Nestled in the great Serengeti ecosystem, lies a slice of pure safari magic. On the banks of the Grumeti River you will find the magnificent andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodgea sequence of 10 luxury safari retreat which is widely considered one of the finest in Tanzania. Reason enough to check and see if the rumors are true.
The reception The welcome begins before you even make eye contact, as you’ll hear the staff singing while you’re still driving towards the entrance. Once you exit the vehicle, warm smiles, cold towels and a welcome drink await you. Quickly you are led to the main area which includes the restaurant, bar, terrace, lounge and tucked in the corner also a small shop. Everything is very fluid and once you sit down you will instantly notice the hippos staring at you almost motionless from the river.
The room After a quick and warm welcome, we were taken to our room. As we are traveling with our 2 children, we are staying in the family suite. Once you enter, you instantly notice the enormous size and abundance of light coming in. To the left, there’s a bar area with a fully stocked minibar, tons of coffee and tea options, and all the tools you need to make the perfect afternoon G&T. The dressing room is also directly to your left, while directly in front of you is a desk followed by a huge king-size bed with a ceiling fan and mosquito nets surrounding it in the evening. In front of the bed you will find several chairs to relax while reading a book or looking outside.
A portable Bluetooth speaker ensures that even in the bush you won’t miss your favorite tunes. Meanwhile, you can take the Swarovski binoculars to spot the wild animals in the area.
Outside, the suite has a very large terrace with another set of lounge chairs and a plunge pool which was immediately requested by the children, of course. Not to mention the discussion about who was going to relax on the floating beanbag first!
While to the far left of the suite you will find the huge bathroom, to the right is a small hallway which leads to a second bedroom complete with twin beds, dressing table and large en-suite bathroom. Often, family suites only have a small, no-frills extra bedroom, but not here, quite the contrary. And the best? It doubles the size of your patio, giving you plenty of outdoor space to relax and enjoy.
There is only one of these family suites. The other 9 rooms are basically the same, but without the extra bed and bathroom.
The bathroom Although the design is very open and the bedroom and bathroom come together, it can be closed off with a massive curtain that runs the entire length of the suite. There is a double sink and a huge mirror against the wall while to the side you will find the freestanding bathtub overlooking the bushland outside. There is of course also a huge shower and conveniently placed in the middle of the bathroom you will find this massive beanbag which will surely come in handy in the morning when you stumble out of bed and try to get your bearings.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2026 The facilities Food is a deciding factor on a safari because you spend a lot of time at the table. Luckily, at andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, you’ll never go hungry. Sumptuous breakfasts, superb lunches and dinners which always vary. One evening you will enjoy it around the campfire, the other evening you will be seated in the dining room of the main building. And because of the lodge’s small size, the staff knows exactly what you like, making service easy and well-organized.
The bar area is one of the first things you see when you enter the main area, and since there are so many different seating areas all around, it lends itself perfectly to hanging out for a bit and taking it all in. In the evening the campfire will be lit and the circular seating surrounding it is a favorite of many guests.
Even though each suite has its own plunge pool, they still installed a larger pool just behind the main building. It offers the same river views as the suites, so you won’t miss any wildlife that might pass by on the other side. Hippos are everywhere so consider them a free bonus.
For those looking to be a little more active, there is a small gym with all the tools needed to get your heart rate as high as when you saw a lion kill earlier in the day.
The location The Grumeti region is something of a gem for those in the know as it has very few camps, which translates to very few vehicles around you during game drives. One day we drove for over 6 hours and only saw one car in the distance. This is true luxury!
The reason it is less visited is because it is more remote and located west of the Serengeti. The easiest way to get there is to fly from Arusha. Grumeti airstrip is literally 500 meters from the lodge, meaning you can board your plane in Arusha and arrive at the lodge in 90 minutes. Talk about convenience.
This location also allows you to enjoy the great migration without the crowds. In June and July large herds will pass through, but even in November and December you may be lucky enough to see some of the huge herds of wildebeest or zebra. Game viewing throughout the year remains superb, however, so no matter what time you visit, there’s always a ton of wildlife to spot.
Other Nice Touches For me personally, one of the best surprises is how child-friendly this lodge is, even though they only have 1 family room and therefore technically only 2 children maximum at any given time. We were here during Halloween and even though no one in the bush cares about commercial day (let’s call it that), our kids dressed as good or bad as they could. Immediately the staff noticed it and within minutes there were carved pumpkins on the table and the staff did their best to make it a special evening for them. Other times, they come with a tray of marshmallows, tons of toppings, and a few sticks, so the kids can have fun around the campfire while mom and dad enjoy their nightcap. One day they were invited to prepare pizzas and cook them, which was such a success that we ended up leaving for our afternoon safari with freshly made pizzas to take away. You can imagine the smile on their face rolling like a pizza delivery truck between the animals.
Another thing that really stands out is the staff and their desire to make your stay the best you’ve ever had. No request is too much and the genuine chats we shared with many of them made us feel like we were visiting friends rather than just visiting another lodge.
Cost Safaris are expensive and when you go to one of the best lodges in Tanzania, you know it won’t be cheap. Rates for a suite start at around $2,600 per night and for family suites, from $4,600. Note that these rates do not include any park or concession fees, but cover all meals, drinks, game drives, etc. Even your laundry is included.
The best piece It’s hard to pin down just one thing, but the location is certainly amazing, with lots of wildlife all around and the Grumeti River right in front of you, filled to the brim with hippos. This, combined with the modern style and design of the lodge, really makes you understand why it is considered one of the best in the country.
The final verdict Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s quite remote. But… it’s definitely worth it. From the level of service to the overall quality of the guides, wildlife, suites, etc., it’s hard to fault him.
Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by and beyond the Serengeti River Lodge.
Kristof Eyckmans Kristof Eyckmans is a travel writer from Antwerp, Belgium. He’s lived all over the world and while he loves wildlife and nature, he can always enjoy a good urban jungle.
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