Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti: Our full report
The very large, luxury Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti is located in the centre of the Serengeti National ...
... Park, backing onto an extensive low kopje and with a waterhole adjacent to the lodge. It lies 25km north of the productive wildlife area around Seronera, which has excellent permanent game. This area also hosts the migration in season, although it is usually one of the busier areas of the park.Formerly the Bilila Lodge Kempinski, this hotel was taken over in 2012 by the Four Seasons group, and renovated to their high standards. The hotel sits on rocky kopjes, with raised wooden walkways linking the various parts of the property. With the lodge seemingly floating a few metres above the hillside, the wildlife can and does enter the premises from time to time: buffalo and various antelopes are often seen here.
With 72 rooms and 5 villas, a maximum occupancy of 180 guests, and some 250 staff, the Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the largest property in the Serengeti – and certainly the smartest of the park's large, hotel-style lodges. The furniture and fittings are well suited to the spacious, airy rooms and carefully chosen for their luxurious feel and contemporary safari style. These elements are enhanced by modern comforts and top facilities such as air conditioning, internet access, a spa and a well kitted-out gym.
In addition to the spa and fitness centre, the main facilities at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti include a comfortable lounge and reception area just inside the lodge entrance on the first floor, and a large bar on the ground floor. The lodge's first floor has a vast restaurant serving international cuisine prepared in an open kitchen. Large glass windows allow diners to enjoy views over the waterhole and Serengeti plains beyond. At the heart of the lodge is an atrium, open to the sky, with tables set around a central fireplace, to create a boma-style dining area. A cavernous wine cellar is available for private dining, and also offers daily wine-tasting with a specific focus on South African wines.
Also installed in the central part of the hotel is a highly impressive, small museum, with a wealth of well-designed modern exhibits, including interactive displays and explanations of the Serengeti ecosystem and the wildebeest migration. It’s really worth spending a bit of time in here! Next-door is a cinema room, which shows regular wildlife documentaries.
Outdoors, a large deck with umbrella-shaded tables is a great location for a light lunch or sundowner cocktail. A second wooden deck, dotted with sunloungers, partly wraps around an infinity swimming pool. Both overlook the waterhole. As well as good numbers of plains game, and the odd predator, herds of elephant frequently come to drink here.
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge's spa is like a lodge within a lodge. Six individual pavilions, connected like every other part of the hotel by aerial walkways, are used as treatment rooms. A wide option of treatments is available from about US$75-$420 depending on treatment type and length. The themes here are all Maasai-based, with “hot rungu" (Maasai club), known as kiffa in Swahili, rather than hot stone. Each treatment room has two beds, shower and steam room, and an outside bath. The spa has dedicated yoga studio and a yoga instructor from India. You can do rock-top yoga sundowner sessions on the top of the nearby kopje, accompanied by Maasai askaris.
The lodge's well equipped Kijana Children's Club offers children hours of entertainment and is supervised by professionally qualified staff. There is an arts and crafts room, books and toys area and a separate film and video game section. .
The lodge also has a well-equipped business centre offering wired and wireless internet access, audio-visual equipment and printing. As you would expect, the Four Seasons also has excellent conference facilities.
Raised wooden walkways take you between the main areas and Four Seasons' rooms, suites and villas. The rooms and suites are located in two wings, each consisting of three blocks of 12 rooms on two levels. In each block, four Savannah Rooms and two Terrace Suites are located on the lower level, while the six Horizon Rooms are located on the upper level. The Horizon and Savannah rooms are identical in terms of layout and furnishings, but the Savannah rooms have flat ceilings, while the Horizon rooms above them have vaulted, thatched roofs.
All the rooms have been built to a very high level of comfort, complete with top-quality linens, down pillows (hypoallergenic pillows are supplied on request), and luxurious bathrobes. Each room also has a TV channel which transmits a live feed from the floodlit water hole. The rooms are paired, so that a room with a kingsize bed and a room with twin beds share a private front door, enabling parents and children to interconnect.
All the Four Seasons accommodation is air-conditioned and very spacious, and the Terrace Suites have some of the largest bedrooms in the Serengeti. The suites have a second bathroom and loo accessed from the lounge. They also have a small swimming pool on each of their decks, measuring roughly 4m x 2.5m and 1.4m deep.
The whole hotel has been thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind, there is a lift and lots of ramps. There is also one purposely built accessible bedroom with a wet room.
