Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania): Built right on the lip of the crater, this is Africa's most over-the-top lodge, a wonderful mix of hobbitlike styling and baronial splendor famously described as "Versailles meets Maasai." As such, it is a destination in its own right, and every vantage quite stunning -- the view of the vast crater below is an added bonus. It's a real exercise in pampering, too: Return from your game drive, and you're likely to find a crackling fire lit in your room (it's cold up on the crater rim) and a rose-strewn bubble bath; settle in and drink in the view, along with a glass of bubbly.
Serengeti Under Canvas (Serengeti, Tanzania): There's little to beat the romance of having nothing but canvas between you and the bush (hence "The Best Tented Camps" reviewed below). The semi-permanent tented camps that follow the Migration offer great game viewing with a level of luxury -- carpets, plush sofas, table lamps, and small libraries -- not normally associated with camping. There are four excellent operators, but only &Beyond comes with the luxury of a private butler to see to your every need, from delivering piping hot water, warmed over a fire and carried to your private bucket shower, to remembering that you like your G&T with crushed ice and mint.
Singita's Grumeti Camps (Grumeti Reserve, Serengeti, Tanzania): Singita has been wowing followers of the world's glossiest travel tomes with their South Africa camps for years, and they regularly vote Singita SA Best Destination on Earth (a record-setting 5 consecutive years) -- with Grumeti sure to follow suit. Well, given the landscape, Singita's East Africa camps -- a choice of three, each so different you'll feel as if you've arrived at a totally new destination -- are even better. Whether you're on honeymoon or have been married "forever," this is where you come to feel like the world's first couple.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
