Four Seasons Serengeti - Review/Prices/Etc.

I stayed at the FS Serengeti last spring and had an amazing time. The base price for the entry-level room was about USD 1,800 per night but we booked the 4th night free promotion. We ended up getting upgraded to a suite with a plunge pool which was wonderful. This package did not include game drives but does include all food and beverage (except some premium wine and liquors, which we never felt compelled to dive into), laundry and some activities such as a guided birdwatching around the hotel. The game drives start at USD 400 for a half day. All game drives are private.

It definitely is a very resort-style place and not the classic safari experience - multiple restaurants, large pool in addition to the plunge pools in some rooms, a gym, large spa, a mini museum-like “Discovery Center” and no canvas in sight. For first time safari goers (and who, at least in my case, aren’t super big into camping and anything rustic), it was kind of nice to start with this instead of a tented camp - even though I know there are plenty of luxury and ultra luxury tented camps. I liked stepping off my game drive to feel like I was at a resort somewhere that isn’t the middle of the Serengeti and have poolside afternoons with no-extra-charge cocktails almost like we were at a beach resort. But we will be staying in tented camps next time - TBD how terrified I get when I hear my first animal outside.

The food was quite good with many, many options at all mealtimes. Great coffee, tea, fresh fruit juice, etc. as well as cocktails and a decent selection of included wines (mostly South African). The service is very personalized and the whole team is quite talented as you’d expect at a FS. They have a lot to offer from a doctor on site at all times, which we luckily didn’t have to take advantage of, to an in-house photographer who edited pictures for us. They also did an excellent job helping arrange the domestic flights, our nights in Arusha (Legendary Lodge and Gran Melia) when coming and going and other logistics.

We will definitely be back to the FS after this next tent-only trip and are now safari obsessed. Happy to answer any questions!