Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge stands high on the edge of a towering terracotta escarpment with panoramic views over the glittering alkaline waters of Lake Manyara. The lodge offers a unique blend of tranquility, wildlife discovery, and ornithological richness. The unprecedented range of high-adventure sports, meanwhile, include mountain biking, canoeing and forest walks, while cultural choices include tours of the neighboring villages and dance displays by the local Iraqw and Sukuma people.

Grouped around a central ‘vanishing horizon' pool, this highly unusual lodge features a simple timbered reception area, built in traditional African style, which is accessed via a bridge over a small stream. Beyond the reception, lies the central dining room, bar and veranda, below which lies the pool. Perched on the very edge of the cliffs, with stunning views over the lake is the pool bar and observation point. Dotted around the grounds, all with views over the lake are a series of circular two-storey ‘rondavels', which house the rooms.

Designed to reflect the brilliance of Lake Manyara's unique birdlife, the architectural motif melds swooping avian curves with the gentle concentric patterns of traditional Maasai ‘Bomas' , while the vibrantly colored wall frescoes depict the colorful intricacy of bird migratory patterns.

Location
The Lodge is in Mto wa Mbu area, Northern Tanzania, 130 kilometres from Arusha.
By road: transfers by road from Arusha take approximately 2 ½ hours.
By air: the airstrip is adjacent to the lodge and a ‘meet and greet' and transfer service is offered.

Accommodation
The rooms are housed in circular, double-storey, white-washed ‘rondavels' (traditional circular buildings with conical thatched roofs), which are strung out along the edge of the cliff so as to allow for maximum views. Each spacious circular room has its own small veranda while the interior décor reflects the blue of the lake and the pink of its flamingos. Behind each bed hangs a spectacular hand-woven rug, while the furnishings and fittings reflect traditional Maasai beadwork.

Standard room: the facilities include:
    * Telephone and WiFi
    * Laundry, valet and shoeshine services
    * Mineral water and toiletries
    * Bathrobe and slippers
    * Snacks and drinks room service
    * Hairdryers in the room
    * Safes (available from reception)
    * 24-hour medical service
    * Children's meals, beds, babysitting

The Suite: Overlooks Lake Manyara, with views to Losimingori Mountain, the Losimingori Suite is presented in sky blue and dusky pink, which echo the colors of the lake below. Secluded, exclusive, spacious and elegantly presented, it offers a degree of luxury and sophistication rarely found.

Dining
The spacious dining room features an interior bar area, a central buffet and both inside and outside seating. Presented in typical Maasai style, it features the use of swirling primary colors on textured white walls, which are embellished with traditional Maasai beadwork, gourds and leatherwork.

Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast and lunch are presented in buffet-style and feature a wide range of international choices. In typical safari style, on offer is a ‘full English Breakfast' as well as European options while the lunch menus will typically include meat, poultry, fish and vegetarian options.

Dinner
The table d'hôte dinner menus feature a salad buffet, soup, entrée, pudding, cheese and biscuits and tea or coffee. Vegetarian options are always available. The majority of meat and dairy products, as well as their fruits and vegetables are sourced from the local communities that surround the reserve.

Wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks
The wine list offers a broad selection of old- and new-world wines, and local and imported beers and spirits. They also offer a wide range of soft drinks including an array of freshly-made local fruit juices. And serve only the finest Tanzanian coffee and tea; they also offer a wide range of fruit and herbal infusions.

Bush dining
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge staff are experts in arranging breakfasts, lunches, dinners and cocktails in the bush. They have a number of dedicated sites, which are typically presented with tables, safari chairs, ‘bush bar' and a ‘bush kitchen', where a broad range of meats, poultry, fish and vegetables are cooked on-site (supplemented by fresh soups, salads and puddings from our hotel kitchens). In the evenings, ‘sun-downer' cocktails are traditionally served around a campfire and can be followed by a lamp-lit ‘bush dinner'.

Special events
The Lodge also features an outside dining area, which is reached by a lantern-lit pathway along the cliff's edge. Here, in a grassy clearing overlooking the lake, atmospheric evening cocktails and outdoor BBQs are held and the area can also be hired for private parties. This is also the venue for displays of cultural dance and music, which are usually held after supper.

Private ‘sundowners' can also be arranged in an area to the rear of the lodge, where a private bar, campfire, and lamps can be located.

Tented Conference Space - Corporate events… under canvas
The lodge has its own dedicated under-canvas conference or event space, which stands in the grounds. Exceptionally spacious, the venue features a raised wooden floor and canvas walls and ceilings. Fully air-conditioned, this supremely different conference venue offers all the features of a normal conference room, with the added attraction of a stylish safari look and feel.

The facilities include:
    * A tented space with external terrace and lawns where delegate reception procedures can be hosted
    * Modern, modular events furniture, which can be tailored to your specifications
    * PA system, LCD overhead projector, podium, flip charts and marker pens
    * Delegate pads, pens/pencils, individual mineral water supply
    * Business support (secretarial services, photo-copying, WiFi and a full range of global communications)
    * ‘Meet and greet' services

Weddings and Honeymoons
They have extensive experience in planning and staging a wide variety of weddings and receptions, and can also take care of all the necessary formalities; from provision of registrar and certificates to working with you to determine the type of cake, reception and entertainment you would like.

They offer some unique family and friends accommodation packages, ‘his and hers' pre-wedding preparation options, and a choice of honeymoon options.

Gorgeously situated on a cliff top overlooking Lake Manyara, the Lake Manyara Serena Safari lodge offers a unique photographic backdrop and numerous panoramic sites in which the actual ceremony can be enacted. They also have a wedding planning team, who will be pleased to advise you on the many choices open to you. These include:

    * Traditional Iraqw or Sukuma wedding with local chief, dancers and choir
    * Bush, garden, pool-side or cliff top wedding ceremony
    * Use of the tented event space, which features air conditioning and an exterior garden where pre- event cocktails can be served
    * Individually tailored ‘bush brunch' or ‘savannah barbecue'
    * Individually themed champagne reception - at the lodge or in the bush
    * Tailor-made wedding cake
    * BBQ reception around the pool
    * Private candle-lit honeymoon dinner for two
    * Luxurious honeymoon suite supplied with wine and tropical fruit
    * Cultural dance performance for you and your guests
    * Photography and videography of your special day
    * Special accommodation packages for the entire wedding party.

Facilities at a Glance
    * A selection of en suite rooms and suites
    * Central dining room and bar
    * Outside dining terrace
    * Poolside bar
    * Game drives daily
    * Swimming pool and pool deck
    * Bush dinner site within the grounds
    * Tented conference room
    * Wedding planning and honeymoon venue
    * Gift shop, business centre, WiFi
    * Satellite TV room
    * Extensive selection of sports and activities
    * Cultural dance and music

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