Anybody interested in a luxury safari trip to Africa may want to start setting aside some money for what could prove to be the trip of a lifetime.
Marriott International has announced an agreement with Delaware Investment Limited to develop what will be known as JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge in the Serengeti in Tanzania, Africa. The luxury safari lodge is expected to open in 2026.
JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge, which is expected to offer 30 private suites, including two presidential suites, will also feature a swimming pool and deck area. Impressively, the lodge will “sit between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, benefitting from the abundant wildlife that accesses the rivers to the north and south alongside stunning views of the plains surrounding the lodge,” according to Marriott International.
“We are delighted to partner with Delaware Investment Limited for this landmark project in the Serengeti, an exciting new destination for the brand, which also signifies our growing commitment to offering enriching experiences for our guests,” Jenni Benzaquen, senior vice president of Brand Portfolio Europe, Middle East and Africa at Marriott International, said in a statement.
A Magnificent Setting
Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania stretches over 5,700 square miles.
The park, which is an important wildlife conservation and wilderness area, is home to more than 28 species of herbivores, including buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, elands, hippos, and waterbucks. Serengeti National Park also has the world’s highest concentration of carnivores — especially all the big African cats such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas, according to Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“The annual Great Migration of two million wildebeests followed by hundreds of thousands of gazelles and zebras — followed by their predators — in search of pasture and water is one of the most impressive nature spectacles in the world,” the World Heritage Convention explains. “The biological diversity of the park is very high with at least four globally threatened or endangered animal species: black rhinoceros, elephant, wild dog, and cheetah.”
Travelers who visit Serengeti National Park have a good chance of seeing each of Africa’s “Big Five” — Lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and African elephants.
Know So You Can Book
The easiest way for international travelers to reach JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge in Tanzania will be by first flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania, then taking a domestic flight to Grumeti Airstrip, which will be about a 25-minute drive from the lodge. Alternatively, visitors can take about an 8-hour drive through the Serengeti while enjoying the scenery and views of wildlife, Marriott International explains.