In three years, JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge will tower in the Serengeti National Park in a new investment by Marriott International. The luxurious hotel chain agreed with Delaware Investment Limited to launch its first-ever Marriott hotel brand in Serengeti. The hotel chain in a statement noted that the lodge domiciled deep in the Serengeti National Park will be operational in 2026. It will mark Marriott’s first premium safari lodge in Tanzania.
Marriott International Senior Vice President Brand Portfolio in Europe, Middle East and Africa Jenni Benzaquen said this new development is exciting for Marriott.
“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,” she said.
Delaware Investment Limited proprietor Rishen Patel added that putting up JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge is such an exciting project because it is at the heart of a globally renowned safari destination.
JW Marriott. Photo/MalindiKenya.net
The company’s collaboration with Marriott International augurs well for international tourists looking for prestige in accommodation while in Serengeti.
“It’s a very exciting moment for us to be able to collaborate with Marriott International to debut such a prestigious brand in one of the most iconic wildlife destinations in the world,” Patel added.
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What Will JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge Offer?
JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge will have 30 private suites once construction is complete each coming with a private pool and a deck area. This includes two presidential suites. Additionally, it will offer splendid views of the Serengeti National Park due to its vantage positioning between Mbalageti and Grumeti and rivers. This gives it beautiful vistas of the plains that surround it and easy access to the rivers’ rich wildlife populations.
Does JW Marriott Have Hotels in Africa?
JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge will be the second luxury lodge the hotel chain owns in Africa. Its first property was in Kenya; JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge opened in early 2023. In total, Marriott International has a 120 upscale properties under its name across Africa mostly on urban and resort destinations. It doesn’t have much in the wilderness and the properties in Serengeti and Masai Mara in Kenya are the first lodges it is operating.
Ideally, JW Marriott brand under Marriott International, runs a hotel chain in Africa including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton, and The Ritz-Carlton, among others. As stated earlier, Marriott’s portfolio isn’t very diverse when it comes to safari lodges and lodgings found in Africa.
Meanwhile, safari lodges and game reserves are available through the company’s Protea Hotels brand in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Tanzania.
Why is Serengeti So Popular?
Serengeti National Park is a significant national heritage and ecosystem that brings tourists from across the world here. This Tanzanian national park measuring 5,700 miles² shares a border with Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.
JW Marriott Maasai Mara Lodge. Photo/Connecting Travel
It is situated around 660 km northwest of the Tanzanian administrative capital, Dodoma. The ‘Big Five’ call it home and it has one of the most enchanting ecosystems. Lions, buffalos, leopards, hippos, cheetahs, zebras, elephants, giraffes, antelopes and many other wild animals dot every corner of the park.
There is an airfield near the Grumeti River which is 25 minutes drive from the park’s hub. International travellers have two options for getting to the lodge. One is via a domestic flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport to an airfield in the Serengeti, or an eight-hour drive with beautiful views of the huge savannas and wildlife en route.
Moreover, the Great Migration, where about two million wildebeest cross over to and from the Mara every year is always a spectacle to behold. These animals cover a distance of 1,800 kilometres from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara and another 1,800 kilometres back. It is the biggest wildlife spectacle in Africa drawing thousands of tourists from different corners of the world.
Who Owns JW Marriott?
Marriott International, Inc. is the parent company under which the luxury hotel chain JW Marriott operates. The Marriott Corporation is headquartered in the US and trades under the NASDAQ stock market. JW Marriott provides upmarket hotels, resorts and lodges services to its deep-pocketed clientele. Affiliated hotels have a reputation for their unparalleled luxury, sophistication, and guest experiences. JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge extends the chain’s charm to posh safari destinations in Africa.
