The Best Eco Lodges in Tanzania

Manyara Green Camp enjoys one of the best locations in Lake Manyara National Park, with tree-climbing lions, hippo pools and huge flocks of pink flamingos all nearby. The scenery here is breathtaking, with waterfalls, expansive views of the park, and rock pools ideal for a cooling swim during the hot afternoons. This sustainable mobile eco camp offers homely comfort deep in the bush, and being located on the banks of the Endabash River in the south of the park it's the perfect spot for wildlife spotting right on your doorstep. Here you can see fish eagles swooping down to catch their supper, and elephants and buffaloes often trundle past on their way to drink. Giraffes are frequent visitors, and the area is home to the world's largest concentration of baboons. During some parts of the year, the river is the only water source for miles, attracting thousands of animals to its banks. About the Park Lake Manyara National Park is known for its tree-climbing lions, hippo pools and thousands of flamingos which give the lake a hazy pink tint. Here you can spot fish eagles, elephants, giraffes and the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world. We feel that Lake Manyara Green Camp is the best location within this park. Activities at Lake Mayara Green Camp Activities here go far beyond the classic safari experiences. As well as game drives and bush walks, guests can enjoy forest hikes in the Great Rift Valley, go mountain biking through the vibrant farming village of Mto Wa Mbu and along the shores of Lake Manyara, and take canoeing excursions on the lake where paddlers can get up close to wildlife grazing on the shoreline. For a rather different perspective of the park, try night game drives or go on a sky-high adventure through the forest on the suspension bridges of Tanzania's first treetop walkway - keep an eye out for monkeys, butterflies and birds. read more read less

Singita Sasakwa Lodge is built in the style of a stately Edwardian manor house with nine private cottages, each with its own infinity pool. From the vantage point of Sasakwa Hill, panoramic views of the Serengeti plains merge with the horizon and provide a sense of immense space and freedom. The spacious cottages offer expansive en-suite bathrooms, dressing areas, four-poster beds, fireplaces, living rooms and French doors opening onto welcoming verandas. Polished parquet floors, vintage collectables, Persian carpets and comfortable furnishings all add to Sasakwa’s unmistakable elegance, while contemporary interpretations of classic dishes underpin the culinary offerings in the grand dining room. read more read less

Set on a remote, picturesque beach on Pemba Island, this rustic and boutique resort is paradise personified. Award-winning barefoot beach luxury on the African shores of the Indian Ocean. Unwind and discover the peace of Pemba Island. Nicknamed the ‘The Spice Island’, Pemba is known for its aromatic clove harvests which perfume the ocean air with a sweet floral fragrance. It’s a great spot if you’re travelling as a couple. Fundu Lagoon oozes romance with its quaint African tented-style lodgings, cerulean sea and private dining by the shore. ACCOMMODATION The rooms at Fundu Lagoon vary in size and category – from 12 standard rooms to two suites and two ‘superior’ suites – but all share very similar features. All are large walk-in tents set on wooden decks, with a veranda, small lounge area and en-suite bathroom. The dark wooden floors, huge beds and crisp cotton sheets make the rooms feel stylish and comfortable, reminiscent of a tented safari lodge. Yet canvas walls add a rustic feel, resulting in a cosy room that has character and comfort rather than a luxury. Sandy paths and wooden walkways lead through Fundu's tropical forest, linking the rooms to the various parts of the lodge, where there are plenty of places to relax, all – like the rooms – with views out to sea. The main bar and lounge are set slightly above the beach on a wooden deck, under a high thatched roof. Natural fabrics and wicker furniture add to the rustic style – Fundu feels very in keeping with its surroundings. This is often a sociable and friendly spot before dinner and can become quite lively at times. The managers and dive team are usually around to chat with guests in the evenings and to discuss activities for the following day. read more read less

