In central Serengeti at Turner 5, Kenzan Central Camp puts you in the middle of the plains, where wildlife movement becomes part of daily camp life and nights come with a few distant calls too! The camp has 12 guest tents (including family tents), each equipped with en-suite bathrooms, beds with mosquito nets, side tables, and sensor-operated lights. A wooden deck and outdoor sitting areas create space to slow down between game drives, with open views across the plains that guests often return to for sunrise and sunset. Dining takes place at the on-site restaurant, while the bar and Wi-Fi cover the practical side of the stay. Between April and June, and again around October to November, depending on rainfall patterns, the Great Wildebeest Migration may pass through areas close to camp.

Mountain views and handmade furniture set the scene at Zondela House, located 8 kilometres from Arusha town in the quiet hills of Kambi Chupa, where you can spot Mount Meru from the rooftop bar and catch glimpses of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear mornings. The lodge features 16 rooms with natural brick walls decorated in warm, earth tones, all boasting aircon and wifi, large beds, handmade furnishings and bathrooms with hot showers. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens, has a greenhouse for its vegetables, a rooftop terrace for your sunset cocktails, a swimming pool and spa, and a restaurant serving dishes made of organic ingredients…from the property’s own greenhouse, of course.

Sharazad Wonders Boutique Hotel in Stone Town has just 8 rooms, split between four suites, two suites with private balconies, and two veranda Suites (a good fit for families, with one king bed and two twin beds). Every room comes with an en-suite bathroom with a hot and cold shower, as well as a ceiling fan, air conditioning, and coffee and tea facilities. Each room also has its own decor scheme, so no two look quite alike. For meals, the restaurant and café serve a fusion of traditional and modern Zanzibari dishes, built around fresh, market-sourced ingredients.