Meliá Serengeti Lodge Member of Meliá Collection

We had a fantastic stay at Meliá Serengeti Lodge. It was well-positioned on a ridge line affording guests a fantastic view of the rolling plains and umbrella thorn acacias stretching out to the horizon. The sunset views were amazing. This could all be enjoyed from within their refreshing pool, from the comfort of the poolside loungers or from the bar and restaurant with food and cold drinks close at hand. All rooms faced out onto the Serengeti and one could survey the land through to the horizon from the privacy of one’s balcony. We saw zebras, baboons, gazelles and cape buffalo in the land and trees just beneath us. There were many birds at the open terrace and the nearby trees. There was a watering hole below the pool area but it looked pretty dry and did not seem to attract much wildlife whenever we observed it. Elephants have reportedly drunk at the waterhole. Speaking of wildlife near the lodge, the Meliá Serengeti Lodge is open to it’s surroundings and the wildlife. An armed Maasai escort was required whenever we moved between our rooms and the public areas at the main building. The closest on-property encounter we had with wildlife intrusion was when a Cape buffalo grazing under the cover of night came right to in front of our veranda. Incidentally there were numerous purple/blue flags all along the road leading to the lodge; these were tsetse fly flag traps, we were told. As mentioned the rooms each have a private balcony and all face the Serengeti plains. The rooms are spacious, bright with a contemporary design. There was a wood frame four-poster bed, a wrap-around mosquito net available for use. The bed was comfortable and we slept well. The bathroom was big enough, a glass partition separating the shower stall from the rest of the room. The towels were folded with the “Melia” name facing out, a clear sign of attention to detail. The air conditioning was strong. The food and drinks were served fairly promptly at the restaurant. We were part of a safari with pre-arranged meals. These were well-prepared and tasty. We enjoyed sundowners one evening on the lower terrace below the pool level. The bar was slower in getting drinks to us by the pool. Overall, even though we weren’t on a Melia-arranged safari, the interactions with the staff were all courteous. It was a great stay.

This was the best trip of my life, due completely to the staff at Melia Serengeti. From the time we arrived at the airport, to when we hugged everyone goodbye, it was the best experience. Our safari guide (Sia) was incredible and made sure we saw every animal we came to see, the food was expectational, and when we weren't out on a game drive, the pool, and balcony from our room was the most perfect place to relax. I will forever be a Melia Resort customer after this trip.

Just spent two nights at the luxurious Melia Serengeti Lodge and I can confidently say this property deserves awards! Every part of the experience was excellent. The hotel arranges pickups from the Seronera airstrip and emails you in advance to inquire about dietary needs and room preferences. The drive to the lodge from Seronera airstrip takes approximately 90mins and is a mini game drive in itself as we saw several animals along the way including hippos, elephants, giraffes and hyenas. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by Maasai and Hotel staff. We were offered refreshment drinks and hand towels scented with lemongrass as we got checked in. The property itself is pristine and is spotless...no dust, dead bugs or garbage anywhere. The small gym, pool and restaurant were charming, as was the bar and lobby area. Tasteful decorative touches with Tanzanian cultural elements are incorporated throughout. Our room (#214) was a panoramic double room and the views were spectacular. Our second day we watched a huge herd of elephants walk across the valley from our room. The room also comes with everything you need- hair dryer, umbrella, minibar, bug spray, repellent, mosquito nets, bath sheets, slippers, bathrobes and USB ports. Nothing was damaged or dirty. We called to ask for extra towels and water and they came within 5 minutes. Meals were served with a set menu and everything was delicious. Service was also excellent and fast- we never waited more than 10mins for any course. Our first night we were served dinner in front of a bonfire and our last night management arranged for us to have a private table overlooking the Serengeti. The staff are simply wonderful. Each and every person wished us good morning/evening and inquired about our stay. Special shoutouts to Mathew our beloved guide, Jacob who picked us up from the airstrip, Happiness and Norah at reception, Nathaniel at the restaurant, server Frida, beverage manager Chacha (ask him about Freddy the buffalo), Steven at the bar and Fernando the property manager. They all made us feel so special- truly outstanding hospitality. I've visited 46 countries and countless luxury hotels...the Melia Serengeti is one of my top picks worldwide. Highly recommend!

Make no mistake, this hotel’s setting and access to a unique, natural environment is a once in a lifetime experience. The views are among the best we have ever seen. The pool was stunning and also very refreshing after a long game drive. One thing to emphasise is the staff were absolutely fantastic. They were so kind, interested in our days and offered world class service. Our safari guide, Mathews, was a legend and made our half day game drives incredibly memorable. He shared much knowledge and was clearly passionate about what he does and the environment for which he is a custodian. This experience alone makes it all worth it. Thank you again. Some things we felt were not quite up to the price tag which we paid. In our room, the toilet flush didn’t work properly and was partially coming off the wall, the shower temperature valve was broken and the Bluetooth speaker/radio didn’t work. The noise insulation is also not the best, the doors to the rooms slam shut and we could hear chairs / furniture moving around in the floor above both by guests and cleaning staff. We did however sleep really well and during the night it was very quiet. The food quality varied although overall it was very good. It started off absolutely amazing with fillet steak and fresh salmon, ended with dry ground beef and overcooked breakfast. It may be that due to off season, they had changed or reduced their staffing levels. I would encourage the hotel to focus on quality rather than quantity. We were asked for our alcohol and meal preferences prior to attending, we saw no evidence of this being used. My partner doesn’t eat meat and often the menus were very meat centric, staff were always surprised when we mentioned that even though we provided that info in advance (as was requested by the hotel! Given how few guests there were, we felt this came across quite amateurish and not 5 star. One thing I found a bit strange was being asked to provide evidence of our wedding given we mentioned this trip was to for our honeymoon. This was the only hotel in Tanzania to ask for this, which of course we provided. That said, we only received a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, hence this seemed excessive to ask for evidence when other hotels were far more personal and generous.

We are absolutely delighted with our experience at Melia lodge! The hotel sits just outside the centre of the main game reserve which does make it more secluded. The beauty of the hotel is absolutely amazing as it overlooks a breathtaking panoramic view over the south western side of the Serengeti. The rooms each have their own view too which makes for a brilliant way to start and end each day. The facilities are brilliant and well maintained by an efficient and welcoming staff. The staff make sure the exceptional standards are lived up to because they deeply care about the hotel and its guests. Each member is highly attentive and ensures guest needs are always met. Food and drinks are fantastic with exceptional standards of delivery. We would also like to acknowledge the wonderful game reserve guide Emanuel who was kind, thoughtful and extremely good at ensuring we saw the vast majority of the animal species within the park. Everyday was consistent with his knowledge and experience meaning we walk away incredibly fulfilled and inspired because of him. We have no doubt all the other guides associated at the Lodge are the same and also showcase the beauty and astonishing Serengeti extremely well. We cannot emphasize enough that this place is absolutely WORLD CLASS!!!!!