Simba Farm is a working farm and lodge situated on 5000 acres of rolling hills in West Kilimanjaro with breathtaking views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Maasai steps and Mt. Meru. They can cater for all guests, from honeymooners on a romantic getaway, families on their annual vacation, or large cycling or trekking groups, all are welcome to Simba Farm. About the Property The rustic and friendly guesthouse from 1920 has six rooms and a living room with a fireplace. From the cosy, rustic rooms in the Old Guest House, to the new Jacaranda Cottages surrounded by lush flower gardens, perfect for family getaways. Additionally, Simba Lodge Farm has two cottages in the beautiful spacious garden. On the porch of Simba Lodge Farm – where tea is served – you enjoy this beautiful location, the hospitality and tasty drinks at sunset. All meals are prepared with fresh vegetables from the garden. Enjoy the variety of produce on offer at Simba Farm Lodge, from home-grown vegetables to locally raised meats and farm-fresh milk. You can simply taste the freshness of the food, which will make you want to go back for seconds! There is plenty for everyone so don’t be shy! The Rooms at Simba Farm At Simba Farm Lodge we provide a different choice of rooms. From the cosy, rustic rooms in the Old Guest House, to the Jacaranda Cottages surrounded by lush flower gardens, perfect for family getaways. Makoa Farm offers comfortable, spacious rooms, two of which have spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Some rooms in the Old Guest House have shared bathrooms, but are never shared with strangers! The Garden Rooms are two romantic private rooms with a cosy fireplace and a veranda, surrounded by lush flower gardens. The Jacaranda Cottages are surrounded by lush-scented flower gardens. Activities at Simba Farm Lodge The lodge prides itself on being very family-friendly and, as such, offers a wide range of activities designed especially for children.  Adults can also benefit from different hiking trails and bird watching, not forgetting the farm experience itself. Signature Farming Farm tours can be arranged where we provide an insight into how the farm is run, and maintained, by our family and staff members. We teach children about the basics of farming and give the children, and adults, an opportunity to pick vegetables for themselves leading to a real sense of achievement! Walks and Hikes Take a walk on the Shira Plateau and enjoy breakfast overlooking the Tanzanian and Kenyan plains!  Don’t forget to stop and take a moment to admire the breathtaking views of the summit.  The day starts by leaving the lodge at 07:30 to reach the gate by 08:00 to sign in and meet our guide.  Once at the Shira Rim, you can choose between various hikes read more read less

Gibbs Farm is located in the Ngorongoro Karatu area of northern Tanzania, one of the most wildlife-rich areas in the country and about an hour from the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on a beautiful historic coffee estate in the Ngorongoro Karatu area, Gibb's Farm is the original and best accommodation in the area, a genuinely charming boutique hotel, with guest accommodation in 19 rooms and providing access to a good range of cultural and safari activities. Elephants often wander over from the crater to take a sip from the farm’s water reservoir. Gibb’s Farm has been around for quite some time, starting as a coffee plantation, it has now been transformed into one of the country’s best Eco-Resorts. The farm is a relatively large establishment consisting of 17 cottages and about 20 hectares of farmland and magnificent gardens. There is a ‘no tin can’ policy, so all drinks are served from recyclable glass bottles. This is also a working farm where visitors are encouraged to experience life on a farm from observing cows being milked, to bread making, coffee roasting and veggies being harvested, as well as visits to a nearby village or guided walks in the lush surrounding forest. Guests at Gibb’s can also visit ‘Fundiland’ to observe carpenters making the furniture for their rooms, tailors crafting leather items and paper products being made from the farm’s waste paper and elephant dung!   read more read less

