Serengeti Sopa Lodge

The hotel is sold like a five star property, but still lacks a few things to be considered like that. First of all, the staff is very nice, everyone was super helpfull and kid with us ans our children. The place itself is very beautiful, with a stunning view of the Serengeti and was totaly remodeled from the previous hotel. Very nice architecture and beautifil furniture. However, the rooms are very far from a 5 star. Even tough they are big and very new, they lack some things that are absolutely essential for a hotel that wants to be considered like that. For example: there is no mini bar at the room. Can you imagine a 5 star without it???? My son takes a refrigerated medicine and had to leave it at the hotel's kitchen fridge, what is absolutely unnacceptable - besides not being able to control the temperature or even know where it was stored, it’s completely unhygienic mixing food and medicine!!!! The furniture in the rooms is beautiful, however it look very very cheap, like Ikea. Everything seems too simple for a hotel like that. The restroom has a very high mirror, which I, that have 1,55 m tall, was not able to see myself, and the same thing happens to the towel hangers, that have the same problem. Me and my children had to leave the towels in the chair at the room (argh), because we coudn't reach them. Also, there is no difference between the floor of the bathroom and the shower, so when you turn on the shower, the whole bathroom gets completely wet. Very unconfortable and quite dangerous. The food has to improve a lot. The hotel is full board, so we made all the meals with them. At breakfast, they offer a few things a la carte and they bring to the table breads, a 'cheese board' and fruits. For the four os us, they brought daily a plate with 3 small slices of fruit and a cheese plate that consisted in two small tringles of cheese and two salami slices. I am not kidding: a hotel that costs around 1500 dollars a night brought that for the whole family. There was only one option of cheese and one option of cold cut. The eggs were terrible, in any variation. We had to ask for more fruits and cheese every day, and they had only these options. Even in a 3 star hotel you can fod more cheeses and charcuterie at breakfast. At lunch, one day they offered a lot of things like burguers and pizza (which were great by the way) and on the following, only one option of african food. Even tough it was good, a restaurant in the middle of nowhere can't offer only one option of food, specially cattering to kids! At dinner, every day we had only two options of main course to choose from. If you do not like chicken or fish, there is no other option available. On our last day, I cound't believe when I saw the menu, offered in a buffet station: the options were chicken drumsticks and ox tail. Yes, at a 1500 dollar/night hotel they offer drumsticks and ox tail as the only main course options. Just to add, all of them very spicy. And in a hotel that has NOTHING around, that you have no option for a room service, no option for asking something else, etc. All things considered, we had a very good experience, specially because of the staff, always very kind. But considering the price paid, I would think of staying somewhere else in the next occasion.

This hotel offers one of the most breathtaking views imaginable of the African savanna. I truly enjoyed my stay, and overall it was a memorable experience. However, given the significant cost of this property, I believe it’s important to provide balanced feedback—both for future guests and for the hotel itself. For context, we arrived after spending five days in Ngorongoro and then stayed here for another five nights. We were not looking for intense, full-day game drives every day. Instead, we wanted a place where we could enjoy the savanna at a relaxed pace and also appreciate the hotel itself on days we chose not to go out especially towards the mid-end of the trip. 1. Food (especially lunch): The hotel is impressive in scale and design, but the lunch offerings can be significantly improved. If you’re staying several days and not going on full-day drives daily, you’ll quickly notice that the lunch menu is the same everyday. We often found ourselves choosing between pizza or a burger because of the lack of variety and quality. As someone traveling from the United States, it felt disappointing to leave home and end up eating a pizza or a burger in Africa at a five-star property. Greater variety and more regional inspiration would enhance the experience. 2. Lunch box on full-day drives: We were shocked by the lunchbox provided for a full drive. We were offered a menu with only two options. One was fried chicken with potato salad, Pringles, and an apple. While simple can work, the chicken was very dry, and mayonnaise-based potato salad is not ideal when spending hours under the hot sun. At this level of luxury, the lunchbox should feel more thoughtful and refined. We are not complainers but this was so frustraing we had to share our disappointment with management. Tip: Don’t hesitate to request alternatives. The following day we asked for a grilled chicken, ham, and cheese panini, which was much better. 3. Atmosphere and design: The property is beautiful, but it lacks a distinct African character, particularly in the rooms. Aside from the extraordinary savanna views and the big dimension of everything at this hotel, the interiors feel somewhat generic. You could just be anywhere in the world. A stronger sense of place would elevate the overall experience. 4. Location and drive logistics: The hotel is about 30–40 minutes from the main roads that access different areas of the Serengeti. This means you will be driving the same route each day for 30-40min each way, which can feel repetitive, especially on shorter game drives. Wildlife sightings are still possible near the hotel and along the access road, but it’s worth considering that when planning your outings. 5. Room size and amenities: The rooms are relatively small compared to the grand scale of the property. There is no refrigerator or television in the room, which may surprise some guests at this price point. 6. Staff: The service, particularly from the restaurant team, was outstanding—attentive, warm, and genuinely welcoming. 7. Spa: If you have time, book the “four hands” massage. It was exceptional. 8. Gym: Having a gym on-site is a definite plus. 9. All-inclusive beverages: The all-inclusive liquor selection is better than at many hotels in Africa. The cocktails and house-made gin were excellent. 10. Infinity pool: The infinity pool is stunning, though the water is quite cold and can be difficult to get into. Overall, we had a wonderful stay. Despite the points above, the experience was special and absolutely worth having. My comments are simply framed by the high expectations that come with the price. With a few refinements—particularly in dining, this hotel could truly match the extraordinary setting that surrounds it.

What a beautiful location. I requested our safari operator to book this for us based on Elewana’s reputation. It’s a picture perfect location. Rooms are spacious. Staff are excellent . Drinks and food were insured and the bar staff were exceptional with their service as were the staff in the dining room. The view from the infinity pool were spectacular and out of a movie scene. Unfortunately thunderstorms in the evening and we could not see much wild life at the watering hole . When we left the hotel in the morning after breakfast to drive to Ndutu we saw so much wild life very close to the hotel . Should have stayed more than one night

Such a nice experience good service, clean and comfort place to stay

I was worried about this hotel after reading the reviews. However, it turns out the hotel was renovated a year ago, and the reviews are a combination of the old and new hotel. The hotel is gorgeous and perfectly situated on a hill overlooking the Savannah. There are plenty of common spaces to relax with a book and a drink. The rooms are large and spacious. I wasn’t hot at all despite the lack of AC, and I do tend to run warm most of the time. The food, similar to that in other lodges, is mediocre. At least it is served as buffet so you don’t have to sit for hours. Highly recommend.