Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Our stay at the Four Seasons Serengeti was by far the best part of our two week honeymoon. Our safari guide, Goustone, was excellent. He was able to spot things we never would have noticed, and he was always in communication with the other guides ensuring we didn’t miss whatever the amazing animals of the Serengeti were up to. We saw so many things, from two cheetah kills, to four lion kings and everything in between. He also has a ton of knowledge about the Serengeti, and a good sense of humor! The hotel itself is beautiful, clean and the service was top notch. Aside from the game drives, our favorite experience was the vineyard dinner. The food was delicious (especially the steak and the mushroom soup!) and paired perfectly with the wines. We ended up having the room all to ourselves and it was both romantic and fun getting to dine in a beautiful setting with just the two of us! I also want to thank Mr. Nice and the head of food and beverage (unfortunately I cannot recall his name but he was so personable and kept checking on us during our stay to make sure everything was satisfactory). The food overall was great. I ordered the Nile Perch three times, it was that good! This was the most memorable trip we’ve taken and will always hold a special place in our hearts. Hopefully someday we’ll visit again!

As you would expect from the Four Seasons, you get a known standard of excellent, proactive service here from start to finish. The food, beverages and staff are all excellent (one of the first people to introduce themselves to us was the Food and Beverage Director). The property itself commands an elevated position looking over the Serengeti. Its USP is its infinity pool, looking over its own watering hole, and on to the plains beyond. We’d paid extra for a room overlooking the watering hole. It was very comfortable. The view from the terrace over the watering hole to the plain is stunning. However, they’ve got a camera permanently broadcasting the same view to the TVs in all of the rooms, so it’s debatable whether paying the premium is worth it. We were only here for two days but didn’t see any game visit the pool. We did however see wildebeest and buffalo moving across the plain from the balcony. When you’re shown to your room you’re warned to keep the patio doors closed and locked. Apparently the local baboons have worked out how to slide them open. We were frequently visited on the balcony by several rock hyrax. They’re ridiculously cute and very tame (don’t be tempted to stroke them though - a quick Google revealed they can carry fleas, ticks, and can give you a nasty nip). I did leave the patio door open once for just a couple of minutes to take in the view, only to find one had calmly wandered into the bathroom. So, amazing views, great service and excellent food. Just don’t leave your patio doors open.

Four Seasons Serengeti is like an oasis in a desert. A cliche, perhaps but a magnificent place to stay when exploring the Serengeti. It is not fenced which means that wild animals can roam the property. Having said that, it was incredibly safe. The only time we were told to ask for an escort to our rooms was when it was dark. The closest we got to a wild animal was watching them come to the waterhole, directly behind the endless pool, to drink. And we could see this from the sitting area in our room. The hotel itself is amazing, the staff incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, the food excellent - from breakfast through to dinner. We were particularly impressed with the commitment to the environment in its entirety - from animals through to energy usage and waste. The owners are passionate about the animals and the footprint that the hotel and its guests make. There is a solar farm with batteries for energy storage and recycling of waste water to replenish the waterhole. While it might seem like a small thing, we were so pleased to find that, while given the opportunity to do so, our towels weren’t replaced when we elected to rehang them. So many hotels ask guests to rehang towels if they don’t need replacing yet replace them anyway. A waste of limited resources. Thanks to everyone at Four Seasons Serengeti for making our stay memorable on so many fronts.

The Four Seasons Serengeti is a legendary property, and staying here is still the best choice in central Serengeti. The staff are noticeably better trained than at most other hotels in Africa — attentive, polished, and genuinely warm. That said, the property itself is starting to show signs of deterioration. On arrival, the decorative pond at the entrance was completely dry, and our balcony had baboon droppings. The massage was decent but not exceptional. The pool, however, is a true highlight and one of the most memorable features of the stay. Food was good, though not quite at the exceptional level you’d expect from a property of this caliber, and a few other guests we spoke with shared the same impression. We unfortunately didn’t get to see elephants during our visit, but the setting is still remarkable. Overall, despite some physical upkeep issues and small service gaps, the Four Seasons Serengeti remains an iconic destination and a worthwhile stay.

Our stay at the four seasons in the Serengeti was nothing part of magical. When we arrived at the elephants were standing at the watering hole right outside of the check-in area you could see wildebeest and zebra all waiting to drink from the watering hole and the front desk staff was friendly and gave us a thorough tour of the property. Our room was gorgeous and all details were considered when designing the space. At dinner, Anne did an amazing job, accommodating our food, allergies, and guiding us in our order. The food at the four seasons was unmatched with any food we had on this trip. The overall day was absolutely incredible. My only regret is that we did not stay there several more days this hotel is definitely not one to be missed.