Seronera Central Serengeti · Safari Lodge
Serengeti Lodge by Melia
A premium lodge perched on Nyamuma Hills inside the Serengeti, with sweeping plains views from every suite and a full board kitchen that lets you settle in between game drives.
About
Meliá Serengeti Lodge sits on Nyamuma Hills inside Serengeti National Park, raised on the ridge so every room looks out across the central plains. The position is a short transfer from the Seronera river circuit, which means the morning game drives start without a long road approach and the afternoon ones return to a pool, lounge, and dining room that face the sunset.
The wildlife year here is steady. Resident lion prides patrol the kopjes south of Seronera, leopards rest in the sausage trees along the river, and elephant herds move through the central plains in most months. The migration passes nearby on its southward leg in November and December, and returns north between April and June. The central Serengeti is one of the most consistent spots in Tanzania for big cat sightings year round, which is why the lodge is busy from January through October.
The lodge runs five room categories. Meliá Lagoon View and Meliá Savannah Panoramic rooms suit couples and solo travellers, with private bathrooms, 24 hour electricity, and panoramic glazing. Junior Suite, One Bedroom Suite, and Two Bedroom Suite all add a separate lounge area; the Two Bedroom Suite is built for families up to five guests. Full board rates include house beverages with meals and access to the lodge restaurant.
Suited to first time safari travellers who want a year round central Serengeti base, families who need a suite layout, and small groups who prefer one property as their hub for the northern circuit. Honeymooners do well in the Junior or One Bedroom Suite for the privacy of a separate lounge and the views over the plains.
Access is by light aircraft to Seronera airstrip (around 2 hours total from Kilimanjaro), then a short game drive transfer to the lodge. Road from Arusha takes two days via a Manyara or Ngorongoro overnight.
Signature experiences
Seronera river circuit game drives
Half and full day drives along the Seronera river system, the most reliable big cat circuit in the central Serengeti. Morning drives cover the river and floodplains; afternoon drives swing south to the Moru kopjes.
Hot air balloon safari (booked separately)
Lift off from the central Serengeti before dawn for a one hour flight over the plains. Booked direct with the balloon operator; not included in the lodge rate.
Suite stays for families and honeymooners
Three suite categories (Junior, One Bedroom, Two Bedroom) provide a separate lounge and additional space for families or couples wanting extended privacy.
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Lounge
- WiFi
- Daily Housekeeping
- 24 Hour Electricity
- Private Bathrooms
- Mosquito Nets
- Plunge Pool In Select Suites
- Family Connecting Rooms Available
Best for
- First Time Safari
- Family
- Photography
- Year Round Safari
- Honeymoon
- Suite Stays
Wildlife you might see
- Resident Lion Prides On The Moru Kopjes Year Round
- Leopard Sightings Along The Seronera River System
- Wildebeest Migration Passes Through November To December And Again April To June
- Elephant Herds In Most Months On The Central Plains
- Cheetah On The Open Plains Around Nyamuma Hills
Best time to visit
January, February, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Location & access
Seronera Central Serengeti
Fly-in: Roughly 2 hours total. 45 minute road transfer Kilimanjaro to Arusha airport, then a 1 hour 10 minute scheduled flight on a Cessna Caravan to Seronera airstrip, then a short game drive transfer to the lodge.
Drive: Approximately 8 to 10 hours total from Kilimanjaro International, usually broken into two days. Day 1: 1 hour Kilimanjaro to Arusha, then 3 hours Arusha to Manyara or Ngorongoro for an overnight. Day 2: 3 hours to the Ngorongoro Conservation gate, then 3 hours descending into the Serengeti and reaching Nyamuma Hills.
Room types
Meliá Lagoon View — Single Room
Lagoon view room for solo travellers. Full board with house beverages, private bathroom, and panoramic plains views.
Meliá Lagoon View — Double Room
Lagoon view room with double bed for couples. Accommodates up to 3 with a 30 percent reduction on the third adult per lodge policy.
Meliá Savannah Panoramic — Single Room
Panoramic Serengeti plains views from a higher floor. Solo occupancy room.
Meliá Savannah Panoramic — Double Room
Panoramic views, double bed configuration. Accommodates up to 3 with a 30 percent reduction on the third adult.
Junior Suite
Junior suite for two with a separate lounge area. Accommodates up to 4 with reductions on 3rd and 4th adults.
One Bedroom Suite
One bedroom suite with a private lounge. Accommodates up to 4 with a reduction on the third adult.
Two Bedroom Suite
Two bedroom family suite with a shared lounge. Accommodates up to 5 with reductions on the fifth pax depending on age.
What's included
Included
- Full Board (breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) At Savannah Restaurant
- House Beverages (selected Non Alcoholic Options Included With Meals)
- Daily Housekeeping
- In Room Amenities And Toiletries
- 18% VAT
- 5% Service Charge
Not included
- Park Entry Fees (collected On Arrival)
- Concession Fees (collected On Arrival)
- TDL — 1% Tourism Development Levy On Room Rate (collected On Arrival)
- Vehicle Park Entry Fee ($20 Per Car Per Day)
- Game Drive Vehicle Hire
- Transfers And Flights
- Tips And Gratuities
- Travel Insurance
- Premium Beverages
- Easter Supplement (charged When Stay Covers Easter Window)
- Christmas And New Year Supplements (charged When Stay Covers Festive Windows)
Reviews
Frequently asked
How many rooms does Meliá Serengeti Lodge have?
The lodge has five room categories — Meliá Lagoon View, Meliá Savannah Panoramic, Junior Suite, One Bedroom Suite, and Two Bedroom Suite — across the property on Nyamuma Hills.
When is the lodge open?
Year round. Four pricing seasons run across the calendar: Low (April to May), Shoulder (March, November to mid December), High (January to February, September to October), and Peak (June to August, late December to early January).
How do guests reach the lodge?
By light aircraft to Seronera airstrip (around 2 hours total from Kilimanjaro), then a short game drive transfer. Road from Arusha takes two days via Manyara or Ngorongoro.
Are families with children welcome?
Yes. Children under 4 stay free. Children 4 to 11.99 years sharing with 2 adults pay 50 percent of the adult rate. Children 12 and over pay the adult rate. The Junior, One Bedroom, and Two Bedroom Suites suit families with their separate lounge layouts.
What is included in the rate?
Full board dining at Savannah Restaurant, house beverages (selected non alcoholic options) with meals, daily housekeeping, 18 percent VAT, and 5 percent service charge. Park entry fees, concession, TDL, transfers, game drive vehicle hire, and premium beverages are not included.
Are there festive supplements?
Yes. A $30 per person per night Easter supplement applies over the Easter window. A $40 per person per night Christmas and New Year supplement applies on 24, 25, 26 December and 31 December plus 1 January. These are charged when a stay covers the dated windows.
What is the best time to visit?
Year round. The central Serengeti has consistent big cat sightings every month. The migration passes through in November to December on its southward leg and again April to June on the way back north.
What's nearby
- Moru Kopjes30 minutes south. Granite outcrops with resident lion prides, rock hyrax colonies, and Maasai rock paintings.
- Retina Hippo Pool45 minutes north along the Seronera river system. A permanent pool with hippo and resident crocodile.
- Olduvai GorgeRoughly 2.5 hours drive south west. Paleontological site where the Leakeys uncovered some of the earliest human fossils.
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Common questions
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