Marriott International will add a second luxury safari lodge in Africa, announcing a JW Marriott property for the Serengeti, Tanzania.
Expected to open in 2026, JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge will be situated within the Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most renowned safari destinations on the continent, home to endless plains, the Great Migration, and some of the largest herds on the planet.
JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge is expected to offer 30 private suites, including two presidential suites, all of which will benefit from their own swimming pool and deck area.
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JW Marriott Serengeti 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.
The Serengeti National Park is an important wildlife conservation and wilderness area – the starting point of one of Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacles – the Great Migration, from the Serengeti into the neighboring Masai Mara between June and September. The “Big Five,” including lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and African elephant can also be found in Serengeti.
“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,” said Jenni Benzaquen, SVP, Brand Portfolio Europe, Middle East and Africa at Marriott International.
JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge will mark the brand’s second luxury safari lodge in Africa, following the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge earlier this year in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Marriott International currently operates more than 120 properties in Africa across its portfolio.
Meanwhile, also in Africa, Marriott International’s Protea Hotels by Marriott is expanding with five new hotel signings in the past week.
The anticipated projects will strengthen the company’s presence in Nigeria, Tanzania, Botswana and Ethiopia.
They include Protea Hotel by Marriott Serowe, Botswana (slated to open in 2026); Protea Hotel by Marriott Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (a conversion, renovation and rebrand of Blue Nile Resort by 2025); Protea Hotel by Marriott Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania (opening by the end of 2023); Protea Hotel by Marriott Abuja Jahi, Nigeria (projected to open in 2027); and Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta, Nigeria (slated for opening in 2024).
