Luxury accommodation close to Arusha Town and Arusha National Park
Set amongst 33 acres of mature gardens and surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary, the charming and atmospheric Mount Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary is bounded by the Usa River. Established in 1959, the lodge offers a good restaurant and bar, and a choice of prettily individualistic rooms with 4-poster beds.
The Mount Meru Game Lodge's animal sanctuary houses baboons, vervet monkeys and probably the only Sanje mangebey in captivity. A large paddock is home to zebra, waterbuck and eland, as well as saddle-billed and yellow-billed storks, sacred ibis and ostrich. Nestled between the peaks of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru Game Lodge is ideally placed, midway between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha.
Mount Meru Game Lodge offers a terrace, shaded by mango trees, magnificent views over mature, carefully tended gardens to the sanctuary beyond, a lounge with picture window, a dining room, bar and gift shop. Throughout its long history, the lodge has hosted various African presidents, celebrities, and members of European royal families.
The Town of Arusha
One of Tanzania's most developed and fastest growing towns, the bustling ‘Safari Town' of Arusha is a hive of arrival and departure activity as countless 4WD safari vehicles load up with provisions and set off with their passengers into the endless, game-teeming plains of the National Parks. Established in 1900 as a minor German military garrison, Arusha lies halfway between the Cape and Cairo and was once a major trading post for the local Waarusha and Wameru tribes. Nowadays it is not only the country's most active tourism centre but also an important regional business and administrative centre and host to a colourful array of street markets, museums, craft shops, Makonde carving workshops, street cafes, restaurants and bars.
Arusha National Park
The smallest yet one of the most beguiling of Tanzania's National Parks, the 137-sq-km Arusha National Park offers an unrivalled diversity of safari experiences due to the three distinct ecological zones of its composition. Activities range from a trek up the forested slopes of a fifteen million years old extinct volcano called Ngurdoto Crater, the discovery of the seven alkaline and flamingo-frosted Momela Lakes, which are the haunt of some 380 species of water birds, or an ascent to the misted heights of Mount Meru. At 4,566m above sea level Mount Meru is the 5th highest mountain in Africa and offers one of the continent's most rewarding climbs. Once as high as Kilimanjaro, a cataclysmic explosion two hundred and fifty thousand years ago blew out the entire eastern side of the Mountain, leaving only a vast crater and ash cone in its wake.
The safari lodge location
Nestled between the peaks of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro (20 km from Arusha and off the main Moshi-Arusha Road - near to Usa River), Mount Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary lies midway between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha.
Arusha is connected by daily internal flights with Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Mwanza. There are several flights weekly to the Seronera airstrip in Serengeti National Park, Musoma and Shinyanga. There are also frequent flights to Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. Several international airlines have flights into Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), which is half way between Arusha and Moshi whilst a number of internal flights use Arusha Airport (about 8km out of town).
Your Tanzania luxury lodge safari
The Tanzanian Coffee Industry
Despite the fact that coffee was not planted in Tanzania until the turn of the 20th century, when it was imported by the Jesuit missionaries of Reunion Island, Tanzania is now world famous for the excellence of its coffee, most particularly the luxury Coffea arabica grown on the slopes of Mount Meru and around the Arusha region. This distinctively flavoured coffee provides the foundation for some of the finest blends of coffee in the world and accounts for 75% of Tanzania's coffee exports.
Wildlife highlights around Mount Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary - Arusha
Fauna in Arusha national park includes: black and white colobus monkey, leopard, zebra, giraffe, reedbuck, waterbuck, buffalo, hyena, warthog, baboon, elephant and hippo.
When to visit Mount Meru Game Lodge
This luxury lodge can be visited at any time of year.
Accommodation: Luxury safari lodge
The lodge offers 2 suites and 15 double or twin en-suite hotel bedrooms all demonstrating a design character that are as individualistic as the lodge itself and all with furnished verandahs. Prettily presented, the rooms are ensuite and comfortable. The suites are located in their own private garden and are ideal also for families and small groups. The lodge offers ‘direct to satellite' internet connectivity which is available for use via a computer located in the boutique. Wireless internet connectivity is also available throughout the main building of the lodge, in the gardens and in most guest bedrooms.
Dining and bars at this luxury safari lodge
The Terrace
The Terrace, shaded by enormous old Mango Trees, enjoys magnificent views over mature, carefully tended gardens to the Sanctuary beyond.
The Lounge
The Lounge, with its enormous picture windows and comfortable furniture, provides for complete relaxation in intimate surroundings.
The Bar
The Bar is well stocked with a wide selection of spirits, beers and minerals. These are complemented by a carefully selected collection of fine wines.
Dining Room
The Fine Dining Room provides the perfect setting for a relaxing meal, prepared and served by our attentive yet very discreet staff.
The Gazebo
The Gazebo with its own private Terrace provides the perfect venue for both formal as well as informal events. Perhaps the most popular of these are the sumptuous Traditional English Roast Lunch buffets which are served on Sundays and which are much appreciated by visitors and Arusha residents alike.
The Mount Meru Game Lodge menu will typically include a wide selection of East Africa, Tanzania and traditional safari choices as well as numerous international choices.
Conferences and events at the luxury safari lodge
Mount Meru Game Lodge does not offer specific conference facilities but will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings. A wide range of Tanzania incentives can also be arranged in or around the area.
Weddings and honeymoons at Mount Meru Game Lodge
Mount Meru Game Lodge makes an ideal Tanzania wedding destination.
Child-friendly facilities at Mount Meru Game Lodge
Mount Meru Game Lodge welcomes children and will be pleased to supply additional beds.
What to see and do on your Tanzania luxury lodge safari
The Sanctuary
The main emphasis of the Mount Meru Game Lodge Game Sanctuary is to provide safe haven to African plain game and bird life. These include Eland, Ostriches, Waterbuck, Zebra and of course the enormous variety of birds which come to feed, breed and enjoy the unique freedom offered by our very safe environment. The majority of our animals were once either orphaned or injured and were brought to the Sanctuary for rehabilitation. By choosing to stay with us, you will also be playing a very important role in helping these animals since the activities of the Sanctuary are entirely financed by our guests.
Since 2004, Mount Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary has offered its guests the opportunity to take guided walks in the area immediately surrounding the property. Our guide, who has lived in the Usa River area for the past 38 years, is very knowledgeable where local culture and traditions are concerned. Other walks to be enjoyed include visits to local farms where principally coffee, sugar cane, bananas and maize are grown as well as through a nearby forest where interesting birds (hornbills, marabou stalks, etc.) animals (bushbuck, duiker, etc.) plants (sweet potato, cassava, yam, etc.) and trees can be seen. There is even a nearby natural spring to be visited. These walks are thoroughly enjoyed by all who take them and are offered free of charge to guests of the lodge.
Mount Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary • Tanzania Luxury Safari Lodges & Hotels
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