Neema Crafts — Hotel in Iringa Region

I intended to spend a weekend in the Neema-Crafts guesthouse to have some time of rest and reading and listening to God's (YHVH's) word and was first in good expectation, but it turned out to be a bad experience. Although I know and appreciate that it's a workplace for disabled people which is worth to have support, now I would not recommend this guesthouse to my friends. It's very loud during night time from a bar / disco nearby, not only at weekends also during nights; the beat from the drums keeps you awake, and about 3 - 4 o' clock, when its over, you hear all sorts of other disturbing noises: the gate when it opens, the loud talking guests returning, the barking of many dogs, in the early morning the stuff working outside, the doors of big tourist/safari cars...|When I arrived they had first to fix a broken lamp on the wall; - why was it not possible to do this before? It took 20 minutes and then the floor got dirty.|The most disgusting thing I ever experienced in a hotel/ guesthouse was, that after a shower, which took endless time, because the cold-warm water mixing didn't work, I took the bath towel and then realised, it had a bad smell and wasn't clean, I got a dirty one... |And I looked around: the bed linnen had a yellow colour (not anymore white) and the material on each edge was broken; they were this big and heavy blankets which you can find in Tansanian households, - that's o.k., but not for the use in a hotel, where the possibility is not ensured to keep them clean after each guest. The mosquito net also was on several areas destroyed and seemed also dirty. In the bathroom was a black mould on the upper wall. It seemed for me, that there is nobody responsible for looking after the rooms to renovate to have a nice and clean surrounding in the guest-rooms and probably also nobody is looking after the staff to make sure that everything is o.k. with the rooms. |The last thing I would like to mention, is the small breakfast which was served (included into the price); for each "extra" food you have to pay. |So in summary it was very poorly what I experienced during my stay in the Neema-Crafts guesthouse.|I hesitated first to write this comment, but then decided to write some informations, in the hope, that the management or other responsible people will read it and do an effort to change things...

This is one of my favorite places in Tanzania. It's just a great experience all around, and lacks many of the drawbacks of other Tanzanian places.

For one, this place is run by disabled people and they're all so kind! They are always helpful in the restaurant and they remember you.

Speaking of the restaurant, the food is phenomenal! I had their burger, sambusas, a smoothie, and their great breakfast (included with a room). The food is unbelievably fresh, like fresher than most anything I've had in the US. The bun on the burger tasted like it just came out of the oven. The cinnamon bun the next day was also warm and fresh from the oven. Traveling around Tanzania further, I often looked back and wished I could find another place with such good and fresh food.

The hotel rooms are basic, but clean and everything works. We didn't have any problems, hot water worked well and they even had a little flat screen TV.

They only downside was that the whole building acted as a wind tunnel all night which was VERY loud at times. However I've since learned that if that's your only problem in a Tanzanian hotel, you're doing great!

There was also their famous craft store downstairs with many nice things and they even offer free tours of the area where they make it. It was awesome to see how they employ disabled people and give them work in an area where work in general is...

First of all my verbal booking on the phone did not go through and haven't been respected when I arrived. For the expensive price, the place is not worth it is popular for western tourists so I guess price doe snot matter. I was given a turned towel. They should not do that. They should know which towels are good and not. I had to move around every next day from room to room. Staff is snobbish and friendly and initial look on their face is where is this guy from? Very difficult to convince and talk through. If I had taken bit relaxed way, I would be on the street the day I arrived. Coz they are interested on helping even though they screwed with my reservation. The breakfast is pathetic is small. The fruit portions is literally few pieces of small fruits. It is provided in the cafe with the same name but need to show a voucher form the reception. Clearly the same breakfast ordered from the menu by paying that price is decent in portion but same breakfast included in room is very small in portion. Of course they want to make money on the breakfasts. Good luck to them! Wifi will very patchy and in the single room which is way far from the reception, it does not work. Coz the price of single room is less so they don't care to provide wifi...