Marriott Plans to Open Luxury Serengeti Safari Lodge in 2026

Marriott International has entered into an agreement with Delaware Investment Limited to establish its inaugural JW Marriott luxury safari lodge in Tanzania's Serengeti, scheduled to open in 2026. Positioned within the Serengeti National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its expansive plains and the Great Migration—the JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge will feature 30 private suites, including two presidential suites, each equipped with its own swimming pool and deck area. The lodge will also offer extensive dining, beverage, and meeting amenities.

Nestled between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, the lodge will benefit from abundant wildlife access along these waterways and sweeping views of the surrounding plains. The Serengeti National Park spans 5,700 square miles and serves as a vital sanctuary for wildlife conservation in sub-Saharan Africa. It is most famously known as the starting point for the Great Migration, a natural spectacle where millions of animals travel 1,800 miles from the Serengeti into Kenya's Masai Mara between June and September. The park also hosts the renowned "Big Five" animals: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and African elephant.

Located approximately 410 miles northwest of Dodoma in Tanzania, Serengeti borders Kenya and is accessible via the Grumeti airstrip, a short 25-minute drive from the lodge. International travelers can reach the lodge via Kilimanjaro International Airport followed by a domestic flight to a Serengeti airstrip or an eight-hour scenic drive through the savannas and wildlife habitats.

The JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge will represent Marriott International's second luxury safari lodge in Africa, following the recent opening of the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve earlier this year. Marriott International currently operates over 120 properties across its diverse portfolio in Africa.

Source: Travel Market Report