Karatu Tented Lodge — Hotel in Arusha

Excellent staff, excellent accommodations, excellent experience.||I wasn't sure what to expect with "tented" accommodations but this place was beautiful and the staff worked hard to make sure it felt both comfortable and luxurious. ||We checked in and they carried our bags to our tent which overlooked the safari. It was a tent but it had plumbing (toilet, shower with hot water, sink) and they set it up to feel like a lodge. I appreciated that they had bottled water for drinking and making coffee/tea and a second bottle for brushing our teeth. ||There is a pool and a bar and a fire area but we did a night safari so we only had time to eat before we left. The food was INCREDIBLE and so fresh. I saw some people had left negative reviews about the food which is so shocking because the food was fresh, incredibly seasoned, and they accommodated for my dietary restrictions (vegetarian no lactose). Miriam helped us and she was wonderful, making sure we had food that met our needs and actively answering any questions we had, including making sure we were comfortable and happy. She made the experience so smooth. ||After we got back from our night safari, got back to the room which they had prepared for night when we were at dinner. The bug nets were closed around the bed, bedside lights were on, and they had put hot water bottles under the blankets so it was nice and warm when we crawled into bed.||The next morning we had a great breakfast and they made us fresh eggs and fruit and a while buffet. If you're looking for a place to stay that is both luxurious and authentic,...

Location is always a matter of destination. So, depending on your aim, Karatu Tented Lodge is perfectly placed, uphill to the great Rift Valey, on your way to Ngorongoro. Sitting at the porch outside your tent, watching the sun rise, you are stuck by the beauty of African nature. So peaceful, so quiet. Yet not quiet, since a multitude of birds greet the new day. I could have been sitting there for hours. And one day I will. However, breakfast is served, and so I rush to the dining hall. A nice cottage of bricks and a wooden roof. Staff waiting to serve you. This luxurious life reminds me of how the white supremacy must have been enchanted by the same easy living some 200 years ago. To me, being waited by black people is always a twofold sword. So nice, so polite, yet I wonder, when will we start serving them? Or even just establish friendships based on equal worth. I recon, your stay at Karatu Tented Lodge will move you in this...

We had a very great time with my family here. The rooms are really spacious, clean and well raised, such that even during the wet season, water can't get in. They hotel staff are really friendly and professional. They all came out to receive us when we arrived and also made our room very well, ensuring we had enough beds for all of us. The food is delicious, fresh, and they make a blend of local and continental cuisine. I'd say it's the best food I have had in Tanzania. The lodge is close to the parks, about 15 mins drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Another great thing about this place is they will serve you with packed lunch so that you can go for your game drives without having to worry about lunch. Also on the checkout day, they'll give you packed lunch. Highly...