ll see what the future holds. You are surrounded by a (sometimes noisy at night) neighborhood of Arusha, yet within the lodge grounds there are lots of trees, flowers, and open space and it feels like an oasis. The bumpy road to the Lodge entrance lets you see a real Tanzanian neighborhood with all the small but colorful shops and services along the way. Downtown Arusha is a short taxi ride away, for those want to explore.

Lower Cost Options

You can ask us about options for backpacking type hostels or cottage rooms run by a nonprofit – these aren’t hotel level but can be good for those on a tight budget who wish to book Arusha-area lodging themselves. We can discount your climb or safari package for any Arusha-area lodge nights not needed

Mount Meru Game Lodge

Mount Meru Game Lodge is in the countryside of beautiful Usa River village, about 20 minutes outside of Arusha (between Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha). The Lodge has beautiful grounds and a collection of animals to watch in their sanctuary. If the weather is clear, you may catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro from the terrace! Supper is often served outside by candlelight in the garden. The lodge does not have a pool. A friendly guide from the lodge will take you on free guided Usa River village or forest walk (reserve at the Reception desk).

Arumeru River Lodge

Arumeru River Lodge is in a lovely setting in Usa River village, outside Arusha. The lodge is a few minutes drive through a coffee plantation from the main road, and the rooms are scattered through the property with lots of open space. Small Dik Dik (antelope) may graze by your room. The pool is appealing on a hot day. A guide can take you on a village or forest walk (fees apply, reserve at the Reception desk).

KIA Lodge

KIA Lodge is part of the Moivaro group of lodges. It is located right near Kilimanjaro International Airport (approximately 5 minutes away). There is a free van shuttle to/from the airport if you have a room. Rooms are comfortable though not luxury. The Lodge is a great place to spend a night when you have late arriving or especially if you have early morning departing flights, or need to spend one night somewhere at the end of a trip. The lodge location is very convenient for the airport and located part-way between Arusha and Moshi, with nothing nearby except the airport.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

Sangaiwe Tented Lodge

Sangaiwe is a newer, nice but relatively budget friendly tented lodge in Tarangire. Like many others, it's located right outside park borders however the environment will feel like you are inside the park. Sangaiwe is part of a group of lodges with shared management of Country and Bougainvillea Lodges in Karatu, as well as Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge

Tarangire River Camp

This permanent tented lodge is a great place to stay in Tarangire if you want an upgrade (it's actually just outside park borders but you’d never guess that). You may see or hear animals grazing outside your raised tent, or spot an elephant in the distance from the observation deck inside the open air lodge building. Sleeping quarters are in permanent tents on wooden platforms. Tents have beds, mosquito netting, and bathrooms with running water. Hot water is solar so it's best to shower in the afternoon when you are dusty from safari (in the morning the water may not be hot). There is a pool and spa.

Whistling Thorn Tented Camp

This is a relatively simple tented camp so best suited for those who don’t need luxury accommodations, but it has great opportunities for night game drives and interaction with the nearby Maasai village. The camp is set outside Tarangire park borders, well off the main road. The location allows the camp to offer some unusual benefits: night game drives in the wildlife area outside park borders (extra fee), visits to a nearby Maasai village, and having Maasai villagers share traditional singing and dancing at the campfire each night. The lodge is a community partnership, with a portion of funds from each visitor’s stay going directly to benefit the nearby Maasai community. Compared to other tented camps we use, this is on the simpler side, but still you have comfortable beds and hot showers at your tents, good food, and – more than most other camps and lodges – you are making a difference in the local community.

Osupuko Lodge

This lodge is just outside park borders, but you – and the wildlife – won’t notice that. It’s relatively affordable and nice, with a pool from which you may spot wildlife grazing down the hill as we did at a company inspection visit.

Sopa Tarangire Lodge

Sopa Lodges are a group of large lodges in several of Tanzania's parks. While we usually prefer smaller lodges and camps where possible, Sopa Lodges are well situated, have great views, and are more upscale than Wildlife Lodges group (though the price reflects that). Sopa is great for those wanting a little upscale accommodations within the park borders, with four solid walls rather than a tented camp.

