Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Set high on the saddle of a tree-clad ridge, commanding panoramic views across the Serengeti, the lodge is the ultimate fusion of traditional African architecture and world-class style, and is the winner of numerous awards from the world travel press.

Centrally located adjacent to the famous Western Corridor and Grumeti River, the lodge has been designed to blend completely into the living landscape. A series of traditional domed ‘rondavels' are widely spaced throughout the grounds, and are cooled by groves of acacia trees and watered by sparkling streams. On the very edge of the ridge is a ‘vanishing horizon' pool (below), which looks out over the ‘endless plains' after which the Serengeti is named.

Situated close to the world-famous 2-million-year-old palaeolithic site of Olduvai, ‘birthplace of mankind', the lodge has been styled to offer a showcase of cultural performance, heritage and traditional art, which is best illustrated by the lavish Makonde carvings which decorate both the rooms and the stunning domed dining room.

Each charmingly presented room (below) is accommodated in a two-storey stone-built, traditionally-thatched ‘Rondavel'. Looking out over the plains, each has its own private balcony, private entrance, spacious bedroom, natural stone bathroom and intricately carved furniture.

Linked by shaded walkways and clustered around the roaring furnace of the central circular barbecue arena (operational for breakfast, lunch and dinner), the high-domed halls of the two-tier dining room are supported by massive papyrus-topped pillars and embellished with sumptuous traditional ‘Makonde' carvings. Outside is a circular terrace, which looks out over the grounds towards the swimming pool.

Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast and lunch are presented in buffet-style and feature a wide range of international choices. In typical safari style, a ‘full English Breakfast' is offered as well as European options while lunch menus will typically include meat, poultry, fish and vegetarian options.

Dinner
The table d'hôte dinner menus feature a salad buffet, soup, entrée, pudding, cheese and biscuits and tea or coffee. Vegetarian options are always available. The majority of meat and dairy products, as well as fruits and vegetables are sourced from the communities that surround the reserve.

Wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks
The wine list offers a broad selection of old- and new-world wines, and local and imported beers and spirits. The bar also offers a wide range of soft drinks including an array of freshly-made local fruit juices. Only the finest Tanzanian coffee and tea is served, as well as a wide range of fruit and herbal infusions.