Upeo Serengeti Lodge is Nyumbu Tanzania’s first permanent Property, carved from the rocks of Kogatende

Nyumbu Tanzania is finalizing process to establish the new Upeo Serengeti, an eight-suite lodge built into granite outcrops above Kogatende wildebeest crossing area in the northern parts of Serengeti plains.

The lodge is the company’s first permanent property and set to open doors from July 2027.

Nyumbu Tanzania is a Safari operator which currently runs the Nyumbu Luxury Migration Camp.

The Nyumbu Migration happens to be a mobile camp that moves twice a year with the herds, across the plains.

Now Nyumbu Tanzania wants to go permanent along the Serengeti migration route.

The movement is mostly down south to Ndutu for the wildebeests’ calving season and up North to Kogatende for the ultimate Mara River crossings of the annual Gnus migration.

The wildebeest migration passes through Kogatende from June to October, and river crossings take place a few miles from where the new lodge stands.

The Kogatende airstrip is a 30-minute transfer away from the proposed lodge.

Upeo, Swahili for “horizon,” has 360-degree views over the savanna.

The Upeo Serengeti Lodge will offer five standard suites, two honeymoon suites and one family suite.

All eight suites are built into the rock, and each has a private plunge pool, a standalone granite bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers and 24-hour power.

The honeymoon suites add butler service and a private boma dining area.

The family suite has two interconnected en-suite rooms around a shared lounge for two adults and two children, with a third child on request.

“Every stone on that kopje has been here for millions and millions of years,” said Sarah Egani, managing director of Nyumbu Tanzania. “We built around it and not over it.”

Each of the eight suites at Upeo Serengeti has a private plunge pool on a deck overlooking the savanna.

Shared spaces include Pangoni Wellness, a spa set in a cave in the kopje with treatments inspired by Masai healing traditions.

There is also the Machweo Sunset Deck, which hosts stargazing and guided astronomy evenings, along with an infinity pool and a central firepit called Osotwa.

Activities at the new lodge include game drives, walking safaris, balloon safaris and viewing the Mara River crossings.

Drives run in the lodge’s own vehicles with its own guides.

As an opening offer, the lodge management is taking 40 percent off 2027 rates for bookings made by April 30.