Perched high on the edge of a towering ochre and terracotta streaked cliff with panoramic views over the glittering alkaline waters of Lake Manyara and the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge offers a unique blend of tranquillity, wildlife discovery, ornithological richness and high-adventure sporting action. Guests can also expect to glimpse not only the famous tree-climbing lions for which the Lake is justly famous but also abundant flocks of coral and carmine flamingo and a ‘Water Wonderland’ wildlife cast which includes all the members of the celebrated ‘Big Five’ (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino).

Location

Lake Manyara National Park is 107km southwest of Arusha via the Great North Road. Local airlines offer scheduled daily services between Arusha and Lake Manyara and the airstrip is at the northwestern edge of the park.

Accommodation
 
The lodge offers: 54 rooms comprising 12 triple-bedded rooms, 41 twin-bedded rooms and one suite.
 
The circular, closely-thatched rooms echo the traditional Maasai ‘Manyatta’ style of construction whilst featuring a vibrant interior design concept that reflects the Maasai people’s abiding love of brilliant scarlet-and-indigo checked ‘Shukas’ (cloaks) and bright yellow, white, blue and orange beadwork. Each room has a private veranda and breathtaking views of the shimmering reaches of the flamingo-frosted Lake. Standing high on the bluff of a dramatic ochre-streaked cliff, above the flamingo-frosted expanse of Lake Manyara’ gleaming alkaline waters, the lodge commands panoramic views across the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley towards the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ at the famous ’Olorgasailie’ prehistoric site. Designed to reflect the brilliance of Lake Manyara’s unique birdlife, the Lodge draws on an inspirational architectural motif that melds swooping avian curves with the gentle concentric patterns of traditional Maasai ‘Bomas’ whilst the vibrantly coloured frescoes that line the walls are designed to depict the colourful intricacy of bird migratory patterns. The ambiance of the Lodge is a fusion of lakeside tranquillity, towering volcanic splendour and adventure-packed sporting activity

Lodge Services include: The ‘Serena Active’ selection of high-action adventure activities. An imaginativerange of lake breakfasts, Barbeque lunches, bush dinners and atmospheric sundowners. Luxury game-drives around the wildlife-teeming shores of Lake Manyara. Full housekeeping services (laundry, valet, babysitting, children’s menus/dining and shoeshine). Telephone and safe in each room. Internet connectivity. A wide range of board games plus a full library of books on Africa. Full medical back-up and emergency evacuation facilities. Express check in and out and 24-hour Forex facilities. A vibrant selection of traditional music, culture and dance. Beauty treatments, massage and hairdressing.  Extensively stocked Africana Gift Shop.

Dining and bars

Perched high above the lake with endless views over the floor of the Great Rift Valley, the relaxed circular dining room and bright murals of the open-air bar area feature fabulous avian-inspired frescoes, colourful Maasai artefacts and a unique domed basketwork ceiling hung with carved gourds and nest-shaped lanterns.
Conference and event facilities
 
Business/Entertainment Facilities Include:

- State-of-the-art presentation facilities with a full selection of projection TV, screen, video, video conferencing and audiovisual equipment.

- Full Conference organisation service inclusive of badges, registration desks, delegate packs, delegate services, specialist delegate gifts, secretarial back up and communication links, tailor-made itineraries, private safaris and individually planned and themed menus.

- A full range of imaginative incentive packages and fully tailored accommodation packages is also available.

A lakeside wedding option that can include:

- Traditional ‘safari camp’ wedding ceremony.
- Cultural dancers, singers and musicians.
- Champagne cocktail reception by the pool.
- Candle-lit honeymoon ‘bush’ dinner for two.
- Individually tailored action sports programme.
- Luxurious honeymoon suite supplied with tropical fruit and chilled champagne.
- Photography and videoing of your special day.
- Special accommodation packages for the entire wedding party.

Special Occasions Services include

- Individually tailored ‘bush brunch’ or ‘savannah barbeque’ set in the verdant environs of the Lake.
- Entertaining under canvas – with campfires, hurricane lamps and safari cuisine.
- Themed  ‘sundowners’ in our own ‘campfire-style’ bush camp.
- Cocktail reception, al fresco on the natural stone terraces of our scenic pool.
- Individually tailored game viewing or sporting excursions.
- Live music, song, dance and vivid cultural entertainment.

Child-friendly

All Serena lodges are child-friendly and offer: family rooms, additional beds, cots, children’s mealtimes and menus, babysitting services, educational materials, wildlife presentations, guided nature walks.

What to see and do

Lake Manyara is the regional headquarters of the Serena Active Programme and offers an exciting range of high-adventure sporting options as follows:
- Abseiling off the edge of the spectacular Mto wa Mbu escarpment.
- Canoeing safaris on the tranquil and beautiful waters of the Lake.
- Combined camping and canoeing safaris, with overnight stays in
exclusive bush ‘fly camps’.
- Boating trips around the Lake and its ecosystem.
- Visits to the villages of the Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme offering village walks, bicycle tours and boating trips.
- High-action mountain biking around the Park and adjacent landscapes.
- Day trips to nearby Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park.
- A daily selection of morning and afternoon game drives around the Lake.
- Morning bird walks with our resident naturalist.
- Spectacular ‘vanishing horizon’ swimming pool with panoramic Rift Valley vistas.
- Wildlife talks, audio-visual presentations and talks on the heritage and traditions of the local tribes.