Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge Hotel

Meals were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, and the staff were warm and attentive throughout our stay. The infinity pool looks out over the landscape, the grounds are immaculate, and the lodge feels grand while fitting naturally into its surroundings. From the spacious, beautifully decorated rooms, the balconies open onto views of the valley, mountains, and wide open skies. Sunrise and sunset from there felt like a dream. The first thing that struck me at Wellworth Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge was the sweeping view across the Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. As a U.S. travel agent who's stayed at luxury properties around the world, I found this place almost fairytale-like. Kilimamoja Lodge brings together African hospitality and real luxury, with beauty and wonder at every turn. It gave me memories I'll carry for a lifetime, and felt like a storybook setting for exploring Tanzania.

There are a few things to keep in mind. Storms can build around mountain level and sweep across the patio, so once you see one forming, head inside or you'll be driven in anyway. The air-conditioning remote is temperamental, with occasional connection problems. Meals are generally good but repetitive, and dessert tends to have a jelly-like custard texture. There’s a club or social venue down in the village that seems to get going in the morning and again late at night. It isn't very loud, though where your room is could affect your stay. Even with those quirks, this was easily my favorite hotel on our safari circuit. It had everything we needed: outdoor and indoor showers, a deep clawfoot soaking tub, a proper tea station, a lovely patio and a view, plus stellar service. You really can't go wrong.

The road into the property was back-breaking, and while the property itself was okay, the service was abysmal. The electricity failed at 12:30 pm. The manager said it should be fixed within a few hours, but there was still no power at 8 pm, so dinner was served in the dark. The food was bland and tasteless. We went to bed without electricity or Wi-Fi and had no way to charge our phones, then had to get ready in complete darkness. We had an early game drive and asked for a wake-up call because our phones weren't charged. No call came. Luckily we woke on our own before the scheduled 6:30 wake-up, so we know it never came, and we didn't miss the drive. Breakfast before the drive was awful: stale pastries, sour juice, and crepes that were stone cold even though they were made in front of us. Our driver said that management had changed and the property had suffered as a result. We also saw many safari drivers avoid staying there because it was known for poor service. Do not stay at this property.

The service tries too hard and can get annoying. The rooms are beautiful and large, with three showers and a bathtub, but several rooms had problems with hot water. For a hotel at this price, the Wi-Fi was really disappointing. Walking barefoot in the room wasn't pleasant either, with random grains of sand and tiny rocks underfoot.