The following hotel list is preliminary and subject to change. Although we contract our hotels a year in advance, unforeseen situations do occasionally occur. Should it be necessary to change a hotel, one of equal quality and value will be substituted. You will receive verified hotel information with your final itinerary. Please note that hotel ratings are based on the Hotel and Travel Index, a leading travel industry authority on hotels throughout the world.

Please note: A few of the hotels and lodges on this tour may not yet been rated by the Hotel & Travel Index, but have been personally selected and inspected by Vantage staff and meet our quality requirements.

Accommodations at the Zanzibar Serena Hotel and Royal Zanzibar Hotel are included only as part of the optional post-trip extension in Zanzibar.

African Tented Camp Experience
On nights 10 & 11, you have the option of upgrading your accommodations to the deluxe Kirawira Camp Western Serengeti. Follow this link for details.

InterContinental Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya  

A five-star icon in the city center, InterContinental Nairobi has for years been an oasis of luxury for business travellers as well as those who want to experience the wonders of Africa. The Parliament buildings are a short stroll away, Kenyatta International Convention Centre is right next door and Nairobi National Park, Museum Hill and the Elephant Orphanage are within easy reach.

The Plantation Café is open 24/7, Bhandini is the essence of India and La Prugna D’Oro serves classic Italian fare. Informal options are The Terrace and the Safari Bar.

The hotel’s spa and fitness center offer the facilities and services you expect, including a gym, sauna, steam room and massages. The masseuse is one of the best in Nairobi. Standard rooms include cable / satellite TV, a Mini Bar, a desk and lamp.

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

Amboseli National Park, Kenya  

Framed against the glorious backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, the magnificently beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro, surrounded by miles of rolling grasslands, patrolled by vast herds of elephant, shaded by the lush, feathered-green of an acacia grove and hugging the banks of a gently flowing river, this very traditional yet supremely luxurious lodge is the safari destination of a lifetime.

The rooms, each with an uninterrupted view over the ever-changing vistas of the African plains, are styled to a traditional Maasai concept featuring beadwork, gourds, hand-painted murals and the clever use of the traditional manyatta bent-brushwood effect so as to blend an authentic nomadic aura with all the comforts of unabashed five star luxuries.

Guests can also enjoy an acacia-shaded swimming pool fed daily by the melt-waters of Kilimanjaro, a selection of natural timber game viewing decks, a water hole for the animals and an alluring selection of watering holes for the guests.

Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania  

Standing high on the bluff of a dramatic ochre and terracotta streaked cliff above the flamingo-frosted expanse of Lake Manyara’s gleaming alkaline waters, the Lodge commands panoramic views across the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley.

Designed to reflect the brilliance of Lake Manyara’s unique birdlife, the Lodge draws on an inspirational architectural motif that melds swooping avian curves with the gentle concentric patterns of traditional Maasai ‘Bomas’ (encampments) whilst the vibrantly coloured frescoes lining the walls are designed to depict the colourful intricacy of bird migratory patterns.

The circular, closely-thatched rooms echo the traditional Maasai ‘Boma’ style of construction whilst featuring a vibrant interior design concept that reflects the Maasai people’s abiding love of brilliant scarlet-and-indigo checked ‘Shukas’ (cloaks) and bright yellow, white, blue and orange beadwork. Each room has a private veranda and breathtaking views of the shimmering reaches of the flamingo-frosted Lake.

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Tanzania  

Perched on the jagged rim of the crater, wreathed in morning mist, camouflaged in river-stone and cloaked in indigenous creepers, the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is a triumph of ecological and architectural fusion. Sensitively constructed so as to take nothing from its environment whilst affording endless vistas over the heat-shimmering reaches of the crater below, the clustered boulder-built buildings of the Lodge hug the crater rim, linked by rope-lashed timber walkways that skirt the buttressed roots of ancient, liana-hung trees.

Strung around the crater rim, each with its own rock-enclosed balcony, the rooms feature brass lamps, embossed leather headboards, wildwood mirrors, Maasai carvings and flamboyant prehistoric wall motifs depicting fleeing giraffes, stylised gazelle and plunging buffalo. Each room draws on a cave-grey, indigo-blue and jasper-red colour-scheme and enjoys uninterrupted views over the Crater’s unmatched splendor.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania  

Set high on the saddle of tree-clad ridge commanding panoramic views over the endlessly rolling reaches and volcanic reefs of the Serengeti, the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is the ultimate fusion of traditional African architecture and world-class style. Drawing its inspiration from the circular ‘Rondavel’ dwellings and winding paths of a traditional Maasai village, the Lodge features thickly-thatched, stone-built rooms, spaciously set amongst groves of indigenous trees that are cooled by sparkling streams and papyrus-fringed ponds.