- The 24 Savannah Rooms , each of which covers a chunky 55m² and has one king-size or two twin beds plus a sofa, and a dining table with two chairs. Facilities include air conditioning, blackout curtains, flat- screen TV, telephone (with voicemail), safe, hairdryer, minibar, tea/coffee- making facilities, a torch/flashlight, a good-sized safe (suitable for a laptop), internet cable points and WiFi access. Each room also has a small private outdoor verandah and a generous en-suite bathroom, including a separate shower and bath with a similar view onto the surrounding park as the verandah.
- The 36 Horizon Rooms are the same size and have the same furnishings and facilities as the Savannah Rooms, but they are on the upper level, beneath a thatched grass roof, giving even more impressive views from their balconies and bathrooms. Like the Savannah rooms, these Horizon rooms can comfortably sleep two adults and one child.
- The 12 Terrace Suites are larger (around 88m²), with a small plunge pool, an outdoor shower, a second bathroom and a lounge area with space that could take two 'trundle beds' (converted from the sofa and chaise longue)– so these rooms can comfortably sleep two adults and two children.
- The five villas are located a fair distance away to the west, offering extra privacy and exclusivity. There is a 1-bedroom villa, two 2-bedroom villas and the 3-bedroom Presidential Villa. As well as the facilities common to the rooms and suites, each villa has a kitchen, separate lounge and a small swimming pool. You can have a butler and cook on request, but most villa guests use the main lodge restaurants. When we visited the villas, despite none of them having guests, all their private pools were spotless and sparkling blue.
Our view
This luxurious hotel won't appeal to safari purists, but it's a great choice if you're looking for international-style five-star accommodation. With its pools, kids' club and other facilities, it's also excellent for families. That said, the lodge is relatively insulated from its surroundings, compared with the park's tented camps. Although it’s a beautiful property, you could easily forget that you are even in the Serengeti!
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- Most visitors staying at the Four Seasons will probably want to spend some days just relaxing at the hotel, as well as time exploring the central Serengeti on game drives. On that basis, at least four nights here would be a good length of time, and up to a week would be fine for most people.
If you are on safari for concentrated game-viewing then after four nights you would want to move on to a new area. - Directions
- The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is about 90 minutes from Seronera airstrip, but the drive may take longer if you have interesting wildlife sightings on route.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board
- Food quality
- The Kula, Boma and Maji restaurants at Four Seasons Safari Lodge serve “pan-African" and “international-style" cuisine. Breakfast and dinner are usually served as a buffet, while light lunches are served on the deck, in the bar, or in the lounge. At the Boma restaurant, they specialise in local grills, sometimes accompanied by Maasai performers. The Maji is an à la carte lunch venue (11:30-17:00) with excellent views to the southwest.
The food we thought was pretty good. You can also drop in here for a snack or a full meal if you're driving through the Serengeti. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Yes
- Drinks included
- Most drinks are included. Only Champagne, premium wines and luxury spirits are extra.
Special interests
- Family holidays
- Next to a waterhole, the Four Seasons Serengeti is a large, international-style hotel that makes for safe, luxurious family safari holiday in Tanzania. This is one of the few lodges with special children’s activities, coordinated by an enthusiastic guide.
- See ideas for Family holidays in Tanzania
- Wellbeing
- Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti has a comprehensive spa with six treatment rooms. Trained therapists offer a variety of treatments for couples and singles including massages, facials and manicures.
- See ideas for Wellbeing in Tanzania
- Luxury
- For a safari based out of truly luxurious hotel, this Four Seasons is one of the best options in Africa. High-end facilities (typical of this group) include an excellent spa, a gym, air-conditioning and internet access – complete with live streaming from the adjacent water-hole!
- See ideas for Luxury in Tanzania
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children are welcome.
- Property’s age restrictions
- No age restrictions.
- Special activities & services
- Plenty of activities designed specifically for children are on offer, currently coordinated by an enthusiastic guide. As well as the very impressive kid's club, child minders can be arranged on request.
- Equipment
- Cots and high-chairs.
- Generally recommended for children
- This is one of the best options in the Serengeti for children.
- Notes
- Families will find plenty of space in one of the larger villas. Alternatively, the Savannah or Horizon rooms can take an extra bed for a child, whilst the Terrace suites can have an extra two beds. It's also possible to request two adjoining Savannah Rooms – where the two rooms share a communal entrance vestibule.
