Hotel of the Day: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

The Serengeti is a protected region of Africa, spanning across Tanzania, and is home to some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife. Within this almost 15,000km² reserve, there are several destinations where you can stay to get up close and personal to nature like never before – and why not do so in ultimate luxury at Four Seasons Safari Lodge in the heart of the Tanzanian Serengeti?

Why is Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti One of the World’s Best Hotels?

Set in the heart of the Serengeti, few hotels offer wildlife experiences as up close and personal as the Four Seasons Safari Lodge. Safari tours can also be booked directly from the hotel, and the range of rooms and dining make this the perfect combination of luxury and wilderness, ideal for those who don’t want to give up their home comforts, but also want to stay in rural Africa.

Location

The hotel is located in the heart of the Serengeti National Park, one of the most famous national parks in the world. The Serengeti is one of the few places in Africa where the ‘Big Five’ all live: lions, leopards, cape buffalo, elephants and rhinoceros, making it one of Africa’s most important game reserves and protected areas.

The Serengeti also transforms depending on which time of year you visit – dry savannahs stretching for miles and the baking hot sun is what you’ll see in the dry season, but if you arrive in, or shortly after, the wet season, you’ll be treated to long, lush, green grasses and of course, the Great Migration, where thousands of wildebeest and zebra make the dangerous crossing across the crocodile-infested Mara River, just a short distance from the hotel.

This gorgeous scenery provides the perfect backdrop to your stay, with a very good chance of seeing incredible African wildlife closer than ever before. You’ll feel like you belong right in the heart of a nature documentary as you wake up to the soundtrack of the Serengeti, watching elephants drink from nearby watering holes as you sip your morning coffee on your balcony.

Room Types

The accommodation offerings at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti can be split into three distinct types: guest rooms, suites and villas.

Guest Rooms

Four of the rooms at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti are classed as guest rooms. These are the smallest accommodations, but don’t let that fool you, as they are excellent value for money.

For starters, all four guest rooms come with either a view over the savannah or a view of the nearby watering hole, where animals such as elephants and rhinos regularly visit. 

All rooms feature balconies and four-poster beds, and are decorated in traditional Tanzanian artwork, celebrating the local culture of the region.

These guest rooms can all sleep either three adults or two adults and one child.

Suites

The suites are slightly larger than the guest rooms and feature a private pool. In addition, guests also have open-air access balconies with sweeping views over the Serengeti, making them the perfect place to enjoy a quiet lunch or a couple of drinks on an evening.

All suites have two bathrooms – including an en-suite in the master bedroom – as well as a lounge area, which is ideal for relaxing in when the cool evening comes around, or if you get caught in a heavy downpour.

At 88m², these suites are also aimed at either three adults or two adults and one child, but offer slightly more room than the guest rooms.

Villas

The villas at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti are the most luxurious form of accommodation on offer at the hotel, and they are also the most spacious.

There are three villas: the one-bedroom villa, the two-bedroom villa, and the Presidential Villa, which sleeps up to six adults, or four adults and two children, making it the perfect choice for large families or groups of friends visiting the region on holiday.

All villas come with their very own infinity plunge pools and private terraces, with stretching views over the savannah. Kick off your day with a dip in the pool as you watch herds of grazers in front of you, before sitting back on the terrace and basking in the African sunshine with a freshly-brewed coffee or some freshly-squeezed tropical juice.

Facilities & Amenities

There is an infinity pool at the hotel for those who want to make the most of it, with views across the Serengeti. This is ideal for guests who do not have access to a private pool or for those who simply enjoy swimming.

This goes hand-in-hand with the state-of-the-art fitness centre at the hotel, where you can ensure that you never miss a workout by booking a gym class or simply spending an hour or two by yourself working out.

The business centre is also useful for those travelling for work, as there is an excellent (and free) WiFi connection in here, making it the perfect place to get some work done.

Perhaps one of the most unique and interesting facilities at the hotel, though, is the Discovery Centre, which doubles up as a lecture theatre and a museum. Guest speakers are often invited to share their knowledge of the region, from local historians to wildlife photographers, and some of the items on show are traditional tribal items dating back hundreds of years. This is a must-visit for anyone who wants to understand and appreciate the turbulent and natural history of the Serengeti.

