Lobo Wildlife Lodge was first built in 1968 and was run by the government until two years ago. The old-fashioned, stone structure of the building has effectively remained unchanged since being under new management. The lodge has been built in and around the volcanic rocks of the distinctive Lobo Kopje, in the northern Serengeti. It's a mixture of jumbled, rounded rocks – some boulders the size of a hand, others the size of a small tower block.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge is one of few lodges in the Serengeti National Park to have really excellent views – and there are several viewpoints here where you can watch the sun rising and setting, and get a really amazing view over this undulating corner of the northern Serengeti.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge is a large lodge, with 75 rooms. All of these are fairly monotonously placed in a number of square, box-like adjoining blocks. The layout of Lobo Lodge means that all of the rooms are directly next to one another and down long, white painted corridors which are often open on one side.
Inside each room is decorated in the same, no-nonsense style: white, stone walls, highly-polished wooden floors, twin beds with uninspiring fabrics, and stainless steel light-fittings reminiscent of the 1970s. We find the décor largely lacks imagination – but do enjoy the big glass windows and tiny terraces that the rooms have, as some have great views. These rooms don't have safes but it is possible to leave valuables in a safe at reception at your own risk.
All of the bedrooms at Lobo have an en suite bathroom. Like the bedrooms, these bathrooms are practical and simple. They have a white tiled bath, with a shower attachment over this, a flush toilet and a white sink set into a polished wooden surround, below a large mirror. There are a couple of complimentary toiletries, and clean towels. These are functional, but quite old and dated – and hence despite being clean, they are a little stained and never seem to feel spotless.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge has a dining room, a bar and a swimming pool – and in these larger, general areas the designers have often tried hard to incorporate some of the kopje's huge rocks. In the restaurant, the meals are usually buffets, and whilst perfectly edible – they won't win any awards for their cuisine. Integral to the dining room is the trunk of a tree, encased in a square glass tube, which reaches up and opens to the roof. We're told that there used to be a leopard that would come down here, in full view of the diners! (This was last recorded in 1974!)
The swimming pool has a stunning location overlooking the plains from quite a height – although close-up the pool could do with a little TLC. There's also a very small shop, which was woefully under-stocked when we last visited!
Despite the uninspired, simple accommodation here, the real star of the show is the scenery and the wildlife. Lobo Kopje is a very photogenic corner of the Serengeti – with huge granite kopjes rising out of undulating plains. It also has excellent resident game. On our last stay in this area, over just two nights in September, we saw two separate prides of lion, as well as a fleeting leopard (we're told there are five resident leopards in the area of this large kopje) – plus a large herd of buffalo, a family group of elephants, and plenty of plains game. The best of these sightings were in the very early morning, so get going early here if you can.
The great migration passes through the Lobo area on its way south, down the eastern side of the Serengeti National Park and Loliondo Game Controlled Area, between about October and November. You may also see elements of the migration heading north around there, during August and September. So whilst Lobo works as a game destination all year round, it's particularly worth going to between about August and November. Note that because it's so far to the north of the park, the game-drive roads around here can be marvelously quiet – we had a whole-day's drive north from here, in September, on which we only saw about 2 other vehicles.
So …. If you want a good-value place to base yourself in the north of the park, and don't mind run-of-the-mill food and very uninspiring accommodation, then Lobo delivers. Being raised above the plains around it, Lobo is sometimes rather wind-swept – but come here for the wildlife and scenery; not for the luxury.
Food quality: Lobo Wildlife Lodge will cater for children and vegetarians on request. They are flexible with meal times for those going out on long / early game drives. All meals are a cooked buffet.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor Dining
Room service: Room service is possible at Lobo Wildlife Lodge
Drinks included: No drinks are included at Lobo – everything is paid for when you are here. A beer currently costs roughly $3.
Special interests
Photographic: Lobo's combination of a high vantage-point over the plains, and hugely photogenic lumps of rounded rock, make it a particularly good destination in the Serengeti for photographers. Don't miss the early light here – which is not only lovely, but also seems to bring out the best in the kopje's resident lion and leopard.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Photographic
Wildlife: The Serengeti's Lobo area has good permanent game, even when the great migration isn't passing through. Klipspringers and endless hyraxes live on the kopje, whilst buffalo, elephant, giraffe and impala frequent the plains. Lobo Kopje's mixture of jumbled, rounded rocks is ideal leopard country, and there is usually at least one pride of lion in the vicinity.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Wildlife
Children
Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at Lobo – and being a large lodge, there are some quite large areas inside that children will enjoy. It's probably one of the Serengeti's more-suitable lodges for younger children.
Age restrictions: There are no age restrictions.
Activities: None
Equipment: They have cots and highchairs.
Generally recommended for children: Yes
Notes: Like any area with dangerous game, parents must supervise children constantly when they stay at Lobo Wildlife Lodge. There are some great vantage points on the rocks where you can watch the sunrise and sunset – but none of these have any barriers, (The lodge has painted a white line which clients must not cross!)
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: There is limited cell phone network coverage.
There is internet at Lobo. This costs $2 for 5 minutes / $5 for 15 minutes.
TV & radio: There is a television in the bar.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: Lobo have links with the Flying Doctor service.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: Lobo Wildlife Lodge tells us they have2 armed TANAPA guards on duty at night and 2 security guards on duty 24 hours a day.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers around the property and some of the staff are trained to use them.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry is not included at Lobo and costs from $1 - $4 per item. Laundry is dried according to the weather.
Money: Lobo accepts US Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling and Tanzanian Shillings.
They also accept travellers cheques and don't charge commission for this.
Accepted payment: The lodge accepts Visa and Mastercard for which they add on 5% commission. They will also exchange small amounts of currency.
