This Ultra-Luxury Safari Lodge Will Debut In The Serengeti In June 2024

31.03.2024 - 05:15 / forbes.com

With prime safari season fast approaching, a show-stopping lodge in Tanzania is gearing up to welcome guests this June, as it sets a new standard for luxury in a relatively untouched corner of one of Africa’s most iconic destinations.

One Nature Mara River Lodge promises an extraordinary safari experience amidst the gorgeously untamed beauty of the Northern Serengeti, a less-traveled part of the park wedged between the Central Serengeti to the south and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve to the north.

Its hilltop perch, located just over a mile from the Mara River and a 30-minute drive from the Kogatende Airstrip, affords guests stunning views of the entire Mara Triangle–one of the premier viewing locations for the Great Migration, where seemingly endless herds of wildebeest and zebra enter and exit the Maasai Mara National Reserve from Serengeti National Park from June to November–while also offering complete privacy from the hundreds of vehicles that line the riverbank during one of the natural world’s most incredible annual spectacles.

Guests of the property will witness the thrilling Great Migration river crossings to Kenya from One Nature Mara River’s open 4- and 6-seater vehicles. Besides year-round safari game drives, other activities include balloon safaris, walking safaris, enchanting riverside sundowners and picnics, and singular bush dining experiences.

One Nature Mara River Lodge’s six one-bedroom villas and and sprawling two-bedroom family villa–measuring more than 1,625 square feet and 3,100 square feet, respectively–showcase a contemporary colonial design accented with African elements, and feature private heated pools with panoramic views of the Serengeti, outdoor lounge areas, indoor and outdoor showers, and copper bathtubs. Other creature comforts include eco-friendly engineered wood flooring, solar-powered air conditioners, wood-burning stoves, and private bars. The lodge’s enviable privacy is among its most vital aspects, as the rooms’ outdoor bathtubs, showers, and private pools face the awe-inspiring river view.

In keeping with One Nature’s sustainability ethos, the lodge–powered by a 352-panel solar farm–has been built to ensure that it can be disassembled and removed without leaving a trace. All wood throughout is FSC-certified, while an on-site bio-gas plant transforms food waste into cooking gas to optimize energy efficiency and minimize waste. The property also eschews plastic consumables, replacing them with customized glass water bottles, paper straws, bamboo toothbrushes and razors, and boxes, paper, and pencils made from recycled and biodegradable materials.

The opening marks the launch of One Nature’s second property, following the debut of the 14-tent One Nature