Lemala Nanyukie Lodge

White canvas walls and cathedral-peaked tented ceilings catch the light differently through the day, from the pale glow of early morning to the amber wash before sunset. The lodge stands on grassy savanna scattered with rocky kopjes, shaded by old giant acacia trees whose canopy softens the midday sun on the hardwood decks. Fifteen suites, thirteen standard and one two-bedroom, are spread well apart for privacy. Each has an oversized bed, a lounge, a bathroom with double vanity and both indoor and outdoor showers, and a wooden deck with sunken seating and a corner plunge pool facing open grassland. The two-bedroom suite suits families or friends travelling together. This stretch of the eastern Serengeti holds a dense population of cats, once set aside for research into predator behaviour, and the wildebeest migration crosses the area seasonally. Game drives and walking safaris run with Lemala's guides throughout the year. You can hear the grassland's night sounds from the deck after dark, before a fire is lit near the main lounge for a drink and the day's stories. The double-volume lounge and bar opens onto a swimming pool and dining areas both indoors and out, and a separate spa tent sits among the trees for quieter hours. Balloon safaris lift over the plains at dawn, weather permitting. Check-out runs to 10am.