anyone have an opinion on serengeti serena lodge vs. serengeti sopa lodge? i know that many tour operators recommend tenting, but we would prefer the comforts of a lodge. so...anyone have positive/negative experiences at either of these properties?

What time of year will you be traveling? Location is important, depending on where the Migration herds are expected to be. As for comfort, I find that some tented camps are more luxurious and comfortable than lodges! I've not stayed at either property; I've always stayed in tented camps near the herds.

We were there in April and stayed at the Serengeti Sopa. Our guide felt that was the better location for the time we were there. We didn't want to stay at a tented set up since it was the rainy season. That turned out to be the right pick as it rained every night about sun down and would have been awful in a tent. As it was we were dry and comfortable in the lodge. The rain didn't cause problems with the actual safari and we enjoyed the green of the season.

The migration was heading the the Nabi Gate so we had a great experience there and there were plenty of animals including cats within easy driving of the Sopa.

The Serengeti Sopa was fine...clean and the food was OK. One night was a great buffet and the other was from a menu, but wasn't as good. I think the Serena chain may be a bit above the Sopa chain, both have a pool and the Sopa pool had a great view. Main thing is to pick the one that will get you closest to the animals at the time of year you will be there.

thanks so much! we will be there in mid-january, if that helps. i believe the migration is in the southern serengeti at that time, but it is my understanding that both these lodges are located near good year-round game viewing?

Certainly time of year may make a big difference. Have stayed at lodges in both chains and for us the Sopa ones are fine. We want clean rooms, reasonable food, and closeness to wildlife. If budget is of concern the Sopa ones may work best. Also, location. For sure both cater to larger numbers of travelers than the typical tented camp. Noise (some)from guests staying in rooms above more noticeable much like motels here in the US. At N. Crater we preferred the Sopa Lodge simply as it was quite close to access road to/from crater and really reduced travel time. This past Nov that may have changed.

One needs to also understand the difference between lodges such as the Sopa/Serena ones and tented camps and tents simply pitched on the groud. The tented camps/lodges we have used are excellent canvas tents on permanent platforms (some elevated, some on a concrete pad)often with a permanent roof above the canvas or maybe not. All had hot and cold running waters (sometimes available on 24 hr basis or not just like some of the big lodges), electricity (again, availability varies just like some lodges. All had some type of stone or otherwise path to dining pavilion/tent just like some of the permanent lodges (not all rooms are under same roof as lobby, lounge, dining hall, etc). Our trip this past Nov involed more than one night when it really poured and this sounded great on the tent roof! Several had pools, massage facilities, jacuzi, Internet service, etc just like the Sopa and Serena lodges. Some were fenced some were not. We felt the tented lodges were quite a bit more intimate with fewer guests.

I felt we got more personal service at tented camps but such may also vary considerably. And, the meals in my opinion were just as good if not better at the tented camps/lodges.
Versus, a tent pitched on the ground. And, rooms were just as large if not larger in some of the tented units we have had and were certainly furnished well.

One down side perhaps is closeness of tented units to one another. Depends. Never really had a problem with this in regards to neighbor's noise. Easier to hear the sounds (especially at night) of the bush than in permanent lodges where it wasn't always possible to have balcony or porch door open (some were not screened).

Suggest more research on features of individual tented lodges/camps so you can compare with the Sopa and Serena permanent lodges and certainly price.

what tented camps would you recommend? the only ones i've come across have basic chemical toilet and bladder shower. certainly not hot and cold running water. so i would be very interested in what properties you've stayed in. thanks so much!

Tanzania under Canvas from AndBeyond
Nomad
Lemala
Olkira

These luxury mobile tented camps with very high standards, excellent food, ensuite facilities, and personal service. They are much more expensive than lodges but the experience is better too.

A permanent tented camp in Central Serengeti is Mbuzi Mawe Camp.

Here's a whole list.
http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/WildfrontiersSer.htm

If the cost of these tented camps is too much, then back to lodges.

In mid-Jan, I'd prefer further south than Serena or Sopa, although Sopa is more south than Serena. I would think you'd want the Ndutu area in Southern Serengeti.

It appears you are aware of this, though. If the migration is not a priority, then either Serena or Sopa. You may be able to drive to where the migration is from those lodges as well.

this is great! thanks so much!

