Kaliwa Lodge — Hotel in Kilimanjaro

We came here on the first leg of a trip up kilimanjaro. We were greeted late at night after long delays with the airlines and typical KLM luggage issues. The manager (Thomas) was there to greet us personally and reassured us that he was there to help us as much as possible with our stay. His hospitality extended well beyond the normal duties of a lodge manager, as he assisted us personally in attempting to straighten out our luggage issues.

After a long two days of flying we were very exhausted and ready to rest. The luggage issues we faced forced us to stay at this lodge an additional night, which meant an extra day that was not included in our travel package. Being the souls of caution we are, we only pulled out the cash that we were expected to tip our guides and porters for our trek up the mountain, and a small amount of extra cash. The lodge typically only accepts cash and not card, but there was an option to pay with paypal. What genuinely impressed us is that Thomas was more concerned about us than how we would pay, and showed us to our rooms without even having us register or paying. We settled when we left and provided a sizeable tip.

While there, the service was first class. I don't have a single complaint about anyone or anything. From the cook to the groundskeeper, the staff is diligent and friendly. The food was very good and consisted of traditional Tanzanian cuisines using locally grown and produced food. There is an observation platform on the far end of the grounds that provide not only a lovely outdoor social setting, but breath taking views of the forest and of Mount Kilimanjaro itself.

You'll find yourself immersed in an enjoyable atmosphere with other people sharing their own unique traveling experiences and have a wonderful environment, and usually an audience, to share your own experiences, too. We highly recommend this lodge to anyone planning a trip...

Our best decision was to start our safari trip at Kaliwa Lodge near Kilimanjaro instead of driving directly to the bustling town of Arusha. Kaliwa Lodge is set in the rainforest with breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro and is the best place to get acclimated to the time zone and get over jet lag, waking up to the sounds of birds and monkeys and a delicious and hearty breakfast. ||We arrived late in the evening and stayed two nights. On our full day, we decided to do the Machame Walk, organized by the lodge. Our guide was Omega, a young local known to many in the village. He was fantastic, and we learned so much about the Chagga people, their history, daily life, and agriculture (vanilla, coffee). The highlight of our walk included stopping at Uduru primary school, where we had a great time playing and dancing with the children, and a delicious lunch at the home of Joanne, who taught us firsthand how coffee is made. ||The Machame walk starts out slow and easy, but it could be a moderate hike for some, especially going down to the waterfall. The activity lasts about five hours. I would highly recommend this walk ($27 per person). ||Pros: |• Rooms are spacious and comfortable|• The friendliest people work there|• View of Kilimanjaro|• Delicious breakfasts||Cons:|• Inconsistent water temps/flow (our shower was lukewarm and trickled; our friends was super-hot)|• Dinner was $20 per person, which Is a bit pricier than expected, but there is no...

This place is truly magical. It’s reminded me of of the Jurassic parks movies with all the prehistoric landscapes. From the moment you arrive at this modern eco lodge in the tree canopy you find yourself in a world epic views & misty morning clouds.

ROOMS Each room is actually an individual modernist structure that has ample space for two people to stay comfortably with storage space, seating area and a nice sized bathroom with a great hot water shower. They also have natural eco shower gel that had such a beautiful aroma.

COMMON AREAS They have a few area but one stands out the most and that is the deck that’s perched on the side of the property overlooking a beautiful river valley with the famous Kilimanjaro in the background that drafts all other things. Its truly a special place with the sound of the river & birds in the background i spend my morning here it was super serene. A communal room with fire place that also doubles as a restaurant for lunch & dinner. They also have outdoor garden space with sun chairs for al fresco dining.

SERVICES Breakfast, lunch and dinner can all be served here. They can also organise tours to the national parks, meeting the local community & taking nature walks down into the valley as i did.

LOCATION Set just outside of the national park perched onto of a small river valley set in the rainforest is a place of true serenity where you can take in the sights & sounds of the wonderfully...