The circular bar, its roof supported by massive carven figures of warriors, maidens and elders, looks out over the sky-blue, ‘vanishing horizon’ swimming pool towards the miles of lion-gold savannah that lie below, wherein is enacted the thunderous theatre of the million-strong wildebeest migration. As for views, from lilac-streaked sunrise, to diamond-domed night, the searingly sensational Serengeti delivers a series of timeless volcanic vistas that are second to none.

Kirawira Tented Camp Western Serengeti

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania  

The most exclusive of the Serena Group’s many Safari venues, the exquisite Kirawira tented camp is the epitome of classic safari camp luxury and a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.

In keeping with the theme of colonial opulence, the elegant dining tents feature Edwardian-styled dining furniture, sprung floors, crisp-starched napery, delicate blue and white china and weighty silver accoutrements, whilst the staff are attired in classical colonial ‘mess’ uniform of white Swahili robes and turbans.

The lodge offers 25 luxury tents, each with a private terrace and personal valet (5 King Size and 20 Twin Bedded Tents). The essentially colonial ambiance of the tented-rooms evokes colourful memories of the famous safaris of days gone by, when such romantic figures as Teddy Roosevelt and Edward, Prince of Wales indulged in lavish East African shooting safaris of unrivalled elegance. Each room has a personal valet and has been accommodated in a spacious canvas tent, erected on raised platforms of rope-lashed logs and sheltered by a bush-thatch roof.

*Note: Upgrading to the Kirawira Camp requires a supplement cost from only $299 per person.

Fairmount Mount Kenya Safari Club

Nairobi, Kenya  

With magnificent views of majestic Mount Kenya, the Deluxe Fairmont Safari Club’s 115 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, set in over 100 acres of landscaped gardens, offer a unique blend of comfort, relaxation and adventure. Originally the retreat of movie star and Club founder, William Holden, the Club’s illustrious former members have included Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby.

For those who wish to spend time relaxing at the Club, there are many recreational activities available: horseback riding, golf, croquet, a putting green, a bowling green, table tennis, swimming, a beauty salon, an animal orphanage and much more.

Each standard guest room is furnished with rugs, bedside lamps, dressing tables and built-in wardrobes, and a fireplace. In every bathroom there is a 115 / 240v shaving socket, overhead showers and bathtubs, flush toilets, washbasin. Also each bathroom has shampoo, body lotion, bath and shower gel, bathrobes, freshly laundered towels, hot and cold running water, water flasks and drinking water.

Zanzibar Serena Inn

Zanzibar, Tanzania  

Idyllically situated on the sea front of ancient Stone Town, washed by the aquamarine waters of the Zanzibar channel, redolent of the scent of cloves and flanked by an exotic melange of sultan’s palaces, Portuguese forts, ancient dhow harbours, dark slave markets, and bright bazaars, the Zanzibar Serena Inn is a haven of tranquillity and opulence amongst the bustle of Zanzibar. Faithfully restored and lavishly embellished with a jackdaw collection of antique clocks, crystal chandeliers, fretwork screens, carved staircases, Persian rugs and brass-studded doors, the interior design concept is a fusion of authenticity and opulence that reflects the very essence of Zanzibar.

Amenities include satellite TV, air conditioning in all rooms, mosquito nets, mini-bar, in-room safe, telephone, bathroom with tub/shower, hair-dryer, full housekeeping services (concierge and porter services, laundry, valet, 24-hour room service and shoeshine) plus full medical services. You’ll also enjoy a unique range of event and entertainment venues such as The House of Wonders and The Old Dispensary; luxury swimming pool and sun-deck;sumptuous beauty treatments, massage and hairdressing; a vibrant selection of nightly entertainment; extensively stocked Boutique, Gift shop and News Stand; Internet access, secretarial services and a wide range of board games plus a full library of books on Africa.

Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort

Zanzibar, Tanzania  

The Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort is situated in a secluded cove overlooking the sand-banks and nearby islands midway between Stonetown and Zanzibar Airport.

The 32 Standard Rooms and 21 Seafront Rooms are set in landscaped gardens, spacious and elegantly furnished with traditionally carved iroko wood beds. All Rooms have in-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, telephone, satellite TV and minibar. Each room has its own spacious balcony or veranda with coconut wood furnishing.

Dining amenities include a bar and a restaurant plus a spacious lounge area, all overlooking the fabulous sunsets. The resort boasts one of the largest swimming pools in East Africa. There are also tennis courts, a squash court and a fully equipped gym. Table tennis, billiards and darts are also available. All of these facilities are free of charge to residents of the hotel.