Lake Masek Tented Lodge

Experience lakeside luxury at Lake Masek Tented Lodge. Nestled along the glittering soda waters of Lake Masek, this eco-friendly retreat offers 20 lavish chalets with private soaking tubs and outdoor showers, providing an intimate front-row seat to the Great Migration’s calving season.

Details

Lake Masek Tented Lodge is a “permanent tented lodge” that masterfully balances authentic safari charm with substantial, high-end facilities. Opening in 2009, it has become the premier choice in the Southern Serengeti for those seeking a pristine, lake-view setting. The main lodge building is an architectural delight, featuring a vaulted ceiling that houses an open-air dining hall, bar, and library.

The living area spills onto a large game-viewing terrace, where a massive acacia tree sprawls through the center of the deck, its canopy diffusing the afternoon sunlight. Committed to conservation, the lodge is entirely eco-friendly, powered by solar electricity and utilizing harvested rainwater to ensure the surrounding ecosystem remains untrammeled.

The Soda Lake Sanctuary

The lodge is unobtrusively situated on the banks of Lake Masek within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). This location offers a distinct advantage: the freedom to conduct off-road game drives and walking safaris, which are restricted inside the neighboring Serengeti National Park.

The Tactical Advantage:

Migration Calving Grounds: During the green season (December to April), the Great Migration floods the surrounding plains. Guests frequently witness thousands of wildebeest taking a “cold plunge” through the waters of Lake Masek and Lake Ndutu.
Birding Paradise: Pink flamingos frequently preen in the glittering soda waters, while the umbrella tree canopy along the banks attracts a profusion of avian life.
Resident Wildlife: The permanent water of the lake ensures resident hippos and crocodiles are visible year-round, while giraffe and zebra glide along the verdant hillsides.

The Southern Circuits

From its strategic base, the lodge provides effortless access to the most iconic habitats of the southern ecosystem:

Lake Ndutu: Located just a few miles away, this world-famous area is the epicenter of the migration from December to April. It is a historic research site once used by Jane Goodall and Hugo van Lawick.
Matiti Plains & Twin Hills: The primary calving grounds for the wildebeest between January and March. This high-biomass area offers spectacular off-the-beaten-path experiences and is renowned for some of the park’s best cheetah viewing.
Hidden Valley: A secret depression 14 miles northwest of the lodge. During the green season, its central waterhole becomes a magnet for predatory action and large wallowing clans of spotted hyenas.

Kusini Plains & Crater: A seldom-traveled area where grasslands meet woodlands. The “Kusini Crater” is a magical circular plain encircled by dense acacia trees, known for high concentrations of cheetah and lion.

Lakeside Luxury Chalets

The lodge features 20 luxury tented chalets spaced for maximum privacy and linked by sandy pathways to the main lodge.

The Guest Experience:

Ebony & Gold: Interiors feature ornate, dark ebony four-poster beds inlayed with gold embellishments and draped in sheer netting.
Dual Shower Experience: Each chalet includes an en suite bathroom with a double vanity and ceramic soaking tub, plus a private outdoor shower open to the Serengeti sky.
Lake-View Verandas: Private wooden decks offer views of the lake through the lace-like canopy of the acacia woodland.

Modern Refinement: Unlike many camps, Lake Masek provides 24/7 electricity and in-room hairdryers, blending modern convenience with the wilderness.

Garden-to-Table Dining

As a sister property to the Ngorongoro Farmhouse, the lodge benefits from fresh organic produce trucked in regularly from the fertile crater highlands.

“Choose Your Own” Safari Lunch: A standout feature is the interactive buffet where guests select exactly which gourmet fixings (cold cuts, artisanal cheeses, house-baked breads) go into their custom picnic boxes for the day.
Inclusive Hospitality: House beverages, including soft drinks and local beer, are complimentary for all guests.

The Viewing Terrace: Meals and sundowners are often enjoyed on the expansive deck, providing a 180-degree view of the resident hippo pods below.

Off-Road Access: The rare privilege of following the herds off-road for intimate wildlife encounters.
Walking Safaris: Guided walks with an NCA ranger along the soda lake shores.
Eco-Conscious Luxury: Fully solar-powered with 100% biodegradable products.

Nearby Attractions

Seasonal Highlights

Month	Season	Weather	Wildlife Sightings	Rec.
Jan	Green Season	60 - 85 F Mostly sunny with few showers	Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant	Yes
Feb	Green Season	60 - 85 F Mostly sunny with few showers	Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Wildebeest Calving	Yes
Mar	Green Season	60 - 83 F Mostly sunny with few showers	Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant	Yes
Apr	Green Season	60 - 83 F Mostly sunny with few showers	Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant	Yes
May	Northward Migration	56 - 81 F Mostly sunny	Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant	Yes
Jun	Beginning of Dry Season	56 - 81 F Mostly sunny	Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant (early June only)	Yes
Jul	Dry Season	60 - 83 F Mostly sunny	- - - - -	No
Aug	Dry Season	55 - 81 F Mostly sunny	- - - - -	No
Sep	Dry Season	55 - 81 F Mostly sunny	- - - - -	No
Oct	Dry Season	60 - 83 F Mostly sunny	- - - - -	No
Nov	Southward Migration	60 - 83 F Mostly sunny with few showers	Giraffe, gazelle, Walking Safaris and Cultural Interactions	Yes
Dec	Beginning of Green Season	60 - 83 F Mostly sunny with few showers	Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant	Yes