Know Before You Go: Tanzania Safaris

Accommodations on a Tanzania safari are selected for their proximity to wildlife, immersion in the landscape and connection to conservation. Whether you’re tracking the Great Migration across the Serengeti or scanning the crater floor in Ngorongoro, staying in well-placed camps means you’ll spend more time in the heart of the action and less time in transit.

Most Tanzania safari nights are spent in intimate tented camps or small eco-lodges within or adjacent to national parks and conservation areas. These properties are built for atmosphere and access—blending naturally into the environment and offering direct routes into wildlife territory.

Classic Tented Camps

Tanzania’s signature safari accommodation is the classic tented camp. These camps combine the charm of canvas living with modern comforts like full beds, flush toilets, hot bucket showers or plumbed en suites, and shaded verandas with views of the bush. Most have just a handful of tents spaced apart for privacy and quiet. Dining is often in an open-aired lounge or under the stars, and the camps are often powered by solar panels, with diesel generators for backup.

Many of these camps operate inside the Serengeti or in wildlife-rich buffer zones outside Ngorongoro, Tarangire and other parks. Their light-on-the-land design ensures a low ecological footprint while offering guests an immersive experience—waking to birdsong, hearing lions at night and dining under the stars.

Seasonal Mobile Camps

To keep guests close to the Great Migration, Tanzania also features mobile tented camps that shift location seasonally. These temporary camps follow the herds as they move between the southern, central and northern Serengeti.

Mobile camps are designed to be lightweight and ephemeral, yet they still include real beds, ensuite bathrooms, chef-prepared meals and attentive staff. By relocating each season with the wildlife, they offer maximum access to migration scenes—whether calving season in the south or river crossings in the north—while minimizing impact on fragile grasslands.

Safari Lodges

Tanzania also offers a range of small safari lodges built from natural materials like stone, timber and thatch. These thoughtfully designed accommodations may include spacious suites, private plunge pools or expanded guest services, while still maintaining a strong focus on wildlife access and minimal environmental impact.

Many lodges are situated in elevated locations that provide exceptional views—like overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater—where guests can unwind between game drives while staying visually connected to the surrounding wilderness.

Sustainability Spotlight: Gibb’s Farm

Gibb’s Farm, one of East Africa’s most celebrated safari lodges, is set on the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the Great Rift Valley. Just a short drive from the crater rim, Gibb’s offers a rare blend of comfort, ecological responsibility and a deep connection to place. Originally founded as a coffee estate in the 1920s, the lodge is now known for its award-winning sustainability practices, organic farm-to-table cuisine and elegant cottages inspired by local craftsmanship.

Sustainability is core to the guest experience: solar panels supply electricity, greywater systems irrigate gardens and guest stays directly support community initiatives and local reforestation. The lodge’s terraced gardens, roasted-on-site coffee, and restored historic farmhouse reflect a deep respect for Tanzania’s cultural and ecological heritage. In 2025, Natural Habitat Adventures acquired Gibb’s Farm, reinforcing its long-standing conservation values and commitment to low-impact safari travel.

What to Expect with Nat Hab

Nat Hab’s Tanzania safaris feature small groups and exclusive access to some of the best wildlife camps in East Africa, including Nat Hab’s Serengeti East Camp and Nat Hab’s Migration Camp—Serengeti North. These private, expedition-style camps are located in prime wildlife areas to maximize sightings and minimize crowds.

Our handpicked camps prioritize location, guiding and conservation impact over excess luxury. Each provides comfortable accommodations, including cozy beds, en suite facilities and inviting common areas where guests gather to share stories between outings. Many are solar-powered and built with a light footprint to protect the ecosystem.

By staying in these conservation-focused camps—often on community-managed lands or inside protected areas—you’ll enjoy authentic access to Tanzania’s greatest wildlife spectacles while helping to preserve the habitats and communities that sustain them.