Arumeru River Lodge

Set on ten hectares of tropical garden 35 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport and on the edge of Arusha, Arumeru River Lodge occupies a former coffee plantation within a protected zone that adjoins Arusha National Park. The grounds shelter century-old trees, a small river, and resident dik-diks, vervet monkeys, and chameleons that move through the undergrowth and across open lawn. Twenty garden chalets sit in individual bungalows distributed throughout the estate. Each chalet opens onto a terrace furnished with safari chairs. Walk-in showers, king-size beds, and locally made wooden furniture equip interiors finished with terrazzo floors in standard rooms. Six junior suites add a second private veranda and an extra twenty square metres of floor space. Two family chalets each contain two en-suite bedrooms and a living room with an open fireplace on two levels. Views from the main terrace and upper rooms take in Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru when the weather clears.

A solar-heated pool sits within the gardens. The Migration Restaurant serves African and international dishes prepared with regional produce. A lounge bar with an open fire occupies the central building. Naturalist guides arrange half-day and full-day excursions into Arusha National Park, guided walks through the adjacent Usa River rainforest, and village visits to Usa River settlement. Massage treatments are available on request. Electric vehicles retrofitted on-site conduct transfers and excursions. The lodge partners with a school near Arusha and donates a portion of guest fees to the Usa River Children Center.