Communications
- Power supply notes
- Electricity is available 24/7, but there has been no effort to use sustainable sources.
- Communications
- Wifi is available throughout the lodge - including in the rooms – for up to 2 devices per party. You can pay a premium to connect up to 4 devices.
- TV & radio
- Each guest room is fitted with satellite TV, with DSTV and a channel guide. One channel is devoted to night-vision cameras positioned by the waterhole.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- Water is supplied by borehole and water harvesting. The tap water is safe to drink, however bottled water is supplied to guests.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Four Seasons Safari Lodge has a doctor on site, and access to flying doctors in the event of a medical emergency. The closest airstrip is Seronera airstrip, 90 minutes drive away.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Each guest room is fitted with a safe for personal belongings. During the day security guards (askaris) are ever present in the lodge grounds, and after dark guests are escorted to their rooms. There are also security cameras at all room entrances.
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers and hose pipes are strategically located throughout the lodge and there are sprinklers in all corridors. There is also a fire break around the lodge. There is a full Four Seasons fire-training programme.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Hot air ballooning
Extras
- Disabled access
- In Place
- Laundry facilities
- A full laundry service is offered at an additional charge (currently $35 per day)
- Money
- The rooms have large safes and there is a foreign exchange bureau at the front desk.
- Accepted payment on location
- Four Seasons Safari Lodge accepts payment by Amex, MasterCard and Visa and there is surcharge. You can also settle any extras in cash using most major currencies including Tanzanian shillings, US dollars, British pounds and euros. The lodge does not accept travellers’ cheques.
Other lodges in Serengeti Migration Area
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Olakira Camp
Comfortable, friendly and relaxed, Olakira Camp moves between the Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Sayari Camp
In the northern Serengeti, near the Mara River, luxurious Sayari Camp offers excellent wildife all year – boosted further by the wildebeest migration.
Nomad Serengeti Camp
Serengeti Safari Camp is a well-appointed tented camp that moves several times a year to follow the predicted path of the migration.
Dunia Camp
Dunia Camp is well located for the migration from December to March, and has excellent game viewing for the rest of the year.
Namiri Plains Camp
Namiri Plains is one of the best camps in the Serengeti and its remoteness ensures a fantastic wildlife experience away from the crowds.
Lamai Serengeti
Set high in the kopjes with fantastic views, Lamai Serengeti offers top service and guiding and good migration sightings from Jul-Oct.
Ubuntu Camp
Ubuntu Camp has several locations in the Serengeti, following the wildebeest migration, so it is often in a great location to see the herds.
Kati Kati Camp
Kati Kati is a small, very simple bushcamp, which is well-positioned to explore the wildlife-rich Seronera area.
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Large and economical, but not luxurious, Ndutu Safari Lodge is well located in the southern Serengeti, so book early to get space.
Serian Serengeti
Serian Serengeti is a mobile tented operation run by Alex Walker which moves between two locations following the wildebeest migration.
Klein's Camp
Klein's Camp, in a private area of the northern Serengeti, sets high standards. Activities include walks, nights drives and Maasai village visits.
Serengeti under Canvas
Two of the three Serengeti under Canvas camps move through the Serengeti National Park every few months to follow the wildebeest migration.
Grumeti River Camp
Grumeti River Camp offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with top service, first-rate food, expert guiding and an excellent location.
Lemala Kuria Hills
Lemala Kuria Hills is a luxury permanent camp that is ideally located for wildlife all year around, but especially during the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Ewanjan
Lemala Ewanjan is a comfortable and stylish tented camp in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti National Park.
Lemala Mara-Ndutu
Lemala Mara-Ndutu is a semi-permanent camp that moves between the north and south of the Serengeti to witness the wildebeest migration.
Lemala Nanyukie
Lemala Nanyukie is a stylish camp located in the quieter part of the central Serengeti.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
The large Lobo Wildlife Lodge has simple, functional rooms in a stunning location. It's a good base for exploring the north-eastern Serengeti.
Kubu Kubu
Kubu Kubu is a contemporary, tented lodge, well located in the central Seronera area of the Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti Walking Mobile
This fairly simple camp offers only walking activities, but it's very well done and combines well with more conventional camps or lodges.
Mbalageti Lodge
Mbalageti is a well-run lodge in a quiet part of the Serengeti's western corridor – an ideal location during the Apr-Jun migration.
