Affordable & Authentic Tanzania: Safari & Zanzibar

Rivertrees is perfectly positioned just outside Arusha to showcase the views of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Set on an old coffee plantation converted to a country estate, this lodge is the epitome of old-world charm. The main areas are set under a canopy of trees, while rustic guest cottages and houses are built along the river, each with its own character, complemented by bespoke pieces such as wooden chests and elegant four-poster beds. Only the freshest garden produce is used to create Rivertrees’ gourmet country cuisine – there’s also a wood-burning oven for delicious pizzas, which you can enjoy at the swimming pool. Later, enjoy a candle-lit dinner by the fireplace or beneath the stars. Your stay allows you to explore Arusha National Park, Mount Meru and Lake Duluti during your stay, or simply rest before your onward journey. INSIDER’S TIP: As this is a former coffee farm, you simply must enjoy a fresh brew – the region’s coffee is some of the best!

Wayo Manyara Green Camp sits on the edge of a dry river bed beneath the crashing Endabash Waterfall. Set deep inside Lake Manyara National Park and well away from the game drive tracks, it is one of only a handful of camps within the park. Bush babies call through the trees after dark, and elephants, lions, and hyena fill in the rest of the night. The tents stand on raised wooden decks, each with an en-suite bathroom and a king-size bed that can be arranged as twins. The structure and interiors are locally crafted, part of Wayo's commitment to empowering local people, and much of the woodwork has been reclaimed from an earlier camp. The gauze roof retracts automatically, opening the tent to the stars. The best of Manyara is experienced out of the vehicle. Canoe safaris on the lake, walks up into the Marang Forest and onto the top of the rift, a treetop walkway, and night drives that head out after supper with the guiding team. The camp team will also take you up to the waterfalls, the same cascades the camp sits beneath. Insider's Tip: Take the lakeshore walk in the morning. Your guide reads the tracks left overnight and pieces together everything that moved through while you slept.

Wayo Serengeti Green Camp follows the migration from north to south in Serengeti National Park. The plains are where much of the migration activity takes place, from hundreds of thousands of births to impressive predator activity. Serengeti Green Camp is the ideal base for exploring the abundance of these plains. The camp has been redesigned to celebrate local cultures, and incorporates custom crafts from the area, showcasing innovative interior flair. Ten spacious tents open up for a full immersion into the landscape. The rooms are decked out in fresh cottons and linens, with soft lighting providing the perfect resting place between activities. Meals are simple yet sumptuous. Days are spent exploring the plains on game drives or opt for a walk from camp. INSIDER’S TIP: A full day’s walking tour from camp offers a thrilling level of adventure that you may just be looking for.

On the southeast coast of Zanzibar, where the island quietens and the Indian Ocean stretches without interruption, Breezes Beach Club makes its spot on a stretch of beach that Condé Nast Traveler has placed among the top 30 island beaches in the world. The resort's design takes its cue from Zanzibar's layered heritage, with carved woodwork, brass accents and rich fabrics running through public spaces and into the rooms. Accommodations vary across bungalow-style buildings set in tropical gardens, with Deluxe Rooms on the ground floor and Suites on the upper floors with walk-in dressing rooms, larger bathrooms and private sun terraces with covered outdoor lounges. Dining shifts across several settings throughout the day, from the beachfront Breakers Grill serving fresh barbecue and catches of the day under palm shade, to The Tides, a two-to-four-guest restaurant by the water that is about as intimate as dining gets. The award-winning Frangipani Spa rounds out the offerings with treatments around the island's natural ingredients. The southeast coast's calm, clear waters put some of Zanzibar's best diving and snorkelling right at your doorstep. Spend a morning out on the dhow as the coastline drifts past, try your hand at kite surfing on one of Africa's most open stretches of water, or join the resort chef for a Swahili cooking class that traces the island's Arab, Indian and Persian influences. When the pace calls for something slower, day trips take you into Jozani Forest to walk among red colobus monkeys, or into the winding streets of Stone Town where the architecture tells six centuries of Swahili history. Insider's Tip: The southeast coast sits on the calmer side of the island, making it one of the more reliable spots for water activities year-round. If diving is a priority, ask the team to arrange it early in your stay while conditions are at their best.