About this hotel
General information
&Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge lies in the remote western corridor of Serengeti National Park, in the curve of a tributary of the Grumeti River that is home to a resident pod of hippo. The lodge takes no more than 22 guests in ten suites, one of them for families, strung along the bank. Its layout follows the bow of the river and borrows the rounded forms of a manyatta, the traditional Maasai homestead, while interiors set grey tones that recall hippo hide and stone textures against handwoven details, bright Kitenge fabrics and the colours of Lake Victoria. It is open all year and built to tread lightly on the land.
This side of the Serengeti sees far fewer vehicles, and game is plentiful in every season. Four large resident lion prides of 20 to 60 animals share the area with hyena, buffalo, elephant and herds of plains game; there is an annual topi migration, and the riverine forest holds black-and-white colobus monkeys found nowhere else in the Serengeti. Between May and July the wildebeest migration usually passes through, with herds often crossing the Grumeti River.
Location
The lodge stands in the quiet western corridor of Serengeti National Park, on the banks of a Grumeti River tributary, with the seasonal Mbalageti River close by. Daily light-aircraft services from Arusha and Dar es Salaam link Tanzania’s parks with the lodge’s own airstrip, and the transfer between airstrip and lodge is included. Daily flights with connections also arrive from Zanzibar.
Spa
There is no spa building: treatments with natural Healing Earth products made from local ingredients are given in the privacy of the suites, at a time that suits each guest. Private riverside yoga sessions can be booked at extra cost.
Sports & leisure
Game drives in open vehicles with canvas canopies leave twice a day, at sunrise and in the late afternoon, with stops for morning coffee and sundowners; guides shape each outing around guests’ interests. Also on offer:
- birdwatching among more than 350 species, with a “Star Birds” checklist to work through;
- guided nature walks (from 16 years) and stargazing sessions that teach guests to read the night sky;
- at extra cost: an hour-long hot-air balloon flight over the plains (seasonal), a private vehicle with a dedicated guide, and a full-day visit to the Lukungu community to see Wild Impact projects in education, healthcare and clean water;
- a back-of-house tour of the lodge’s sustainability systems.
The gym looks out over the bush and has a treadmill, rowing machine, stationary bicycle, free weights and Pilates balls. Each suite is lent a pair of SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars for the stay, along with a Guides’ Journal of wildlife illustrations and maps. Weddings and blessings can be arranged, and the Safari Shop sells Tanzanian crafts and clothing.
For children
Children can join the WILDchild programme: tracking animal footprints around the lodge with a guide, pizza making, volleyball with the team, a competition to spot a rare local apalis warbler and, for older children, hands-on conservation research. Dedicated children’s game drives are run for the youngest guests. There are no trained childminders, but staff members who are good with children can look after them at extra cost.
Restaurants & bars
The cooking is locally inspired and wholesome: mornings start with trays of fresh juice and house-baked bread, and the interactive kitchen lets guests cook alongside the chefs. Meals are served on the long deck above the river, and after dark in the boma, a traditional open-air circle around a fire, with pan-African dinners, pizzas from the wood-fired oven (guests can make their own) and whole baked fish from nearby lakes. The circular central bar, draped in Kitenge cloth beneath a cascade of glass globe lights, pours signature cocktails with views of the river. Butler service and private dining are available; three meals a day and most drinks are included, and halal and other dietary requests are catered for with notice.
Swimming
The main rim-flow pool overlooks the river and its hippos, and every suite also has its own plunge pool on the deck.
Rooms
Ten suites, nine Suites and one Family Suite, stand about 15 m apart facing the river, finished in natural textures, each with a shaded deck and private plunge pool.
Air conditioning, mosquito nets, a personal bar of local drinks kept stocked by the butler, a coffee station, a JBL Bluetooth speaker, a bath, shower and separate WC, telephone, hairdryer, safe, Wi-Fi and a private plunge pool on the deck.
Suite
A bedroom with a very large double or twin beds sharing one frame, a bathroom with a deep soaking tub and an indoor shower with a view, and a shaded river-facing deck with a private plunge pool. Sleeps up to two.
Family Suite
A suite with its own bathroom, linked by an internal passage to a smaller children’s bedroom with a second bathroom, sharing a river-facing deck and private plunge pool. Sleeps two adults and two children.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.