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Serengeti, without doubt is one of the most famous wildlife destinations in the world. It is the land that inspired the famous Disney cartoon “The Lion King”. This makes it the ultimate destination for a true African safari.
Families from all around the world fly to Serengeti to see the ‘big five’. These are the five most popular animals to look for while on your African safari: the buffalo, the elephant, rhinoceros, leopard and of course the lion.
"Big" has nothing to do with size. This term originated with the big game hunters, who believed these to be the most challenging large animals to corner and shoot. But in the Serengeti National Park, the only shooting that is done is with a camera. “We allow photography tourism, not hunting tourism. You only shoot with your camera, not with your gun,” said Simon, a Maasai warrior I met during my trip to Serengeti.
Simon works as a guard at the only five star luxury lodges in Serengeti, the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti. His job is to make sure all guests are safe from wild animals that might lure around the lodge searching for their next feed.
The best times to visit Serengeti is from June to October. You can also visit it between November and February but expect some rain. I visited it in October and to me it was the perfect time because I avoided the high season and the crowds but still enjoyed the good weather. The Four Seasons Lodge in Serengeti was the best choice for it offers all safari activities such as bird watching, wildlife observation, walking safari and all-terrain vehicle excursions.
And let’s be honest, you are in the middle of a safari and you need a very comfortable place to eat and sleep. It is the perfect place for a family vacation as the lodge houses one of the best children’s club called Kijana Klub for children and teens. The club is both educational and entertaining. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti has been listed number two among the Top Resorts in Africa and number 12 among the Best Hotels in the World in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2015.
The lodge did not fail me at all; it sent a Safari 4X4 jeep to pick me up from the airstrip and that’s where the adventure started. You would really enjoy the mini game drive, which is a safari drive around the National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can enjoy the natural wildlife on your way to the lodge.
When I first walked in to the hotel, I could not help but notice the true reflection of the culture in all corners. You will fall in love with every detail, from the dark brown hardwood floors to the straw ceiling and artwork hanging on the walls. The lodge is centered on a two-story house; the property includes two active wildlife watering holes for viewing animals at peak times of the day. It is located within the Serengeti National Park and houses 60 guest rooms, 12 suites and five freestanding villas.
Walking around the lodge are a number of Maasai guards who are more than happy to take photos with guests and are willing to explain more about their true culture. The Maasai is an African tribe that lives between South Kenya and North Tanzania, they speak Swahili on both sides. Simon told me that the Maasai people are strongly patriarchal in nature; the man is responsible for his family while the woman’s job is to take care of her children. They believe that God gave them all the cattle in the world, which means they are to own any cattle they see and they are allowed to walk into another family and take over their cattle. When I asked about him being a warrior, he told me that all Maasai warriors exist to protect their family and their cattle.
There are two things that make a warrior a superstar among his people, one is to be able to take over other’s cattle and the second is to bring home a lion’s mane. It is said that back in the days, young men had to bring a lion’s head to the father of the bride for him to approve of the marriage, but now with the protection of the park by the UNESCO World Heritage, the Maasai are not allowed to hunt any game animals.
“In the past, lions used to hunt our cattle and to take revenge, we would look for that lion and kill it. Now we are forbidden to kill any animal from the park so we go to our mayor, file a claim and they would compensate us with more cattle,” he said. “We are now educated and most of us carry a degree so we know better than to hunt animals. We live a different life than our parents because we have jobs outside the circle of our tribe,” he added.
I learned so much about the area and the local tribe by visiting the Four Season’s Discovery Center and Museum. The center is part museum and part lecture theater, offering an interactive experience where one can learn about the wildlife, history and people of Serengeti. The center offers the hotel guests a free movie night every night. The movies they stream is all about the area and the African wildlife.
According to Oliver Dreike, Discovery Center manager, scientists and filmmakers from the National Geographic Channel come 12 times a year to this area. “There is no typical day in a Serengeti game drive, everyday offers a different experience. You can never know what kind of animal you would see, migration is obviously what makes the Serengeti special where millions of zebras and wildebeests move around and travel from Tanzania to Kenya,” he said.
“We can almost promise to you that if you wanted to see a certain animal on your game drive, you can ask your driver and he will drive you to the right location,” he added.
The Four Seasons Serengeti arranges a number of game drives with professional drivers who will make sure you enjoy the full experience. “We call our drivers guides because we always make sure that all our drivers have the full knowledge of what to expect and where to look for animals around the bushes,” said Dreike.
Going on the game drive gives you a rush because you are so close to the animals and everything is picture perfect. I enjoyed every part of it, especially when the guide knew exactly where to take us. My favorite part of the game drive was the hippo pool; this massive stinky pool is loaded with giant hippos covering their bodies under the water to keep cool.
The discovery center offers knowledge and appreciation of the Serengeti. The museum exhibition brings the state’s history and natural wonders to life. My personal favorite piece at the museum is the three-dimensional map that illuminates the Great Migration, one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomenon. There are actual skeletons of animals that live in the area as well as real photographs and books that will help explain more about animal signs.
The hotel houses an outdoor infinity pool overlooking an active watering hole where herds of elephants and zebras come every morning and afternoon to drink and bathe. I could see the animals drinking from the pond right from my room’s balcony; this helped me take great photos. I noticed a warning sticker from the hotel management asking to always lock the door as baboons can come inside the room in search of fruits.
The rooms are spacious and there’s a beautiful terrace with an outdoor seating area and a view over the bushes where animals run freely right in front of you. All beds are topped with soft nets that keep mosquitoes and other insects away while you sleep. One of the best things in the hotel is that it is full board, meaning all meals, snacks and your tea and coffee are covered in the room rate.
The lodge has two restaurants and three lounges, with menus prepared by the executive chef Curtis Smithen. The Kula’s Restaurant offers an African inspired international cuisine. I have attended an African grill night in the restaurant where the food is very true to its color.
Lunch is served at the Sundowner Bar by the pool. The menu is limited but it is all tasty and light. I highly recommend trying the hut pizza and the hibiscus ice tea, it is refreshing and great for a poolside chilled drink.
Simon is among one of the dancers who perform during the dinner around an open-air fire pit at the “Boma Grill”. Visitors can enjoy an authentic African feast while learning about the culture of the Maasai. It seats 45 diners at once and serves an authentic African feast with a twist. The a la carte menu focuses on grilled items using best local ingredients from Tanzania and around Africa. Make sure to try the Malva pudding, which is originally from South Africa, contains apricot jam and has a spongy caramelized texture.
My other favorite spot in the lodge is the Four Seasons Serengeti spa, which is tucked away in a quiet lodge. It has six freestanding treatment rooms, some of which include outdoor bathtubs overseeing the natural bushes. It gives an opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and re-energize both the body and mind using the best signature treatments. The Safari Balance treatment is highly recommended. It starts with buffing the dead skin by using a walnut, marula and shea butter body scrub and then wrapping the body in an intensely hydrating, nutrient rich Hypoxis, honey and rosehip body masque, followed by soaking in an anti-oxidant rich rooibos milk bath. This chemical free Africology experience would not be complete without a purifying mini facial and a full body massage with relaxing oils of lavender, chamomile, geranium and lemon.
This destination is perfect for honeymooners as well. The safari lodge combines the wonders of a safari vacation by offering the perfect balance of activity and relaxation with their adventure and rejuvenation packages. The four-day itinerary provides couples with endless opportunities to share and connect through the best of safari adventure and essential recuperation time.
You should end your trip with a hot air balloon. It is the best way to see the stunning Serengeti landscape all the way from above. A sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti is sure to be one of the highlights of the safari experience. Another good option is to end the night with a bush dinner.

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