Chumbe Island Coral Park is one of the most state-of-the-art, eco-friendly lodges in East Africa and a diver's paradise. Situated in a Marine Protected Area off the coast of Zanzibar, Chumbe Island Coral Park is set in the heart of an award-winning private nature reserve. This boutique eco-lodge in Tanzania offers accommodation in unique bungalows situated right on the beach. A Brief Story of Chumbe Island Upon its inception, Chumbe Island Coral Park recruited former fishermen from neighbouring villages and provided them with training to become park rangers. They played a vital role in early outreach programs to raise awareness within the local communities about marine ecology and the sustainable management of natural resources. Today, Chumbe’s strong ranger team patrols and monitors the reserve using non-confrontational and educational approaches to deter poaching and guide visitors. The nature reserve includes a coral reef sanctuary – the first gazetted marine park in Tanzania – and a forest reserve. Thanks to its protection, the reef is home to 90% of East Africa’s hard coral species, and over 400 fish species, and is a vital feeding ground for green and hawksbill turtles. The Forest Reserve The forest reserve harbours highly specialised flora that has developed to survive without any groundwater – the bedrock of the island comprises fossilised coral that is unable to store rainwater. It’s also a sanctuary for a plethora of birds, rare and endangered species like Ader’s duiker, and a healthy population of coconut crabs (the world’s biggest arthropod). The Coral Reefs at Chumbe Island The coral reef is next to the island and you can experience a cornucopia of wildlife and their beauty is enough to catapult you into a higher state of consciousness. The interior of the island holds one of the last remaining coral rag forests in Zanzibar: an ancient coral reef that was raised from the sea by tectonic movement. Exploring the island is a blissful and peaceful experience and overhead flies a multicoloured sky of birds. The reserve includes a fully protected Coral Reef Sanctuary and Forest Reserve that harbour rare wildlife, a Visitor and Education centre, a small eco-lodge, nature walks and historical monuments. All buildings and operations are based on state-of-the-art eco-technology aiming at zero impact on the environment (rainwater catchment, photovoltaic energy and solar water heating, composting toilets, vegetative greywater filtration etc.). Plan Your Trip You can include a visit to the park with any of our bush and beach safari packages. Contact our team to help you plan an unforgettable adventure in Tanzania. read more read less

Little Chem Chem, also known as "Sunrise Camp," is a tented camp that accommodates a maximum of 14 guests in a game-rich location. It presents the raw drama of the East African bush in a very private setting. About Little Chem Chem Little Chem Chem is all about getting as close to nature as possible, without sacrificing comfort. This intimate camp offers six elegantly decorated vintage tents, each with a large bedroom (three have king-size beds, two offer twin beds), and 1 larger Family Tent. Each is complete with a rocking chair and study desk, a vanity area with dressing room and an en suite bathroom with a shower and flushing toilet. Embrace the ‘Out-of-Africa’ atmosphere and listen as the sounds of an African night come to life all around to you. The camp is solar powered and unfenced allowing for game to move freely through the area which features a main tent complete with a lounge, viewing areas and magnificent dining. Dining Experience The food at Little Chem Chem was a particular highlight for us – it was all extremely good, with high-quality, well-portioned dishes that were imaginative and beautifully presented – altogether not dissimilar to what you might expect at a top restaurant anywhere in the world. Breakfast is usually eaten in the dining tent or delivered to your own room. There is a small buffet of cereals, cheese, bread, pastries and fruit, and a choice of à la carte hot items including eggs Benedict and crêpes. Lunch is either a three-course set menu of light dishes or eaten out in the bush if you are out for the day. We very much enjoyed our salad of orange, avocado and roasted pumpkin seeds to start, followed by a small pastrami sourdough pizza, and finishing with a white chocolate and coconut mousse. Dinner is à la carte with a couple of options for each course. We chose the apple Waldorf salad to start, stuffed aubergine with coconut rice for a main course, followed by fruit kebabs with a chocolate mint dip. What is the child policy at Little Chem Chem? The lodge welcomes children aged over eight. Younger children are only accepted when the whole camp is booked on an exclusive basis. Minimum age is 8 years. Children under 16 years are not allowed on walking safaris during the big game. Special activities & services There is no child-minding service available. However, the camp offers a specially created children's menu, and meals and mealtimes are coordinated around the family. Children can help staff in the herb and vegetable garden and can get involved in activities such as pizza making or nature walks around camp. NOTE: Little Chem Chem is in the middle of the bush and wild animals stroll through the camp, so children need to be kept under supervision at all times. Sustainability Projects Little Chem Chem is part of the Chem Chem Foundation which manages one of the few remaining sanctuaries for big elephant tuskers in Africa. Guests are charged symbolic conservation and community fees which are reinvested in projects for conservation and protection of wildlife and community development. Contributions have helped implement elephant IDs which monitor the movement of animals in the greater Tarangire area and collect data on the herds’ size, location and welfare. The information gathered is then sent to anti-poaching units that patrol the wildlife reserves in an attempt to prevent and stop criminal activity. Wildlife rangers are divided into on-shore and off-shore teams for better management. Deterioration and loss of habit are two major obstacles that endanger the welfare of elephants. Conservation efforts by Chem Chem include negotiating concession leases with the local communities and the government of Tanzania to gain access to 20,000 hectares in the Tarangire National Park. The new Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is well looked after and kept unfenced to provide additional space for the animals to roam the valleys and transform them into their new home. Much to guests’ entertainment, photography tours are organised to catch glimpses of wildlife in their natural habitat. Signature Experiences at Little Chem Chem Scenic Helicopter Excursions Feel the thrill as the vast African wilderness opens up before you on a scenic helicopter excursion. Explore otherwise unreachable destinations and see the region’s greatest sights from above — from the Ngorongoro Crater to the flocks of flamingos in the lakes. Kids on safari From fun games to bush skills, we offer plenty of activities to entertain little ones on safari. The activities depend on the property and include guided walks, interactive cooking, marshmallow-toasting, animal tracking, beading lessons with the Maasai and safari-themed baking. Hot air balloon rides Rise with the dawn and glide over the tops of acacias and ancient baobabs as the sun climbs the sky. Witness the region’s abundant wildlife wandering the landscape below before ending the experience with a rustic bush breakfast. Game Drives with your private guides and vehicles Your private guide and vehicle are primed to whisk you off on game drives into the heart of Chem Chem’s exclusive-use protected wildlife area at a moment’s notice. Explore the wilderness at your own pace, enjoying the abundant wildlife that roams the area. This experience is included in your stay. Sundowners at the Sangaiwe Plains Elevated among ancient branches, the baobab lookout deck makes for an unforgettable sundowner spot overlooking a local waterhole which attracts resident wildlife. Sip on your drink of choice and bid the day farewell as you watch the region’s nocturnal wildlife start to stir. This experience is included in your stay. Night Drives Immerse yourself in a world that comes alive under the moonlight with a night game drive. Trace the path of the spotlight as you set off with your private guide and vehicle to seek out the creatures that begin their day at sunset. This experience is included in your stay.   read more read less

