3 Best places to stay in Serengeti National Park

The private, 140,000-hectare Singita Grumeti reserve borders the world famous Serengeti, with breathtaking views over hundreds of miles of plains. Sasakwa is one of only five lodges in the reserve – meaning you have much of the wildlife and scenery to yourself.

This is an elegant, contemporary lodge, situated on a hill with spectacular views from ten lavish, spacious private cottages – all stylishly decorated with antiques (four-posters, old trunks, silver, chandeliers), contemporary furnishings, and African art. They all come with huge bathrooms, private plunge pools and living areas and all mod cons, from wellness areas and helipad to wi-fi.

If you have trouble sitting still for 5 minutes, the camp also offers a Boutique & Gallery, lawn croquet, stargazing safaris, nature walks, and tennis as well a wine cellar and experienced sommeliers. They also have a wellness area, fitness centre and yoga to indulge the body after a safari.

Hillside Suite is a spectacularly private, romantic retreat, designed as a villa for two, offering guests solitude in an atmosphere of modern, barefoot luxury. With private entrance pool, chef and vehicle.

Sabora is the most over-the-top, opulent safari camp anywhere. There’s nothing else like it: a sophisticated, modern interpretation of luxury tented safaris in the middle of nowhere.

It’s set in the private, 350,000-hectare Singita Grumeti reserve, bordering the world-famous Serengeti National Park; surrounded by grasslands, it’s pretty but not as spectacular a setting as at other camps.

The game, however, is prolific, including the Big Seven, and the Great Migration passes by in July and August. Sabora is one of only five lodges in the reserve – meaning all the game without the crowds.

The nine capacious, en-suite canvas tents are reasonably private, although set quite close together. They’re all romantically decorated with large four-posters swathed in fine linens, with meditation decks and secluded outdoor salas for lazy afternoons. With nothing separating them from rolling grasslands, every sight, sound and smell is amplified for a deeply restorative experience.

The attention to detail in the interiors is something special, with subtle décor and design elements reflecting Africa’s creative energy. Hand-stitched leather finishes, durable canvas and campaign furniture echo the spirit of classic East African adventures. Food is fresh, delicious and wholesome, with an excellent wine list to choose from; expect Farm-to-table dishes, mainly vegetables, fresh juice and blenders and a guest pantry in-suite for healthy smoothies. They also have a spa, yoga and gym facilities.

It’s the most glamorous, contemporary tented safari camp in Tanzania, great for simple sophistication and tented romance – only kids over 10 are welcome.

Built on one of the most magnificent sites in the northern Serengeti, the Kogakuria Kopje, Lamai overlooks the area’s rolling grasslands – through which the great migration pours from July to October.

The Big Five are regularly spotted on game drives, and leopards and lions often roam the camp (hence the presence of Maasai guards with huge spears).

Rooms have been moulded around the giant rocks on the kopje, cleverly hidden in the bush to be as unobtrusive as possible. Each has a different view and shape. They feel capacious, with inviting, mosquito-netted beds – and have enough distance between them to feel cut-off and romantic, even though it’s only a five-minute walk from the furthest room to the lodge centre.

There are 12 rooms – eight set on one side of the camp, four on another for small groups who want privacy. Private ‘family’ lodges have their own pool, living space and dining areas. Interiors are simple, natural Tanzanian textures, colours and fibres: creams and tans with dazzling Masai colours in accessories, local art and tribal designs.

The rooms sit on wooden platforms – each with its own deck to enjoy views in private. Views from all rooms are stonking: over thousands of miles of bush, with windows perfectly placed to take in the sunrise from bed.