I’ve stayed in luxury accommodations all over the world, but sleeping in a safari tent in Tanzania took 5-star service to a new level

I landed at the Seronera Airstrip in Central Serengeti and searched for my safari guide for the next two days.

Shedrack Barnaba, a safari guide for Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp, was waiting for me with a smile.

Before hopping in the open-air leather Toyota Land Cruiser, we first needed to snack. Barnaba had set up an entire table of food. A tablecloth displayed nuts, chips, and cookies in metal containers, along with tea, sodas, and water.

I’ve had luxury airport transfers before. I felt spoiled in Belize when my driver pulled over to the side of the road to pour me a rum punch or when a luxury vehicle pulled up to bring me to Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo in Panama City.

However, my experience in Tanzania took transfers to a new level, and the welcome picnic was just the beginning. As we navigated the national park’s bumpy dirt roads, Barnaba used his vast knowledge to point out different safari creatures. We stopped to watch a herd of elephants and spotted a lion rustling in the bush.

It seemed impossible to top an airport transfer like that.

All three lodges I visited in the Serengeti were canvas tents, but they still managed to create a luxury experience. (Business Insider received a media rate for each accommodation.)

At TAASA Lodge, where a night stay ranges between $910 and $1,060 a person, my tent was large enough to have a living area where I sipped my hand-delivered latte each morning.

At another lodge, Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp, I sprawled in a king-size bed and took hot showers with running water each evening. Depending on the season, nights in this tent cost between $946 and $1,227 a person.

Finally, my tent at Singita’s Sabora Tented Camp was the most luxurious and had the highest costs, ranging between $2,125 and $3,095 a person per night. At Singita, I didn’t spend a moment inconvenienced in the air-conditioned, three-partitioned space. There was a stocked kitchen, cozy bed, indoor and outdoor shower, freestanding tub, double vanity, floor-to-ceiling closet, and outdoor seating.

Sure, it was technically a tent, but it was one of the nicest places I’ve ever slept — and I’ve spent nights in hotels with celebrity and billionaire guest lists.

Navigating my itinerary was the hardest part of my first safari trip.

I wanted to spend as much time as possible in the bush, spotting animals and being in nature, but with some of the nicest accommodations I’ve experienced, it was tempting to never leave my tent.

On top of that, the communal lodge spaces were equally enticing.

All three properties had impressive infinity pools with views of the Serengeti. There were welcoming bars with similarly impressive sights. Some lodges had tents for spas and gyms, while others had shared lounge spaces with leather couches and comfy seating.

I could’ve happily spent a week hopping between the national park, lodge, and tent without ever getting bored.

When I think of camping, I think of dehydrated meals, PB&Js, oatmeal, and plenty of candy.

When I think of glamping, it typically involves a camp stove where full dinners are cooked.

Rarely do I associate sleeping in a tent with fine dining.

Once again, Tanzania proved me wrong. Each lodge served multi-course dinners on white tablecloths.

The food at Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp was some of the best I had. I’m still dreaming of dishes like the harissa roasted carrot soup or the chicken thighs and sundried tomatoes.

At Singita’s Sabora Tented Camp, dinner service included the perk of a sommelier who paired each course with a glass of wine.

Of course, a meal wouldn’t be complete without extravagant desserts like tartlets, homemade ice cream, and pastries.

As a solo traveler, I’m used to planning and making every decision on a trip. I pick where I want to go and when I want to do it, where to eat, what museums to visit, and which to skip. I navigate roads, airports, and unfamiliar cities.

The choices are endless, and for the first trip of my life, I rarely had decisions to make — which felt like the biggest luxury of the trip.

Instead, staff members at each lodge made decisions for me. Peterlis Kibwana packed my itinerary each day at the Sigita Sabora Tented Camp. He suggested when we wake up for our game drives, what time my requested bush walk would take place, and when and where we would each lunch. There wasn’t a single thing I had to stress about.

Logolie Milya effortlessly navigated the area’s roads. There were no Google Maps, and there was no need for me to backseat drive. Instead, I was a passenger enjoying the sights for the few days in the bush.

My waiters and butlers at each lodge quickly learned my preferences. Once Micky learned I drink lattes in the morning, he made sure to have one waiting for me every day. When I wasn’t sure what entrée to pick, the staff were happy to make the call for me.

I could’ve been more decisive, but I didn’t have to be — and that was a luxury.

It was magical to see a baby elephant cross the road just a few feet from our safari vehicle, and it was thrilling to follow the sounds of roaring lions at night.

The animal interactions I had in Tanzania were moments I will never forget. But so were the people.

Learning about Milya’s childhood growing up in a Maasai tribe and having someone receptive to answer every question I had was a reminder that humans around the world can connect and bond.

Seeing photos of Micky’s children and watching his eyes light up as he mentioned his wife was heartwarming.

The people, their hospitality, their eagerness to showcase their country, and their warmth made sleeping in a tent one of the most abundant trips of my life.