Nomad Greystoke Mahale offers the ultimate luxury experience, set in the remote wilderness of Western Tanzania. Greystoke Mahale is a unique, high-end camp that sits on a white-sand beach overlooking Lake Tanganyika's clear waters inside the remote Mahale Mountains National Park. The lodge is named after the legend of Tarzan and much of the experience here revolves around life in the forest, particularly chimpanzee tracking. With its charismatic Robinson Crusoe atmosphere, Greystoke Mahale radiates an undeniable air of romance and adventure. It is located at the foot of the densely forested Mahale Mountains, home to a thriving population of chimpanzees. The six rooms at Greystoke are entirely in keeping with the setting. Built of thatch and salvaged dhow wood, each of the open-fronted rooms is tucked into the treeline, almost invisible to the passing fishermen in their small canoes. A dressing area leads to an ensuite bathroom with running water and a flush loo. The rich foliage that gives the camp such character can be enjoyed while you are showering in privacy. The rooms all have verandas and an upstairs chill-out lounge with views across the white sand to the vastness of Lake Tanganyika. A ROMANTIC RETREAT SPRAWLED ALONG THE SHORES OF LAKE TANGANYIKA read more read less

Located in the heart of the Serengeti, in a pristine area that offers unparalleled game viewing, Serengeti Wilderness Camp is open all year round and is located to the east of the famous central Seronera region. Comprising just ten spacious tents, including a family tent, our focus is on your comfort and enjoyment. There is nothing better than being lulled to sleep at night by the sounds of the bush, safely inside your well-appointed ‘safari bedroom’. The tents are en suite with flushing toilets and a bush shower. A private verandah offers a shady place to relax. A large central dining tent complements our comfortable lounge tent which has a small reference library, maps, some games for children, a charging station for cameras and WiFi. Our safari chef will prepare sumptuous meals for your enjoyment and evenings offer a campfire around which our guests enjoy sundowners and snacks, and share the day’s experiences. read more read less