Your East Midlands Wedding - Apr/May (Issue 31)

I n the heart of the Serengeti National Park on the southern slopes of Nyamuma (which is the wildebeest and zebra migration route) sits the recently opened, eco-friendly Meliá Serengeti Lodge. Accessed from the Seronera Airstrip, (prepare for a very small aircraft from Zanzibar via Arusha), it’s a five-star resort complete with 50 rooms and suites designed with a nod to the traditional Maasai culture. The two Serengeti Suites are best suited to honeymooners, decorated in soft, earthy tones with a terrace ideally placed for animal spotting. This can be screened off at night to allow in the sounds of the Serengeti. There’s also an infinity pool, an outdoor fitness centre, spa, three restaurants and two bars at the property with everything designed to support the local environment. WINING AND DINING The Savannah Restaurant has been built with open-air views of the park. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served from the buffet with a large selection of dishes made using fresh ingredients including meat, fish, salad and fresh fruit with the watermelon smoothie a must-try! Dine under the stars at Boma, a circular-shaped restaurant centered around an open firepit with a menu serving authentic African cuisine and the Maasai providing live music and dancing. A light menu of tapas is available at The Terrace and traditional Tanzanian coffee (served with a stick of cinnamon) and homemade ginger tea (that’s delicious) are available at The Bar along with a selection of African liquor. SERENGETI BOOK IT Prices for Meliá Serengeti Lodge start from £415 per night for the Game Drive all-inclusive package, melia.com @meliaserengeti WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO • All UK visitors to Tanzania must have a visa for entry that cost £40, visit tzhc.uk • Seek your doctor’s advice for recommended vaccines and anti-malarial medication. ROMANTIC MUST-DOS ❤ Sip on a cocktail at the infinity pool while taking in views of the stunning Serengeti. ❤ Learn how to bead a piece of jewellery. ❤ Take a walk around the property escorted by the Maasai, who also guard your room 24-hours a day. For those wanting to venture further afield, a guided walking safari can be arranged with the hotel. ❤ The stylish spa houses couples treatment rooms with a variety of massages, facials and body treatments on offer using blended oils including lemongrass, ginger and vanilla. EXPLORING THE SERENGETI ❤ The park is famous for its abundance of wildlife and the only way to see it is during a game drive on board one of the hotel’s fully equipped Jeeps with windows and a roof that opens. Our very experienced guide was Joel, and it was cameras at the ready as he guided us across the desert-like terrain to introduce us to this magical animal kingdom. Prepare to see lions, antelopes, zebras, giraffes and hyenas among others. There’s up to 28 species of hoofed animals in the Serengeti with more than 530 different bird species. ❤ A picnic stop at the Hippo Pool provides a scenic lunch area to safely admire these larger than life creatures. The food is prepared by the chef at the lodge who will make up any picnic basket requests. There’s plenty of refreshments on board as well as complimentary hand sanitizer, chilled face towels and sunscreen. ❤ An early morning start for an hour-long balloon safari at sunrise is a highlight not to be missed. Arranged through Serengeti Balloon Safaris (balloonsafaris.com ), the flight is launched at dawn and floats over the plains, spotting plentiful wildlife in areas out of bounds to vehicles (off road driving is not permitted in most of the Serengeti). After a champagne toast on landing, you’re seated and served a freshly prepared African breakfast in the bush before being presented with your flight certificate. It’s worth noting here to make use of the ‘loo with a view’ as there may not be one available for a while. HONEYMOONS 101