Serengeti Serena
The Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is a large, hotel-style lodge and a good family-friendly base from which to explore the central Serengeti.
Kusini Camp
Kusini Camp is permanent, luxury camp located on a beautiful kopje in a quiet, wildlife-rich corner of the south-west Serengeti.
Migration Camp
Serengeti Migration Camp is a smart tented camp, good for the wildebeest migration from Jul–Aug, or to explore the Lobo Kopjes any time.
Mkombe's House Lamai
Mkombe's House Lamai is a fully staffed private house in the Wogakuria Kopjes district of Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Serengeti Sopa Lodge is an international-style hotel offering good-value accommodation in the central Serengeti, with lovely views of the plains.
Singita Mara River
Singita Mara River Tented Camp is a luxurious camp in the isolated and rewarding Lamai wedge region of the northern Serengeti.
Olmara Camp
With just eight guest tents, including two family tents and three signature stargazer tents, Olmara is a simple, family-friendly camp with a wonderfully attentive team. The camp captures an authentic bush experience, welcoming travellers of every kind.
Serengeti Green Camp
Serengeti Green Camp is a comfortable camping experience, in your own private safari camp and at the heart of a great wildlife area.
Sasakwa Lodge
On a hill looking over the Serengeti plains, Sasakwa Lodge is grand, luxurious safari camp, one of the most opulent properties in Tanzania.
Faru Faru Lodge
On the north bank of the Grumeti River, Faru Faru is a small, chic hideaway in this exclusive corner of the Serengeti.
Kirurumu Migration Camp
Kirurumu is a rustic tented camp which moves around the Serengeti twice a year to follow the wildebeest migration.
Sabora Tented Camp
Sabora Tented Camp is a smart tented camp – one of the most luxurious, professional and stylish properties to be found in Tanzania.
Nimali Mara
Nimali Mara is a luxurious safari lodge in a quiet region of the northern Serengeti with good access to the wildebeest migration.
Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is a permanent luxury camp in the northern Serengeti, with spacious and private tents with their own hot tubs.
Ndutu Kati Kati
Ndutu Kati Kati is a seasonal tented camp, based in the southern Serenget from Dec-Mar, ideal for the migration as it passes through.
Olduvai Camp
Olduvai Camp lies between Ngorongoro and the southern Serengeti plains. It's a good base for the southern plains during the rainy season.
Lake Masek Tented Camp
Ideally located for the wildebeest migration from Dec–Apr, Lake Masek Tented Camp is a good, mid-market safari camp.
Mara Mara
Mara Mara is a smart tented camp in the northern Serengeti, situated on a small hill close to the Mara River.
Esirai Migration Camp
A season migration camp, with only 8 tents and 1 family tent and plenty of character. Esirai is ideally placed for excellent wildlife and enjoys a simplistic and comfortable under-canvas experience.
Mwiba Lodge
Mwiba Lodge is a luxurious property located on a private concession on the edge of the southern Serengeti.
Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Seronera Wildlife Lodge is large hotel-style safari lodge in the heart of the Serengeti, offering good value and a great location.
Mara Kati Kati
Mara Kati Kati is a simple bush camp in the northern Serengeti, based from Jul-Oct near the Mara River for the wildebeest migration.
Nasikia Naona
Naona Camp is a small tented camp, located in the Moru Kopjes, west of the Serengeti central area
Kirawira Camp
Set high on a hill, in the Serengeti's western corridor, Kirawira is a relatively large tented camp in the Serena group.
Nyikani Central
Nyikani Central is a comfortable tented camp located in the game-rich Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Mbuzi Mawe
Mbuze Mawe is a comfortable tented camp in a convenient, central-north location when driving through the Serengeti.
Laba Migration Camp
A luxury mobile camp that moves between the Western Corridor, Mara River and the southern Ndutu area, in line with the wildebeest migration.
Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Serengeti Pioneer Camp is a luxurious tented camp in the central Serengeti, styled on African explorers' camps of the early 20th century.
Taasa Lodge
Taasa Lodge is a slightly quirky option offering guided walks and night game drives, which are not permitted in Serengeti National Park.
Nimali Serengeti
Opened in July 2017, Nimali Serengeti is a smart, permanent tented camp located in the Seronera area of the central Serengeti.
Nomad Walking Camp
Nomad Expeditionary Walking Camp is a simple camp of up to three tents, plus infrastructure, that changes location to allow guests to do substantial walks between campsites.
