Africa Safari Lake Natron — Hotel in Arusha

We arrived at the parks gate 2/8/24. We had asked bookings Paradise/ Beach who run Africa SafariLodge Natron for the breakdown in fees. Sadly this part was only partially furnished. So the cost is (as we found out): ☆$29.50 pp conservation fee $ 35.00 per vehicle self drive $10.00 pp council fee $10.00 pp tax for some other council. On arrival at the lodge, having indicated we were a party of 8 x adults and thinking that being booked into the deluxe sharing tents, this would accommodate us.Sadly these should be renamed family tents as one room had double bunks, which could not accommodate an average to tall male, besides being cramped as the space in this Glamtent is lacking. The verandah is nice...which we landedup sleeping on with a mattress. Credit to the manager who would alternative accommodation for two couples in our party. Bookings need to take their mistake on board. The food was basic to ok. No ice for drinks at the bar. The directors need to rectify this. We booked the Lengai climb and hike through the same people, activity dept. No indemnity forms, no safety talk, just a basic instruction with your guide. Thank goodness we asked for two porters for Lengai. This is an extreme climb and should not be taken lightly. The hike in the gorge, if you are OK with heights you follow what is essentially a baboon trail. Views are great. Again. No indemnity or safety talk. Some areas were quite hairy. Location is great. More attention to hot water(we had none) , food and cold chain. Upgrade the pool area. ....simply clean and weed the lawn.

We ask THE PLASTIC BOTTLE waste was horrific from turning off the Ngorongora road to the lodge. Even around the lake we were picking up plastic bottles. If every Safari operator makes an effort to clean the lake/ villages and roadside, the plastic bottle mountains we saw...

My advice : do not book the Glam camping deluxe tents. They are cramped. One bedroom has a double bed. The other room has two double bunks. This is for a family and not for 4 x adults as we had indicated to bookings. The rooms have no where to put luggage. The kitchenette is superferlous.|We landed up sleeping on a mattress on the verandah as the double bunks could not accommodate a tall adult male.|However, we give the manager credit...who gave one couple in our party alternative accommodation and we were eventually accommodated in alternative accommodation. |Food was OK, staff very friendly, but sadly they ran out of ice for drinks without an alternative plan. We advised them to use the big water plastic bottles to make ice with. |For those you wish to climb the volcano, Lengai: there is no indemnity forms only basic instruction by the guide. You have to be fit, stable on your feet and cope with the elevation. This is an extreme climb and an extreme decent. My husband slipped, fell and unbeknown, fractured two ribs with 4 hrs of decent to go. |But the view at the crater is incredible.|The lodge itself has amazing views of Lake...

Great place to stay at Lake Natron but could be improved to be excellent.|The views of the lake and the grounds were all incredible. Lovely natural type pool to cool off as the area is very. Room (stone building) was spacious but simple. The staff were lovely and always happy to help.||Unfortunately our shower literally dribbled out which made showing impossible.|Also the wifi is atrocious and only works in the main area, but even then it hardly works unless you are 1 m from the office. Apparently they just use a staff members phone as a hotspot… we weren’t there to be on our phones but even just to message family would have been nice! |The most questionable point was charging for water with meals. It seems a bit ridiculous to charge for a basic thing like that when you are paying for a room and meals in your fee. This was the only place we stayed in our 3 week trip that charged for plain water…||Finally, for other reviews complaining about bugs… that’s nature, you are literally in the middle of Africa and it’s all part of the experience! The bugs don’t hurt you, just tiny little flies attracted...