[New] &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge

Tanzania

African culture and a wildlife-rich environment provide the inspiration for a new lodge in the western reaches of the Serengeti.

Words: Lauren Jade Hill • Photography: © Andrew Morgan

Sparse woodland and vast grasslands dotted with acacia trees span Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, home to herds of zebra, wildebeest and impala that are stalked by resident predators including the ecosystem’s thriving lion prides. Giraffes stand out on the horizon and a cornucopia of birdlife – from the tawny eagle to iridescent starlings and long-legged, flamboyantly feathered secretary bird – bring life to every patch of the East African wilderness.

And it is here that Grumeti Game Reserve occupies more than 400m2 of land. Within this sprawling oasis lies &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, nestled in a wooded area on the banks of the river. Pods of hippos and solitary crocodiles inhabit this body of water, with open plains and pockets of forest stretching out to the horizon beyond.

Originally built in the early 1990s, the lodge has undergone an extensive rebuild after the Grumeti River burst its banks and flooded the property in April 2020. Having worked on the original design, longstanding &Beyond collaborator Fox Browne Creative returned to create the new look. In partnership with the design practice’s in-house architect Jack Alexander, Fox Browne Creative founders Debra Fox and Christopher Browne dreamt up the concept for the lodge’s bold reinvention.

“We didn’t want to lose the spirit of the original lodge,” says Fox. “It’s situated in a remote area on the oxbow of the river with the sound of hippos as a backdrop. The wildness of its setting is magical, so we sought to retain the safari tent feel while bringing it into today’s contemporary era.” Browne adds: “It’s a powerful location – guests are connected straight to the hippo pond.”

Residents enter first into the main living and dining area, which is open on both sides to offer views to the wilderness. Though nature takes centre stage – the deck has been carefully laid around existing trees – interiors also make their mark. Immediately drawing the attention, a chandelier made from brightly-coloured strips of braided material threaded through handblown glass baubles hangs above the circular central bar. Artisanal design details, including more glass decoration hanging from the ceiling like jewels, feature alongside carefully curated curios and patterned furnishings in bold shades of red, purple and blue.

Outside, a boma provides open-air space on the riverside for outdoor dining and pre-dinner drinks by the fire and this area is joined by a newly built gym and swimming pool with a stylishly furnished deck, both with a privileged position on the river.

The lodge’s 10 suites, including a twobedroom option for families, extend along the water’s edge with the surrounding trees forming a natural privacy wall. Floor-toceiling windows in the bedroom and bathroom immerse guests in nature, as do the outdoor decks with private plunge pool, while interiors feature local patterns and warm earthy tones.

For the structure of the suites, which have doubled in size from the original build, the designers were briefed to reinvent the traditional safari tent while introducing a more luxurious, contemporary feel. In keeping with &Beyond’s environmental ethos, sustainability was key to the project, with recyclable materials used throughout and the installation of a solar panel system ensuring the lodge runs on 80% renewable energy. “We used materials typical of a tent, canvas being the main ingredient but in a steel frame structure that is light on the earth and entirely reusable; the camp could essentially disappear and leave no footprint behind,” says Browne. “With timber and mesh, we also kept the ingredients the same as in the original lodge but applied them in a different way. We made use of banana fibre for the roof too – it’s a beautiful material as well as being sustainable and renewable.”

While some elements draw on the natural world, the central guest area takes inspiration from the nomadic Maasai people and their ways of life. The curving forms and organic materials of their Manyatta homesteads for example are mirrored in the ceiling niches and arrangements of furniture, while soft furnishings reference the vibrant colours and patterns of the kanga and kitenge fabrics worn by those living around Africa’s Great Lakes. “We’ve tapped into the vibrancy of the Great Lakes and for me that immediately means looking to the fabrics used in different ways,” Browne explains. The Maasai necklace is also referenced throughout, as are the traditional baskets used for winnowing grain and storing food. And the design practice worked with a women’s collective in Arusha to create the recycled glass baubles dotted throughout, while all fabrics were sourced locally and woven matting comes from craftspeople in a nearby village. Other items were repurposed from the original lodge. “One of our philosophies in design is to repurpose and upcycle, to reinvent and reinterpret using what already exists,” says Fox of the approach.

The end result, combining this ethos and a wealth of local inspiration, is a contemporary wilderness retreat that fuses understated luxury with a connection to the culture and environment defining the area. “The lodge is a surprise,” explains Fox. “Guests expect the typical safari aesthetic of beige, linen and leather trunks, but this is different.” Browne concludes: “Our design was a little experimental; the aim was to push the boundaries.”

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Owner / Operator: &Beyond Travel Architecture: Jack Alexander Interior Design: Fox Browne Creative www.andbeyond.com

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