Grumeti Western Serengeti · Safari Lodge
Mbalageti Serengeti
Tented chalets and stone suites stacked up a hill in the western Serengeti, looking out over the plains toward Lake Victoria.
About
Mbalageti Serengeti stands on Mwamweka Hill in the western corridor of the Serengeti, the quieter side of the park where the plains roll west toward Lake Victoria. The lodge climbs the hillside in tiers, so almost every room looks out over open grassland and the line of the Mbalageti River below. It is a long way from the busy central circuit, and that distance is the point: space, silence, and big uninterrupted views.
The western corridor sees the great migration pass through on its northward push, with the herds usually crossing this country between roughly May and July. Resident game stays year round: lion on the kopjes, elephant along the river lines, giraffe and topi on the plains, and the chance of a Grumeti crossing later in the season. Because fewer vehicles work this area, sightings tend to be unhurried and private.
Guests stay in tented chalets raised on the slope, each with a private deck, or in larger two bedroom stone suites near the top of the hill with sitting areas, minibars and satellite television. Meals are full board, taken with a view, and there is a swimming pool set against the horizon for the warm middle of the day. A handful of family chalets take an extra child.
Mbalageti suits travellers who want the Serengeti without the crowds: families with room to spread out, photographers after clean backgrounds and soft light, and anyone who would rather watch the plains from a quiet deck than queue at a sighting. It pairs naturally with the central and northern Serengeti on a longer route.
The lodge is reached by air to the Grumeti or Kirawira airstrips, a short game drive away, or overland from the central Serengeti in around two hours from Seronera. Park and concession fees are paid at the Serengeti entry gate and are itemised separately on every Savannah and Sands quote.
Signature experiences
Western corridor game drives
Long, quiet drives through the Grumeti country, where the migration passes through from roughly May to July and resident game stays all year.
Bush breakfast on the plains
Breakfast set out away from the lodge with the grassland for company. A slow start to a game drive day.
Sunset from the hill
The lodge sits high enough to watch the light go down over the plains toward Lake Victoria. A still end to the day.
Family chalets
A small number of chalets take an extra child, making the western Serengeti workable for families who want space.
Amenities
- Swimming Pool
- Full Board Dining
- Private Decks
- Internet In Public Areas
- Family Chalets
- Satellite Television In Suites
Best for
- Families
- Photography
- Migration
- Quiet Safari
- First-Time Safari
Wildlife you might see
- Great Migration Through The Western Corridor (roughly May To July)
- Grumeti River Crossings Later In The Season
- Resident Lion On The Kopjes
- Elephant Along The River Lines
- Giraffe, Topi And Plains Game Year Round
Best time to visit
May
Location & access
Grumeti Western Serengeti
Fly-in: About 2 hours door to door on a good schedule: a light aircraft from Arusha or a Serengeti hop to the Grumeti or Kirawira airstrip, then a short game drive transfer of around 30 to 45 minutes to the lodge.
Drive: Most guests fly. By road it is a long day from Kilimanjaro International Airport: roughly 1 hour Arusha to the Manyara escarpment, up over the Ngorongoro highlands, then across the park to the western corridor, around 8 to 9 hours of driving in total. The common approach is to drive the eastern and central Serengeti over several days and arrive at Mbalageti from Seronera in about 2 hours.
Room types
Lodge Room
Comfortable hillside rooms with garden and plains views, open in the busiest months only. Single and double configurations.
Tented Chalet
Canvas chalets raised on the hillside, each with a private deck facing the plains and an ensuite bathroom. A small number of family chalets take an extra child.
Exclusive Suite
Two bedroom stone suites near the crown of the hill, with sitting areas, minibars, satellite television and wide private terraces looking west toward the lake. Space for up to four guests.
What's included
Included
- Full Board (three Meals Daily)
- Teas, Coffees And Cake
- Internet In Public Areas
- House Beverages In Suites
- Minibar And Satellite Television In Suites
- Swimming Pool
Not included
- National Park And Concession Fees
- Tanzania Development Levy Of One Percent
- Game Drives And Other Activities
- Transfers To And From The Lodge
- Drinking Water And Beverages In Tented Chalets And Lodge Rooms
- Laundry
- Gratuities And Items Of A Personal Nature
Reviews
Frequently asked
How many room types does Mbalageti Serengeti have?
Three categories: hillside Lodge Rooms open in the busiest months, Tented Chalets with private decks, and two bedroom Exclusive Suites that sleep up to four. A few family chalets take an extra child.
Where is Mbalageti Serengeti?
On Mwamweka Hill in the western corridor of the Serengeti, the quieter side of the park, with views over the plains toward Lake Victoria. The Grumeti River runs through the country below.
How do guests reach the lodge?
Most fly to the Grumeti or Kirawira airstrip, around 30 to 45 minutes by game drive from the lodge. Overland it is roughly 2 hours from Seronera in the central Serengeti.
Is Mbalageti good for families?
Yes. A small number of family chalets take an extra child, and the western corridor is quieter than the central circuit, which suits families who want space and unhurried sightings.
When is the best time to visit?
The great migration usually passes through the western corridor between roughly May and July, with Grumeti crossings later in that window. Resident game is present all year.
What is included in the rate?
Full board with teas, coffees and cake, and internet in public areas. Suites add house beverages, a minibar and satellite television. Park and concession fees, game drives and transfers are charged separately and shown as itemised lines on every quote.
What's nearby
- Grumeti RiverThe river that runs through the western corridor, known for its pods of hippo and large crocodile, and for migration crossings in season.
- Central Serengeti (Seronera)Around two hours east, the central circuit offers year round big cat density and connects Mbalageti to the rest of a Serengeti route.
Keep reading
Related to your trip.
Directory
More lodges and partners.
Browse the full directory of lodges we work with directly.
Pricing
How Tanzania safari pricing works.
Park fees, lodge tiers, transport, and what's included in every quote.
Seasons
When to visit each park.
Month-by-month calendar with parks and migration positions.
Common questions
Tanzania safari FAQ.
Planning, transport, park fees, and the Great Migration — answered.