Kuoom Lodge — Hotel in Mara Region

This place is five stars for a number of reasons, but there are some things you should be aware of.

Why five stars: I’ll state the obvious first. The domes are just cool. I haven’t stayed at a tent lodge, but being about ten feet off the ground added an element of safety feeling. The domes are minimalistic with a focus on taking advantage of where you are. They have their own bore hole (well) so they provide hot water for great pressure showers. They also currently provide free drinking water for the dome and at the restaurant. They also provide slippers, towels, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash. The geographical location is optimal. The drive to the Serengeti park entrance is within thirty minutes, but since it’s located so close, there are animals already around on the drive there. In fact, we ended up seeing two cheetahs on our way to the lodge and we didn’t see them on our visit inside the Serengeti Park. The views of the Savannah are just great. At dawn, you can see the sun coming up near a distant mountain. Fog and clouds add so much drama there in the distance. The animals. You have a chance to see them right from your very large balcony. The open air reception hut is so nice. It has a spa like vibe with its lighting, music and seating. The open air restaurant is built the same way and gives off the same feel but has these really cool jutting stones coming up through the floor into the air. There is also a balcony where you can look out across the Savanah and perhaps watch the sunset if you get home in time from Serengeti. The staff were attentive and quick to provide help with your bags as well as security as you walk from place to place. The grounds allow for animals to be close, so in turn the lodge sends a member of their security team to help you on your way. Even through the night. We happened to meet Joel from Europe who runs the place for its Spanish owners. He was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. Easy to talk to.

Some things you should know: Of course it’s better than a tent, but it’s closer to a cabin rental than a hotel room. There is no AC but they do provide a fan. You can unzip the back windows, but if lights are on inside you may get some fliers inside your dome. The dome we stayed in had a toilet without a door. For our family of four, we brought air freshener and music for when it needed to be utilized. Since the dome is elevated, it keeps most critters out, but don’t be surprised to see the occasional insect make its way inside. Again it’s gotta be better than a tent on the ground. (I’ve got nothing against tents by the way, I’ve used one many times myself). The food in the restaurant was good to me, but some of my party did not enjoy every dish. I personally found the food to be a lot less seasoned than I prefer, but I used the provided salt and pepper with great success. When it rained really hard, there were a few drops of water due to back splashing under the mushroom cover that came through the ventilation fan. No big deal for us. We moved the upper level bed over a foot and it was no issue. The driveway is surprisingly long and if you get there after dark, you might be wondering if you are going the right way back into the brush covered savanah. Just be patient. You will get there and it’s worth it.

If you love being close to nature but want to upscale your experience. This is a great place to stay during your time at...

Hi All,||||Before booking this hotel, please read my review carefully to avoid potential issues.||||As a travel agent, I booked this hotel through booking.com. Immediately after booking, I received a message from a Tanzanian number claiming to be from the hotel and offering assistance with booking activities. I confirmed with the hotel directly via phone, and they verified it was indeed their department. We proceeded to book a 2-day safari for $2980 USD and paid immediately, as they advised it was peak season and availability might be limited later.||||However, a significant problem arose as soon as my guests arrived at the hotel. On Day 1, no one arrived for the safari. Upon complaining to the hotel, they stated they could not do anything as it was "another department." I called the agent who booked our tours at least 100 times, but received no response. The hotel manager was entirely unsupportive. Consequently, we had to arrange a local taxi for our Day 1 tour.||||On Day 2, the same issue occurred: the driver did not turn up for two hours, leaving my guests waiting in the lobby. The manager again responded that it was not their responsibility as it was "another department." My clients were left in the lobby with no idea what to do. After two hours, someone from the hotel finally called, offering an excuse that the car had broken down and the driver would arrive "any moment." The tour agent, Tunga Tour, remained unresponsive despite another 100 calls today. It is truly disheartening to pay $1600 USD for accommodation and $3000 USD for tours, only to have your time wasted.||||I strongly advise that you consider booking another lodge to avoid such wasted time. Furthermore, I recommend not booking anything in advance. Go there, and only pay if the driver actually turns up. This appears to be a scam between the hotel and activity providers, designed to scare you into paying upfront by claiming everything will be fully booked. As someone in the travel industry, I find it incredibly disappointing that people would spoil holidays for a small amount of money and show such disregard for their country's reputation.||||I have much more to say. If you need further information, please direct message me, and I will share proof and pictures.||||Best...

We visited Kuoom for 3 days and left with mixed emotions.

First of all: The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. Joel the hotel manager was doing his best to organize everything for us and make us feel very welcomed.

The place where the lodges are located is very isolated and quiet, you are basically in nature living amongst native animals which is Amazing. The lodges do not come with acs although for us that wasn’t a big deal since we were out for safari for the whole day and came back when it started to cool off. If you are considering a more hotel type vacation then the place is not for you.

About the food: Many reviews complain about the quality of the food and somehow I cannot agree. Although the choices are very limited, the quality was mostly very good. We ate things like steak, sambosas, homemade bread and really nice wraps. The last day we hade the fish which was really fishy and not our favorite but still freshly cooked. The biggest concern we had coming from Europe was the risk of food poisoning which wasn’t a deal at all.

The only thing I could complain about was that some things felt a bit left out like a Moskito net in front of the windows or a tiny cover that blocks vision while your one the toilet.

If you are one a restricted budget (as we were since we are students) kuoom is the perfect place to stay and still enjoy Serengeti to its fullest. If you compare Kuoom in terms of prices with other hotels you won’t find a better rate.

Concluding: If you are out for a luxurious stay with butlers, perfect food, acs and 24/7 Service go to 4 Seasons and don’t complain. If you want to enjoy the safaris and have a safe place to sleep with cold beers in the evening, go to Kuoom and enjoy the beauty of the...