Karatu Village

Karatu village is located along the road between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro parks (just a few minutes driving outside the Ngorongoro park entrance). Staying in Karatu village can be good to help keep the overall trip budget down, or sometimes from a logistics/itinerary point of view since it can work well as an overnight in between Lake Manyara and Ngoronogro park entrances. Alternatives are lodges/camps on or near the Ngorongoro Crater rim – which are quite a bit more expensive due to location inside park borders.

Country Lodge

Country Lodge is a budget friendly but nice stopover between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater. You may spend one night here between parks, or spend two nights and see Ngorongoro Crater as a day trip from this lodge. It’s a friendly, comfortable and unpretentious lodge on the outskirts of Karatu village. The location means it doesn’t have the views like lodges inside the parks but the grounds are pretty, the staff is friendly, food is good and the value is excellent. There is a pool though it may be cold.

Bougainvillea Lodge

Bougainvillea is the sister lodge (actually, older sister) of Country Lodge, located right next door. The lodge looks slightly more upscale than Country Lodge, though Country Lodge rooms are newer so we like the design and function slightly better. Both lodges are great choices for budget-friendly lodging near Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater

Octagon Lodge

Octagon Lodge is a great choice in Karatu village for those on a budget. It offers a variety of room types, from standard (comfortable but not fancy) to smaller “Annex” rooms which are intended for those on a tight budget but not wanting to camp. Annex rooms are smaller than other rooms and have nearby shared bathrooms and shower rooms. Octagon also has a campsite for those doing budget camping; campers can access the shared bathrooms and shower rooms. Meals are served in a dining room or outdoors, and there’s an Irish-style pub where you can enjoy a drink.

Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge

This is a comfortable, but not luxury, tented lodge set high in the hills near Karatu. Views are wonderful; the steep and bumpy drive up the hill to the lodge can seem a bit daunting but that’s part of the adventure! The lodge has a very important function – it financially supports the nearby Rhotia Valley Children’s Home and the local village school as well. Here, your stay is very much giving back to the community and children nearby. You have an opportunity to visit the Children’s home which is so wonderful. The dilemma with this lodge is how many nights to stay; due to the challenging drive up the hill, it may be too much for some people stay here and do day trips from here, going up and down the hill repeatedly. So ideally, a one night stay with an early enough arrival or late enough departure to enjoy the views and visit the Children’s home; or spend two nights, with the day between spent visiting the Children’s home and relaxing (or if you don’t mind the adventure driving, do a day trip to Ngorongoro Crater from here).

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Often after visiting Lake Manyara National Park, you might sleep at a lodge in Karatu village or in Ngorongoro Crater area rather than Lake Manyara itself

Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge

Wildlife Lodges are a group of large hotels/lodges in Tanzania. While usually we prefer smaller lodge and camps, Wildlife Lodges are great for those who like a hotel style environment and are on a budget. They have great locations and views. Meals are usually served buffet-style.

NGORONGORO CRATER RIM

See Karatu area lodges, which are great values near Ngorongoro. For those who want to be on or very near the Crater rim, we suggest the following.

Rhino Lodge

This is a simple but interesting lodge located at the Ngorongoro Crater rim. It’s important to note that it’s set back from the rim edge so there are no views into the Crater, however the lodge itself is next to the forest with some grassland on one side, so it sometimes has animal activity right around it to fascinate you. It’s much smaller than the lodges located on the rim, which is a nice advantage to avoid the crowds. The rooms are very simple, small, and old-fashioned with very small bathrooms. The great surroundings but simple/small rooms mean it’s a great place for those on a budget, or those with more funds but more interested more in their surroundings than room luxury. The larger, more expensive lodges on the Crater rim have nicer rooms and Crater views, but Rhino Lodge has beautiful forest and animals, in a smaller more intimate setting at a great price. The rooms are on three sides of a grassy courtyard, across from the main building with the dining room. On a recent staff visit here, there were waterbuck and storks grazing on the lawn. The day prior, there had been elephant eating in the courtyard. So it’s an amazing place for nature encounters, but one has to be patient – if the elephant is in the courtyard, you can’t go walk to the dining room or your vehicle until it leaves! Availability can be tight at Rhino Lodge, and please be aware all of the other lodges/camps in this area are quite a bit more expensive. If Rhino is full, Karatu village lodges just outside the park may be necessary to stay within the same budget.

Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge

Wildlife Lodges are a group of large hotels/lodges in Tanzania. While usually we prefer smaller lodge and camps, Wildlife Lodges are great for those who like a hotel style environment and are on a budget, though at this lodge the rooms and service may be sub-standard. They have great locations and views. Meals are usually served buffet-style.

Sopa Lodge Ngorongoro

Sopa Lodges are a group of large lodges in Tanzania's parks. While we usually prefer smaller lodges and camps, Sopa Lodges are well situated, have great views, and are more upscale than Wildlife Lodges (and the price reflects that).

Ang’ata Ngorongoro Tented Camp

Ang’ata camps are nice tented camps, for the mid range or slightly upscale traveler though they are not super luxe. Ngorongoro camp is set on the the Ngorongoro Crater Rim, though there may not be views down into the Crater itself. A great choice for those who want a tented camp on Ngorongoro Rim.

SERENGETI

Tented Camps

Tented camps are an amazing way to experience the Serengeti. These camps have tents with beds, plenty of space to walk around, and shower/toilet facilities inside each tent. These are camp showers where the staff brings hot water by bucket to fill your shower. Meals are taken in a central dining tent. Animals may graze right by camp and sunsets are breathtaking. Some people may be afraid of the animal noises they can hear at night, but most will love being this close to nature.

Kenzan’s Kisura Camp in Seronera (Central Serengeti)

We’ve used Kenzan’s seasonally-mobile camps for years, and now they have a similar camp that stays year-round in the popular central Serengeti (Seronera) area. This is a great location at any time of year, due to permanent water in the Seronera River. This is a comfortable but not superluxe camp. Each tent has a comfortable bed with attached bathroom (toilet, sink and shower). Hot water for showering is upon request, like at all mobile camps. A great option for those wanting a tented camp experience in Serengeti, who are on a tight or moderate budget.

Kenzan’s Seasonal Camp in Ndutu (Southern Serengeti)

This is Kenzan’s seasonal tented camp, which is in Ndutu area (southern Serengeti) December through March when the migrating herds are most likely to be in the area. During these months and especially in February, this is a prime location. Same style of camp as their Kisura camp above though a little simpler as it is seasonally mobile.

Chaka Camp

This is an upgraded (i.e. slightly higher cost, but still moderate) seasonally mobile camp. December through March it’s located in the Ndutu area, on the Ngorongoro Conservation Area side of the border with Serengeti National Park. May through November it’s in central Serengeti. While not wildly more expensive, if your budget allows this camp has some advantages: it’s smaller so more intimate, dining room and tents are furnished a little more upscale, staff is very accommodating, and food is excellent.

Ang’ata Camps in Serengeti - Seronera, Ndutu and Bolongoja

This is an upgraded (i.e. slightly higher cost, but still moderate) seasonally mobile camp. December through March it’s located in the Ndutu area, on the Ngorongoro Conservation Area side of the border with Serengeti National Park. May through November it’s in central Serengeti. While not wildly more expensive, if your budget allows this camp has some advantages: it’s smaller so more intimate, dining room and tents are furnished a little more upscale, staff is very accommodating, and food is excellent.

Buffalo Luxury Camp

This is an upscale, permanent tented lodge located just outside Klein’s gate in Serengeti. It’s managed by the same folks as Mount Meru Game Lodge just outside Arusha. Buffalo Tented camp has beautiful tents, with truly amazing bathrooms – showers AND lovely bathtubs to enjoy! The location just outside Serengeti Park borders means lots of animals move through the area, but you have freedom for some activities not allowed inside park borders. Activities include night game drives in the Camp’s open sided safari vehicle, Sundowners (drinks or supper on a hill a short walk from camp, with lovely views around), walking safaris, and visiting the local Maasai village or arranging special activities with them. For those with some budget flexibility to upgrade, Buffalo Luxury camp is a great experience and we highly recommend two nights if possible!

