Lobo Wildlife Lodge: Our full report
First constructed in 1968, the large Lobo Wildlife Lodge was until recently run by the government, and its ...
... old-fashioned, stone structure still remains largely unchanged despite new management. One of just a few lodges in the Serengeti National Park to have really excellent views, this Wildlife Lodge is built in and around the distinctive Lobo Kopje, a large hill of rounded granite boulders that rises from undulating plains of the northern Serengeti.It's a very photogenic corner of the Serengeti – some of the granite boulders in these kopjies are the size of a tennis ball, others the size of a small tower block.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge's 74 rooms are fairly monotonously placed in a number of square, box-like adjoining blocks. All of the rooms are directly next to one another down long, white-painted corridors, which are often open on one side.
Each room is decorated in the same, no-nonsense 1960’s style: white, stone walls, highly polished wooden floors, twin beds with uninspiring fabrics, and stainless-steel light fittings. The décor largely lacks imagination, but we do enjoy the big glass windows as some have great views. Electronic safes, kettles and hairdryers have also been added to the rooms.
All of the bedrooms at Lobo have en-suite bathrooms, which, like the bedrooms, are functional but dated. Each has a white tiled bath with a shower attachment, a flush toilet and a white basin set into a polished wooden surround, below a large mirror. There are clean towels and complimentary toiletries provided.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge has a dining room, a Moroccan-themed bar and a swimming pool with a stunning location overlooking the plains from quite a height. There's also a very small shop. In these communal areas the designers have often tried hard to incorporate some of the kopje's huge rocks. Integral to the dining room is the trunk of a tree, encased in glass, which reaches up and opens to the roof. We're told that until recently, a leopard used to come down here, in full view of the diners! Meals are usually buffets, and whilst perfectly edible – they won't win any awards for their cuisine. The décor is surprisingly good though with a strong influence from North Africa and Arabia.
The real stars of the show are the scenery and the wildlife. The area has excellent resident game. On a previous stay in the vicinity, over just two nights in September, we saw two separate prides of lion, as well as a fleeting leopard (we're told there are five resident leopards in the area of this large kopje) – plus a large herd of buffalo, a family group of elephants, and plenty of plains game. The best of these sightings were in the very early morning, so get going early here if you can.
The great migration passes through the Lobo area on its way south, down the eastern side of the Serengeti National Park and Loliondo Game Controlled Area, between about October and November. You may also see elements of the migration heading north around there, during August and September. So whilst Lobo works as a game destination all year round, it's particularly worth going to between about August and November. Note that because it's so far to the north of the park, the game-drive roads around here can be marvellously quiet – we had a whole-day's drive north from here, in September, on which we only saw about two other vehicles.
Our view
Being raised above the surrounding plains may make Lobo rather windswept but it's always spectacular. If you want a good-value base in the north of the Serengeti, and can tolerate run-of-the-mill food and bland room decor, then Lobo delivers – just make sure you come for the wildlife and scenery; not the luxury. That said the main areas all have lots of character and great effort has clearly gone into procuring the furnishings.
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Serengeti Migration Area, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- Stay at least 2 nights here to explore the surrounding game.
- Directions
- Lobo airstrip is 2.5km from the lodge.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board
- Food quality
- Packed breakfasts and lunches can be arranged from Lobo Wildlife lodge for those wanting to make the most of the wildlife viewing in the surrounding area. However if you want to eat in the lodge then both meals are served as a buffet with a wide selection available. Breakfast is available between 06:30 and 09:00 and lunch is served between 12:30 and 14:30.
A three-course dinner is available from 19:00. There will be a soup or salad to start, followed by a choice of three mains (one will always be vegetarian), and a desert. Lobo Wildlife Lodge tries to combine international food with local cuisine. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service is possible at Lobo Wildlife Lodge
- Drinks included
- No drinks are included at Lobo – everything is paid for when you are here. A beer currently costs roughly US$3.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children are welcome at Lobo – and being a large lodge, there are some quite large areas inside that children will enjoy. It's probably one of the Serengeti's more suitable lodges for younger children.
- Property’s age restrictions
- There are no age restrictions.
- Special activities & services
- Babysitting is available on request.
- Equipment
- They have cots and highchairs.
- Generally recommended for children
- Yes
- Notes
- Like any area with dangerous game, parents must supervise children constantly when they stay at Lobo Wildlife Lodge. There are some great vantage points on the rocks where you can watch the sunrise and sunset – but at most they have basic wooden fences which are not very secure!
Communications
- Power supply notes
- On 5am – 10am and then 5pm – 12pm. There are plugs in all of the rooms and adaptors are provided.
- Communications
- There is limited cellphone network coverage at Lobo, but internet access is only in the office, and they told us it was very slow and unreliable.
- TV & radio
- There is a television in the bar.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- Hot water is only available from 05:30-09:00 and 17:30-23:30.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Lobo has links with the flying-doctor service. There is s dispensary and a qualified nurse on site.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Lobo has links with the flying-doctor service. There is s dispensary and a qualified nurse on site.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers around the property and some of the staff are trained to use them.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Hot air ballooning
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is not included at Lobo and costs $1–4 per item. Laundry is dried according to the weather.
- Money
- Lobo will exchange small amounts of US dollars, euros, pounds sterling and Tanzanian shillings.
- Accepted payment on location
- The lodge accepts cash payment in US dollars, euros, pounds sterling and Tanzanian shillings, as well as Visa and Mastercard, for which they add 5% commission.
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.
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.
Four Seasons Serengeti
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the only hotel in the Serengeti offering international facilities such as a gym, spa and children’s club.
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.
