To reach Tanzania from the United States, it will likely be easiest to fly to Amsterdam or Istanbul and then connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport (Doha and Dubai also have flights there).

Arrive at Kilimanjaro and transfer about 90 minutes to Legendary Lodge. The focal point of this atmospheric property just outside the city of Arusha is a lovely old colonial mansion, which was built in the early 1900s as the centerpiece of a coffee farm. The 12 freestanding cottages come with fireplaces, private terraces and baths with walk-in showers and claw-foot tubs. The property encompasses a spa, a restaurant serving European-inspired regional cuisine, a tennis court, a pool and a fitness center offering exercise classes. Coffee farm tours and glass and jewelry-making workshops can also be arranged.

On our latest visit, we reviewed the 30-cottage Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge, which is a comfortable second choice if Legendary Lodge is fully booked. Assuming you spend two nights in Arusha, it could be worthwhile to come to Elewana’s property for lunch and a tour of its Shanga, where people with disabilities create beautiful glass pieces, beadwork and handwoven textiles. The boutique has many tempting souvenirs, and the small jewelry store has a glittering selection of tanzanite, the blue gemstone famously mined only in Tanzania.

Take a scheduled flight to the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. Once it reopens in 2027, stay at the overhauled &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, perched on the rim of the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera.

If you visit before it opens, opt for either the 10-cottage Nomad Entamanu Ngorongoro (which has better views and quick crater access) or the 20-room Lemala Osonjoi Lodge (which has a spa suite and an indoor heated pool and is close to the less-touristed Lemala Gate). Make your way into the crater in the early evening for your first game drive and scenic sundowners.

Because Ngorongoro Crater is subject to overcrowding, rise early to head down before the hordes arrive.

If you have another day to spare, add in an excursion to Olmoti and/or Empakaai, two smaller craters that attract only a handful of more-adventurous visitors. Neither has the same profusion of animals as Ngorongoro — though buffalo, elephants and leopards are all present — but both provide memorable hiking. In addition, Olmoti offers sensational views, while Empakaai contains a soda lake, home to thousands of flamingos.

Note: This stop is worthwhile only if you’re traveling in the January-February short dry season. If you’re traveling between June and September, head straight to Grumeti.

Take a quick scheduled flight to an airstrip in the southern Serengeti. Meet your safari vehicle and transfer less than 15 minutes to Wilderness Usawa Serengeti. This mobile camp with six guest tents follows the Great Migration; it’s in this region only from December to April. Tents have king or twin beds, electricity, en suite baths and even Wi-Fi but no air-conditioning. Fortunately, evenings are cool enough to warrant the use of hot-water bottles.

Make an afternoon game drive, and back at camp, enjoy sundowners and a fireside dinner.

In January-February, the female wildebeests give birth to calves, and it’s quite likely that you’ll observe one doing so while on a game drive. You may also see lions sunning themselves on kopjes, plus cheetahs, leopards, vast herds of antelope and myriad birds.

Small planes hop around the Serengeti like buses, making it easy to head northwest to the Grumeti River region. Singita has a 350,000-acre private concession here with several lodges, most notably the 11-key Singita Sasakwa, one of five hotels in the world that Andrew Harper rates at 99 points.

A stay there would be unforgettable, certainly, but on our most recent visit, we tried out &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, a lavish (but less expensive) property set along a hippo-filled tributary of the Grumeti. Check into one of its 10 stand-alone Suites. These airy, open-plan accommodations are the size of small houses, with high ceilings and a contemporary African décor. Terraces with hefty sofas and unheated plunge pools face the river. The main swimming pool, gym and main building all have similar views.

The Great Migration usually passes through between May and July, but game viewing here is sensational throughout the year. On our visit in the short dry season, we saw immense herds of topi, plus giraffes, zebras, numerous beautiful birds (including a pair of Verreaux’s eagle-owls) and, in one single day, 34 lions. It’s also possible to arrange hot air balloon safaris and an excursion to Lake Victoria.

It’s less than 10 minutes to the airstrip from &Beyond Grumeti. Fly from there to the Kogatende Airstrip, in the far north of the Serengeti. The Great Migration usually comes through here in July-August. But again, even in the tourist-free January-February short dry season, there’s plenty of game to see.

Transfer about an hour to One Nature Mara River, an extravagant seven-villa property opened in 2024 that already ranks among the best safari lodges in Africa. Perched on a ridge surveying a vast swath of the Serengeti, its maximalist accommodations have spacious bedrooms, terraces with heated swimming pools and copper soaking tubs, open-air living rooms and plush baths with wood-paneled showers. The service is highly professional and anticipatory, the food is superb, and thoughtful luxury details abound.

If you visit during the high season, you can observe the dramatic Mara River crossing. But if you visit in January-February, you’ll find epic landscapes rich with animals but devoid of other game vehicles. Our sightings during this period included two prides of lions, herds of zebras and various antelope, birds by lily-speckled pools and even a wary leopard. On a walking safari, we spotted giraffes, hippos and giant crocodiles lazing by the river. Hot air ballooning is also available.

In the evenings, you can arrange for scenic sundowners overlooking the river, and later, watch a film by a fire pit at the lodge’s alfresco cinema.

It’s easiest to arrange for a private plane to take you from Kogatende Airstrip to Zanzibar, but it’s more affordable to fly from Kogatende back to Kilimanjaro or Arusha and take a scheduled flight from there. It can be fascinating to explore historic Stone Town, the archipelago’s historic capital that’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The recommended 67-room Park Hyatt Zanzibar, set right on the water, is the best base for exploring the city.

But at this point, you might be more in the mood for pure relaxation, in which case it’s best to head straight to &Beyond Mnemba Island Lodge. This romantic retreat occupies a private island about 3 miles off the northeastern tip of Zanzibar’s main island. Tucked into the pines and palms that line a powdery white-sand beach, the recently renovated property consists of 12 airy, rustic bungalows designed to resemble a nautilus seashells. Each suite comes with its own butler. Thatched dining and bar areas offer excellent cuisine and uninterrupted views of the coral reefs and sea beyond, and there’s a new wellness bungalow with a yoga deck. Outdoor activities include snorkeling, fishing, boating and scuba diving with a PADI-certified dive instructor. This would be a sensational finish to a spin around northern Tanzania.

A handful of airlines offer international connections to Zanzibar’s main airport, allowing you to fly straight from Zanzibar to a major hub.