Lodges

Serengeti Sopa Lodge

Sopa Lodges are a group of large lodges in Tanzania's parks. While we usually prefer smaller lodges and camps, Sopa Lodges are well situated, have great views, and are more upscale than Wildlife Lodges (and the price reflects that).

Ndutu Lodge

Ndutu lodge is a great lodge choice December through March when the Great Migration is often nearby. February is peak season at Ndutu and usually requires reserving many months in advance. The rooms are decent (but not luxury), and it's a reasonably priced lodge in an area of the southern Serengeti that's fantastic several months of the year and good for several others (especially for those looking for a smaller lodge than other choices). It is in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area just outside the Serengeti National Park borders, but from an ecosystem point of view you are in the Serengeti and that's how it feels. Reviews are somewhat mixed on the food and rooms. Budget travelers will find it quite nice, while those used to luxury may find it too simple for their tastes; perfect for the budget or moderate traveler looking for a lodge away from the crowds, during migration season.

Lobo Wildlife Lodge & Seronera Wildlife Lodge

Seronera is near a permanent water source so usually has good wildlife year-round but is a busy area of Serengeti, with numerous lodges/camps in the area. Lobo varies seasonally (peak from July through October) but is a less busy and very beautiful, wild-feeling location so we prefer it usually. Wildlife Lodges are a group of large hotels/lodges in Tanzania. While usually we prefer smaller lodge and camps, Wildlife Lodges are great for those who like a hotel style environment but are on a budget. They have great locations and views. Meals are usually served buffet-style

Mbalageti Lodge

This is an upscale lodge with beautiful tented chalets, though they do offer some more budget friendly/moderate rooms as an option for the budget-conscious traveler. Mbalageti is located in Western Serengeti. Though some of the chalets and rooms are a bit of a walk from the dining room and pool, it’s well worth it – besides the fact that many of the chalets have great views themselves, the dining room and pool are perched on a hill with magnificent views out over the Serengeti plains.

ZANZIBAR

Ras Nungwi

A lovely beach lodge in the northern area of Zanzibar. The garden rooms don't have water views but are a good budget option and have access to the hotel's waterfront by walking through the reception area. Those whose budgets allow should upgrade to a sea view chalet which is really quite lovely. There is a dive shop on site, a pool, gift shop, and spa services available. A few minutes drive by taxi gets you to Nungwi village where you can experience off-site restaurants should you want a change of pace. A fun, inexpensive evening out is Langi Langi's restaurant in Nungwi village, on a patio built over the water and just lovely at night. A great excursion from Ras Nungwi is taking a wooden boat to go snorkeling or diving just off Mnemba island - Ras Nungwi's dive shop can arrange that for you as a private or group excursion. The lodge can also help you arrange Spice tours, Stonetown tours, or any other type of outing you desire. Like most beach lodging on Zanzibar, the beach is very tidal - meaning at high tide there's hardly any beach (people enjoy the pool area then) and at low tide the water is quite far out.

Fumba Beach Lodge

Fumba is a small, idyllic beach lodge set on a private beach far from the crowds. What we love about this lodge is the beautiful environment and rooms, lovely setting, with peace and quiet in a remote setting. All the rooms are nice, but if you can upgrade to a beachfront cottage it's especially nice. Baobab treehouse rooms are also available and a unique experience. Excursions to the rest of the island (Stone Town or Spice tours, etc) can be arranged with lodge's reception desk. Massage/spa services are available on-site. Or, arrange a SCUBA or snorkel trip with the lodge's dive shop. There really aren't other restaurants or lodges nearby, so plan to take all your meals at the lodge except on days where you arrange an excursion. Like most beach lodging on Zanzibar, the beach is very tidal - meaning at high tide there's not much beach and at low tide the water is quite far out.