After staying at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, I can confidently say—it’s a 5-star experience that’s worth a stop on your Tanzania safari itinerary. This isn’t just a hotel review; it’s a first-hand account of what it’s really like to stay in the heart of the Serengeti surrounded by nothing but the vast African savanna, where elephants roam freely in the distance, and baboons just might end up on your patio.
So, if you’re wondering whether this lodge is worth the splurge, let me share exactly why it should be at the top of your list.
What’s So Special About Serengeti National Park
Every year, over 90,000 travelers make their way to Serengeti National Park, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. This place is beyond stunning with endless golden plains stretching as far as the eye can see and dotted with wildlife at every turn.
Not only is it an UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park. The Serengeti is also home to one of the wildest events on the planet—the Great Migration, where over a million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles race across the plains in search of greener pastures. It’s not exactly a peaceful stroll, either—they’re dodging predators and braving crocodile-filled rivers along the way.
But even if you miss the migration, there’s still tons of wildlife to see across the park’s 5,695 square miles. And trust me, the hippo pool is a must-see—these giant goofballs spend their days sloshing, grunting, and (let’s be honest) probably farting up a storm.
Serengeti is the reason many people travel to the country, and absolutely deserves a top spot on any travel bucket list. It was definitely on mine!
Four Seasons Safari Lodge
There’s no doubt that the Four Seasons brand is known for being luxurious in every sense of the word, and their Serengeti safari lodge does not stray from this. Perched on elevated walkways, this place offers a unique twist to the whole safari experience, giving the extravagance you’d expect while incorporating the natural beauty of the land.
Not only that, paying attention to the details is what the Four Seasons does best. From the sweets left on the entry table in our room to the airport pickup that included a bottle of champagne to the staff who always seemed to remember my name, they didn’t miss a beat.
Getting to Four Seasons Safari Lodge
Since we were already in Tanzania, we hopped on a Coastal Air flight from Arusha Airport to Serengeti Airport, a quick and scenic 45-minute journey. Coastal Air flies this route a few times daily, as well as from other airports across Tanzania, making it an easy way to reach the heart of the Serengeti. The moment we landed, a Four Seasons jeep was waiting for us—along with a champagne welcome and snacks. Talk about arriving in style!
TIP: Keep in mind that the total luggage on a small flight like this is restricted to 15 kg (33 lbs) per passenger and must be in soft-sided bags or suitcases (no hard-shell cases).
Four Seasons Serengeti Safari
In Swahili, safari literally means “journey,” and the Four Seasons Safari Lodge makes sure that this journey is not only safe but exciting too. You can explore the Serengeti by air in a hot air balloon, on foot with a guided walking safari, or by a rugged jeep—which is exactly what I did!
Jeep Safari
Via rugged jeep is one of the most common ways to do safari, and it’s the option I chose. We went on their basic half-day tour and there was no shortage of wildlife to spot. Our driver/guide took us to all the hotspots known to be loaded with animals and even made a stop to the hippo pool where you could only see the backs of about a dozen that were three-quarters of the way submerged under water.
We were also there just after the wildebeest had returned from the great migration and it was surreal to see thousands walking all in a row. I can’t tell you how many times we were stopped as they slowly crossed the road that lay before us. It was a wildebeest traffic jam!
PS: You can see all the safari adventure options on their website.
Spa
The whole point of opting for the Four Seasons Safari Lodge instead of camping, is to enjoy the luxury services and pamper yourself on your vacation, right? The spa treatments and services highlight the mystique and magical healing power of Africa with detoxifying cleanses, cleansing facials, excellent body massages and other services inspired by Serengeti’s ecology.
The location of the on-premise spa is purely a bonus. You will need to follow the elevated walkways until you reach a section of beautiful bungalows. One of those might be the locale of your massage!
Infinity Pool
The outdoor dining area backs up to the infinity pool that backs up to the watering hole that backs up to Serengeti National park. That’s quite a line up that you don’t want to miss!
Reserve at least one of your afternoons to spend within a 25 foot radius—have lunch al fresco then walk to the pool to sunbath on a lounge chair while watching the wildlife saunter by. This was my favorite way to spend time at the lodge!
Dining
Did I mention that all rooms at the lodge include three meals per day (including house wines, beers and spirits)? The frosting on that cake is that the fine dining options and bar at Four Seasons Safari Lodge are exceptional.
Enjoy hearty meals at Kula’s restaurant with amazing breakfast buffets and meals prepared with traditional African flavors.
Boma Grill incorporates the Maasai culture where an authentic African feast is served around an open air fire-pot in a restaurant inspired by a Maasai hut. Most nights that you dine here, you will be treated to an entertaining show. We saw some impressive Maasai dancers on one particular evening. The tone of the music was mesmerizing and meditative (or that could have been the Cabernet!).
If you want to enjoy your cocktails with a delightful view in fresh air, Maji Bar and Terrace is there to serve you with a variety of drinks, homemade pizzas, delicious salads and African tapas (that’s the one that butts up to the infinity pool!).
Accommodations
Four Seasons Serengeti is a 77-room property with a Colonial style décor that stays true to African culture. There are several different rooms and suites, as well as villas. I can attest that the Terrace Suite was a little piece of heaven. It was a two-room suite with two full bathrooms (one with deep soaking tub), plus an outdoor shower and a private infinity pool that overlooked the park. There were impala and giraffes in our backyard!
From A to Z the room was pure luxury—from the bath products to the picture perfect view to the soft pillows. After a long day on safari it is a blissful retreat—just make sure to lock your doors or a baboon may find their way in to steal your fruit platter. We had one come in the afternoon trying to get in, but luckily our door was locked!
Check the Best Rates & Book your stay at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge.
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
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