andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge | Stunning Lodge Overlooking a Hippo Pool

Nestled along a hippo pool in Serengeti National Park you find the stunning Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, a luxury lodge with exquisite facilities and world class amenities. The luxury safari lodge tucked away in the midst of the stunning wilderness conservation area and offers breath-taking uninterrupted views of The Serengeti Plains. The hippo pool which is a tributary of the Grumeti River is always loved by guests staying at Grumeti Serengeti River lodge as it gives one close interaction with the wildlife, an experience quite unique from other camps in The Serengeti. The views at the lodge, the great amenities paired with the game viewing in the park makes for a perfect bush experience while on an African Safari.

Serengeti National Park has been a protected area since the 1940s and is part of the East African Plateau lying between Lake Victoria to the west and the East African Rift Valley. The park is bordered to the North by the famous Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya, Maswa Game Reserve to the south-west, north –west by the Ikorongo Game Reserve and to the east is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Serengeti is a wildlife haven and home to the Big Five animals that are best seen while on game drives in the park.

Accommodation at andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge

The lodge features nine elegant suites with one two-bedroom suite making the total number of rooms ten. The luxurious suites at Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge are spacious, elegantly decorated with stylish pieces and large wooden doors as well as stunning wooden flooring. The most beautiful part about the suites at Grumeti Serengeti River lodge is the view of the hippo pool that you can enjoy right from the comfort of your room or at the outdoor private veranda. Large glass windows make the spacious suites much more airy and bright beautiful chandeliers with a nice touch of “Kitenge” design that adds extra elegance. Families traveling together are catered to at the safari lodge with the spacious two-bedroom suite so if travelling with children you don’t have to worry.

Each suite at andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge consists of;

A King-sized bed with warm clean linen bed sheets, a duvet and comfortable pillows.

A large En-suite bathroom with quality bath essentials, his & hers wash basins, mirrors, clean towels, a shower, bathtub and a flush toilet. The bathroom also has a great view of the hippo pool.

Bathrobes and bathroom slippers.

Hot and cold running water throughout the day.

Bed side lamps and tables.

Complimentary drink water.

A tea and coffee making station.

An open bar.

Cozy arm chairs in the room with locally crafted wooden tables.

A private plunge pool outside the suite overlooking the Grumeti River.

Storage area, walking sticks, umbrellas and exercise kits with yoga mats.

A private veranda with comfortable sofas and chairs. The veranda overlooks the hippo pool so is a great place to relax and take in the beauty surrounding your suite.

Facilities and Services

Swimming Pool – The lodge features a stunning swimming pool with incredible views across the Serengeti Plains and the tributary of the Grumeti River. The pool area is a perfect place to relax, swim or simply unwind especially after a long day of activity in the park. Sun loungers and pool attendants are available as well as staff in case you would like to order a drink from the bar.

Dining Area – Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge has two dining areas – an elegantly decorated dining area with wooden chairs where day meals are usually served and a boma style outside dining area usually used for dinner sets. The boma style dining area is surrounded by wood boma enclosures and has a central fireplace, the dinners are set up nicely and its extra relaxing to have dinner by the fireplace. The food at the safari lodge is excellent with tasty options available and fresh delicious meals. Breakfast includes freshly baked house bread, eggs according to your choices, and variety of fruits, cereal, tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner is usually a set menu but other options that you can order from are available. The Kitchen serves both international and local cuisine as well as caters to guest’s dietary requirements.

Spa – A spa is available at the property and offers rejuvenating and holistic therapies. The onsite therapists are well-trained to offer relaxing massages, facials and other therapy treatments. The staff can arrange for your massage to be at different areas of the property if you would like so that you enjoy the outside as you get your much needed wellness treatment.

Reception Area and Bar – The lodge’s reception and bar area is one of the first places you encounter on arrival at the lodge. The reception area features a large open area with wooden floors and stunning decor pieces with a touch of afro-centric pieces. Once you step out of the area you walk into an open area with an outdoor fire pit seating area overlooking the river. The bar is well-stocked with premium wines, spirits, local beer brands and the bar menu offers a range of cocktails.

On-site Gym – The gym is a great place for a work out session, situated on-site the gym at Grumeti Serengeti River lodge consists of great work out fitness equipment like stationary bikes and treadmills. You enjoy your work out session as you overlook the outside through the gym’s large glass windows.

