Comfortable hotel close to Arusha, with a small swimming pool, handy for airport
Guide Price: From: $250 To: $325
Arusha Coffee Lodge is situated on the opposite side of Arusha from Kilimanjaro airport. It's ideally placed to get a head start on the first morning of your safari as you're essentially on the road to all the northern Tanzania high spots and it's virtually within walking distance of Arusha airport.
On the down side, it's at least an hour's drive from Kilimanjaro Airport so if you're arriving at night with KLM you'll end up arriving late and missing the sights & sounds of African urban life (not always such a bad thing), in which case you might prefer something the other side of town.
There are 18 rooms (can't quite bring ourselves to call them 'plantation houses' which is how they like to be described) all with split level living areas and small decks. Generally the place has been well designed and has some nice touches like woodburners in all rooms and good looking furniture. The service is generally good but there is a rather overbearing coffee theme running through everything (down to the bars of soap) which can get anyone down, but particularly those who don't like coffee.
The facilities are of a high standard throughout and the lodge has a swimming pool and small shop, but in some areas, most notably the food at Redd's restaurant, there's a bit of a gap between expectations and delivery. Despite this, its a popular social haunt for Arusha folk, which gives some indication of how poor the alternatives are. Not to do it down though - this is a reliable consistent town hotel which works well for one nighters as you pass through Arusha.
Colonial style town hotel with 18 large suites
From: 250 To: 325
Comfortable hotel close to Arusha, with a small swimming pool, handy for airport
price includes accommodation only and excludes drinks, laundry, activities and transfers.
Arusha is the safari capital of Northern Tanzania. The most remarkable thing about it these days is probably the amount of traffic that manages to jam its streets daily. However, it is set in the perfect position for accessing all the major parks in Northern Tanzania, whether by road or by scheduled flight from Arusha Airport. The town is built right underneath the 15,000 ft extinct volcano Mt Meru. The mountain has a habit of hiding in the stratus cloud that's a regular feature of this part of Tanzania in July and August. However when the cloud clears, which it generally does by early afternoon, the views of the mountain are really impressive. Like many towns in Tanzania, there's not a great deal to be said about it, and, beyond a short visit if you happen to be passing with time to spare, our advice would be that time is better spent in the bush. Most people begin or end their safaris to northern Tanzania in Arusha, generally choosing one of the hotels in the surrounding areas. Kilimanjaro airport is 30 miles away. Read more?
Tanzania safaris rival a safari any other country in Africa in terms of sheer wilderness, formidable landscapes and volume of wildlife. At Natural High, we have travelled all over the country, worked in some of its best Tanzania safari camps and lodges and flown all over as bush pilots so we feel qualified to venture such opinions. Read more?
Can't find the camp you're looking for? Just let us know and we will be sure to help.
Catherine's long experience of, and enthusiasm for Africa, makes her a mine of travel information. Add to the mix her vivacious character and inscrutable attention to detail and there are few people you'd rather have plan your holiday.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.