Dining

There are three restaurants at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, as well as the option to have in-room dining or dining in the nearby bush, under the protection of the Maasai people.

Boma Grill

This is the hotel’s traditional African restaurant, offering a wide range of African cuisines, all cooked on a grill above an open fire pit. Perfect for a hearty meal while listening to stories told by local Maasai people about their own histories, as well as educating guests about the local wildlife. Ideal for an evening meal under the stars.

Nulu

The Swahili word for ‘Light’, Nulu, is a more internationally themed restaurant, offering cuisines from around the world, as well as East African options. Open for both breakfast and dinner, eating outside under the morning glow while the animals wake up is a truly special experience.

The Vineyard

This is the hotel’s speciality restaurant, and as its name suggests, the meals are themed around wine. Guests are invited into the hotel’s wine cellar, where they are served a three-course meal paired with a different selection of wines with each course, depending on what they order. A great place to visit for oenophiles and foodies alike.

Bars

The Maji Bar and Terrace is the hotel’s elevated bar, which is open all day and night, offering a wide selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, from cocktails to coffees. There are also snacks available throughout the day, including salads and pizza, making this a perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring the Serengeti.

Experiences & Activities

Naturally, Serengeti safaris are the primary form of entertainment at the hotel, as why else would you opt to stay in a hotel right in the middle of one of Africa’s most famous game reserves?

For those brave tourists, there are guided walking tours in the Serengeti, under the protection of the Maasai people, who have called this region home for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. You can walk through the bush, find various animal tracks and observe animals from a safe distance.

There are also Jeep safari tours, which enable you to travel further afield in the space of a day, and these are great for seeing more of the Serengeti than you might have initially thought. The Mara River crossing is around two hours from the hotel, and during the Great Migration, it is one of the best places to see zebra, wildebeest, hippos and crocodiles. Even out of season, many animals come down to the riverbanks to drink, and in the dry season, you’re guaranteed to see hippos and crocodiles.

Hot air balloon tours above the Serengeti are the stuff of dreams, and these can also be booked directly from the hotel, making for an unforgettable experience, especially at sunset. On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles, and see all different types of animals on the ground below.

Who It’s Best For

For wildlife enthusiasts, there are few better places on earth to stay than the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti. From Africa’s Big Five, to other iconic animals such as giraffes, zebras, crocodiles and more, the huge concentration of wildlife here is practically unrivalled.

It’s also a great place to stay for those who want to experience traditional pre-colonial African culture and history, and learn more about the resilience and resourcefulness of the native Maasai people who call this area home.

Sustainability

The fact that the hotel is located in the centre of a national park in the heart of the Serengeti says it all – it is fully committed to sustainability.

From a food point of view, almost all of the food on offer is sourced locally, while food waste is reduced to almost zero by giving it to local farmers who can use it for animal feed. The hotel’s restaurant menus are all seasonal, and they prioritise using seasonal ingredients whenever they are available.

In addition, the hotel directly supports local wildlife conservation efforts, such as the Serengeti De-Snaring Project and the Serengeti Rhino Conservation Project. All major world environmental-themed days are celebrated at the hotel, with the aim of educating guests and staff alike about global wildlife efforts.

90% of items in the hotel’s shop are sourced from Africa, with 60% of them coming directly from Tanzania, supporting local communities as well as offering guests authentic African souvenirs and wares. The profits are then put back into local community initiatives, from educating locals on anti-poaching measures to supporting local farmers.

Guests are also encouraged not to waste water, and there are no single-use plastics at the hotel, as all guests are given refillable steel water bottles – the same bottles are also used for shampoo, soap and body wash in the hotel bathrooms, too.

Unique Selling Point

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti is one of the best places for a wildlife enthusiast to visit. Not only is it located in one of the best areas to see wildlife in the world, but the luxury at the hotel ensures that you’ll enjoy a peaceful and quiet stay.

Amenities from the infinity pool to the spa make this the perfect place to spend a day relaxing and recharging, while options to see the Serengeti from a hot air balloon or to see the Serengeti on foot while guided by the knowledgeable Maasai people are truly unique experiences that lead to an unforgettable holiday in East Africa.