Safari Shop – The lodge has a safari shop where you can stop by for some shopping if you are up to it. The safari shop has a number of local crafts, African inspired décor pieces, stunning jewelry, fine art prints and many other little decorative pieces that you can acquire. It’s a great place to purchase some gifts/souvenirs for yourself, friends or family.

Other Services at the lodge include ample car parking space, Wi-Fi and security available 24 hours a day.

Our Review

andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge is what we consider as an “intimate luxury safari lodge.” The lodge has great amenities, fantastic fresh and delicious food as well as beautiful interior both in the rooms and the main areas. The safari lodge offers great spaces with a touch of intimacy and privacy, the staff is really great in setting up nicely for meals in the outdoor dining area and the fire pit area overlooking Grumeti River. The rooms have all the quality amenities for a luxurious comfortable stay and we like that the staff at the lodge is professional always paying attention to detail. The location of andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge is arguably the best part about the lodge, overlooking the seasonal Grumeti River where large hippos like to relax and cool off, the location of the lodge makes for the perfect African safari in Tanzania’s finest national park.

Attractions and Activities

The Great Migration: The Great Migration is the most popular attraction in The Serengeti and it happens each year. The Great Migration is a magical wildlife encounter that involves visitors watching thousands of zebras and wildebeest as they cross from the Serengeti to the Mara, this unique encounter involves seeing the struggle that animals go through as they traverse the waters filled with crocodiles ready to hunt them. The Great Migration usually happens between June and October and it involves dense numbers of wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes travelling long distances from Northern Serengeti in Tanzania up to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The River crossings are not predictable as it is a natural wildlife encounter but it normally happens between the months of June – August.

Game drives: Game drives are the top activities while here and can be done twice a day, usually you do the morning and afternoon game drive. Morning hours offers the best sightings mainly because the first hour of daylight provides opportunity to see the predators on the move so it’s best to have an early or packed breakfast from the lodge so that you start out your day much earlier (6 am). Spend the day exploring The Serengeti which has a dense population of wildlife and other habitats in the park’s ecosystem that usually have herbivores and predators like lions present searching for the day’s hunt. The game drives also offer one spectacular views of the expansive grassland plains of The Serengeti, a true African spectacle.

Hot Air Balloon Safari: The hot air balloon safari in Serengeti offers stunning views of the national park and wildlife in The Serengeti. It is such a magical and fulfilling adventure that takes you around the park while experiencing it from a bird’s view. andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge offers the perfect base for hot air balloon safaris that go atop Sabora Plains and the expansive Serengeti Plains.

Guided Safari Walks: The safari walks offer an opportunity to track animals in the wilderness on foot. The safari walks are done with expert field guides who take you on a journey into the bush. It’s a great way to learn and follow closely the animal tracks as well as enjoy the lush magnificent landscape.

Bird watching: Birding in The Serengeti is a worthwhile adventure especially for specialist birders as Serengeti national park is an Important Bird Area (IBA) making it possible to tick off endemic bird species. The site is also a hot spot for migratory birds especially during the months of November and April. Birding happens in different habitat areas in The Serengeti including open savanna plains, around perennial rivers like the Mara and Grumeti, in the evergreen woodland areas and around Lake Ndutu. The most sought after birds while on a birding safari in Serengeti include the Usambiro barbet, Fischer’s Love bird, Grey-breasted spurfowl and Grey-crested helmet-shrike.

Cultural Tours (Maasai Village Tour): The Maasai are a famous ethnic group of Tanzania and known for their fearsome warrior culture. A visit to a Maasai village brings you closer to the local people and also offers you a glimpse in to their culture and way of life. You will be taken through the history of how they used to live in The Serengeti before the conservation area was officially gazetted as a national park.The Maasai are also known for their colorful traditional wear that consists of colorful sheets and radiant beaded jewelry as well as their interesting traditional dance that involves jumping up high.

Sun downers and Bush Meals: Serengeti national park is a perfect destination for bush meals amidst Tanzania’s largest and oldest national park. With its open savanna plains and scenic landscape,  the park offers perfect spots for bush breakfast, a private picnic or bush lunch all while enjoying expansive views of The Serengeti. The staff at the safari lodge are fantastic when it comes to setting up for bush meals.