LABA Mama Simba is a private bush retreat set within Dolly North, a 700-hectare unfenced estate on the edge of Arusha. Cape eland, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, impala and both Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles graze freely across the grounds, so the African bush begins just minutes after leaving the airport.

Guests choose between Individual Garden Cottages, the Master Suite, and Garden and Pool bedrooms in the Main House. Full-board stays include drinks, laundry and a guided bush walk with a Maasai guide, while optional extras include horseback riding, a day safari to Tarangire and a scenic helicopter flight over Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Kilimanjaro Airport is about 35 minutes away, making this a calm first or last night on a northern Tanzania safari and a welcoming base for families.