This exclusive boutique lodge opened in 2004 on a wooded hilltop situated about 10 km east of Arusha town, just 1 km south of the surfaced road to Arusha National Park, Kilimanjaro International Airport and Moshi. It is located on a 70-acre coffee farm amid natural forest and offers breathtaking views of mounts Meru and Kilimanjaro on a clear day.
The Sibusiso Foundation, a center for mentally disabled children, is situated on the same farm and benefits directly from revenue generated by the lodge.
From the parking area, a short but rather steep path leads to the reception area, which is situated at the top of the hill opposite a small gift shop. Also on the hilltop, the thatched-roof restaurant and cocktail lounge are separated by a paved balcony dotted with thatched umbrellas and wooden tables and chairs that overlook the surrounding forest.
Warmed by blazing log fires on chilly nights, the restaurant and cocktail lounge have white plastered walls and ceilings supported by wood beams and window frames and are simply but attractively decorated, mostly with organic materials, enhancing the cozy cottage
feel. The varied a la carte lunches and three-course set-menu dinners combine Continental and African cuisines and make extensive use of vegetables grown organically on the farm. The wine list contains a good selection of Cape wines.
Studded with indigenous trees and enclosed by lush montane forest, the sloping gardens have a naturalistic feel and are inhabited by a variety of birds and a resident troop of vervet monkeys. Options include a shady pool area, a short guided walking trail that runs from the lodge into the surrounding forest and farmland, and visits to the nearby Sibusiso children's home.
The lodge is ideally based for day trips to Arusha National Park and, as with most other lodges around Arusha, as the start or end point of a safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
The 18 cottages are scattered discreetly on the slopes below the main buildings and are reached by a combination of stone paths and wooden walkways. Very spacious (60 sq m), the cottages are made of white plaster and wood beams and decorated in an organic neo-ethnic style. Each cottage has a fireplace, desk, sitting area, king bed with netting, an en-suite bath with a tub and shower, and a wooden balcony offering views through the trees to Meru or Kilimanjaro.
The scenically located lodge offers most of the amenities one would expect of a good city hotel (such as the Arusha Hotel), with comparable quality of service, but it retains strong individual character and definite African feel both in the decor and the setting. A safe choice for fussy clients, it also appeals to those who prefer something more off-the-wall, with the added bonus that the profits fund a worthwhile charity.
