Kili Villa — Hotel in Arusha

I first stayed at Kili Villas for one day between climbing Kilimanjaro and heading to Ngorongoro Crater/Serengeti, it was the perfect distance between both but I wasn’t sure what to expect. Upon my arrival I was greeted by the GM Stephano and the house chef and server Elly and Rebecca in a way that I can only compare to the likes of some of the most luxurious hotels I’ve stayed in (think better than any Rosewood or Ritz). The properties are absolutely stunning in a secluded, gated estate and have everything you need to be beyond comfortable - from high quality linens and toiletries to fine wines and beautiful books and local art throughout the villa. I was in absolute awe, I think I even cried. After my one night stay I booked to stay again upon my return from safari and was even excited to get back to Kili Villas while staying in some beautiful 5* tented camps in the Serengeti. Due to an issue with my return flight shifting I ended up staying at Kili Villas for a week after my safari and I have never been more happy for a flight change. I had the most relaxing time of my life working from here, taking my lunch breaks to learn golf with Juma or riding horses and learning about Maasai culture with Likinyi on the Dolly Estate. The staff became my dear friends, sharing stories and taking me for some local food but still remained very professional. I had a constant stream of delicious food and juice and coffee through my days and the WiFi was good enough for me to use for work so I am still not sure why I left. I will be back time and time again in the future. This place is an absolute gem and oasis: I can’t believe it isn’t fully booked for the next 40 years. Thanks to Stephano, Elly, Rebecca, Juma, Matrona, Chappy, the men who guard the properties and start the nightly campfires and the housekeepers that I never saw but were always around, these beautiful women somehow managed to make my white sneakers white again after Kilimanjaro and get permanent marker out of a silk kimono (HOW?). You are all family.

NB* I travelled to Tanzania during Covid and felt very safe during my entire trip at Kili Villa and all other establishments. If you’ve ever wanted to visit Tanzania, now is an amazing time to do so and a great time to support their...

😊: The architeture and decor of the villa was very nice. It was on theme with Tanzanian culture, featuring beautiful displays of African art, sculpture pieces, and furniture. The outside grounds appeared to be very well kept with beautiful green grass lawn and flowers.. 😢: My friend and I booked a night at Kili Villa for a luxurious end to our 10-day trip in Tanzania. Despite the 5-star reputation, our experience was far from satisfactory, deserving no more than 2 stars. The room was infested with ants, and despite multiple assurances and a change of bedding, the problem persisted. Even the complimentary wine offered had ants crawling in it. Attempts to switch rooms proved futile as the ant issue persisted throughout the property, even in our luggage. Disappointed with the lack of effective solutions, we decided to leave and moved to Gran Melia. The on-site staff, Schola {Sp} and Ellie {sp}, were friendly, but the reservation coordinator, Ivy, fell short in addressing our concerns. Additionally, the remote location of Kili Villa, with poorly lit and difficult-to-access roads, posed further challenges. Notably, there is no AC, only fans, and the property's isolation may be inconvenient for some. In summary, our stay at Kili Villa was marred by an unresolved ant problem and an unhelpful response from the reservation coordinator. The remote location and lack of AC are additional considerations for...

😊: The architeture and decor of the villa was very nice. It was on theme with Tanzanian culture, featuring beautiful displays of African art, sculpture pieces, and furniture. The outside grounds appeared to be very well kept with beautiful green grass lawn and flowers.. 😢: My friend and I booked a night at Kili Villa for a luxurious end to our 10-day trip in Tanzania. Despite the 5-star reputation, our experience was far from satisfactory, deserving no more than 2 stars. The room was infested with ants, and despite multiple assurances and a change of bedding, the problem persisted. Even the complimentary wine offered had ants crawling in it. Attempts to switch rooms proved futile as the ant issue persisted throughout the property, even in our luggage. Disappointed with the lack of effective solutions, we decided to leave and moved to Gran Melia. The on-site staff, Schola {Sp} and Ellie {sp}, were friendly, but the reservation coordinator, Ivy, fell short in addressing our concerns. Additionally, the remote location of Kili Villa, with poorly lit and difficult-to-access roads, posed further challenges. Notably, there is no AC, only fans, and the property's isolation may be inconvenient for some. In summary, our stay at Kili Villa was marred by an unresolved ant problem and an unhelpful response from the reservation coordinator. The remote location and lack of AC are additional considerations for...