I've stayed at both the Serengeti Sopa (once) and the Serengeti Serena (twice). I much preferred the Serena, though there was nothing wrong with the Sopa.

At the Serena, it's buffet every night, but they cook the meat on the grill while you are there. The Sopa is, as you say, one night buffet, the next night a la carte, and the food was very good.

I liked the rooms in the Serena better, they are much smaller, but just felt cozier to me. The Sopa rooms were very large, which, yes, is good, but really we didn't need all that space! If memory serves me right, this was the Sopa that had the bathroom window facing the walkway that everyone uses to go back & forth from the room to the main dining/reception - which felt funny when I was showering!

The view was great from both places.

Stayed twice at the Sopa and once at the Serena. Both in June and one year the Sopa was well positioned for the wildebeest migration and two yrs later not so well. In 2007 the migration had passed well to the north of the Serena but we still had a great stay simply having to drive a bit more. LyndaS's comments above the open grill at the Serena brought back fond memories.
This year we stayed at the Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp in Nov and had great numbers of wildebeest not to far from us. I liked it all but the DW was less than pleased with the numerous insects in the lounge and dining areas. (She is not prude but felt given this being a non-issue at other camps with open eating areas it was a bit much at MMTC. She did enjoy the "drunk" moth however.) Also, we stayed at the Ndutu Safari Lodge and had wildebeest moving into the area in great numbers. Would certainly like to return there when things are a bit greener. Given 3 or 4 days for the Serengeti Area I certainly would stay at two different places.

thanks so much! i was also looking at ndutu lodge. you would recommend it? i know that should be right in the migration area in january.

Ndudu lodge is the cheapest and best placed of all, book it while it's available. I had a tough time getting more than 1 night there 8 months in advance for my Jan 2010 trip.

wow! ok, yeah, i had read that it fills up quickly december-march. so you would definitely recommend it over serena or sopa, especially during january? now, obviously the great migration is all about wildebeest, zebra, etc., but what about other game? the big 5? elephants, giraffes, hippos, etc.? are they also going to be in the area? i would assume that the migration means good feeding for them, right? so all types of game should be plentiful? these are probably stupid questions, but i'm just learning! thanks again!

"so you would definitely recommend it over serena or sopa, especially during january?"
Yes. If you have quite a few days you could do both Ndutu area and Central Serengeti. But with your timeframe, I'd stay south in Ndutu.

There are no stupid questions.

The predators tend to follow the migration. The other animals are either residents or move along with the migration, such as gazelles.

I believe you are going to Manyara too. That's where you'll likely see the most elephants and hippos, though they are in the Serengeti as well. You mention Big 5, which include leopard and rhino--rhino is most likely seen in Ngorongoro and leopard, who knows?

Everyone praises Nduto Lodge for its prime location. Patty, Lynda, Atravelynn, Shaytay or other experienced folks can tell you how it is compared to the other properties. Btw, they are far away from each Ndutu, afaik. There's no Sopa or Serena near where Ndutu Lodge is in the south...the lodging in the south seems pretty dispersed.

Btw, I have been chasing wild animals including Tigers, Leopards Wild Dogs and Bears elsewhere. There simply are *no guarantees* about any specific species that roam in the wild. Spend enough time in Tanzania and you might find the Big 5, who knows. Your guide can be the best advisor.

As for the migration, logic and other people's experience says that there is no fixed date for the migration to BE THERE where you expect it to be(as specified on some brochures)...these are wild animals, they could be anywhere in a given month. But, they do end up in the South near Ndutu in Jan/Feb most of the time. As long as you are staying within driving distance of the wildebeest and zebras, you should be fine. For all you know, the migration might even be in East Serengeti while you stay in the South (Ndutu, Olakira).
Talk to your guide about this in advance. Some might be reluctant to do daily drives from Central to South and back for you, if Serengeti Serena is where you are staying at (Jan/Feb).

I believe that a couple of months ago, the migration moved to the west instead of being in the north coming down via central "as expected". Some folks in Sayari(?) had to do long drives from the North to the West daily to catch up with the Wildebeest and Zebras.

No guarantees .

... and if you have to pass between Ndutu and the Serengeti daily, you have to pay another park fee!

There are no guarantees "exactly" where/when, just guestimates based on previous years wanderings.