Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat — Hotel in Kilimanjaro

All I can say is WOW. What an incredible experience is to go to Mkomazi, and let alone stay in Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat under the care of Janush & Savannah and the rest of the staff. My sister, Sabrina, and I wanted a unique experience for Christmas Eve and Christmas as we had just finished climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. The first thing that stood out to me even before the arrival was the excellent care in the communication. The careful planning and suggestions to make our experience one of a kind were incredibly appreciated and made my sister and I even more excited to get to Mkomazi and experience its magic. The moment we arrived you could feel any worldly stresses leaving your mind and body as we were warmly received by the managers of the camp, Janush and Savannah, and 2 delicious welcome juice drink. The location, views, design and tactful detail of the retreat are obvious upon entry, and worth every penny to stay here. You could tell this place is a labor of love and that made our stay all that more meaningful. At sunset, there is an incredible viewpoint from which you can enjoy a snack. We got to see Mt. Kilimanjaro's peak which we had summited 24 hours earlier from there! This made our day. And truly felt otherworldly. Next, the FOOD. Every meal was so good. And they took careful consideration to my sister's and I dietary requirements (I have life threatening allergies) and this was not a problem. For Christmas Eve we experienced the bush lunch, and this was one of my favorite parts. The entire team prepared a beautiful lunch, with details and meals in a spot that could only be described as breathtaking...I am really intentional about the word usage in this review because it deserves every ounce of noteriety and praise. It is very clear the staff is congruent, and everyone attends to your needs constantly checking in to see if you're OK. Our drive and safari guide, Max, is super knowledgeable about the nature and animals of Mkomazi. As a scientist and a soon-to-be veterinarian (my sister), we really enjoyed how detailed he was when explaining the background of each animal, its behaviors and other fun facts we didn't know about and that were unique to Mkomazi and its "special 5." I could keep going on and on about this place but my review likely would be a novel. Stay here if you have the chance. Mkomazi has a uniqueness that you won't find other places. Thank you so much to everyone at Mkomazi for making us feel so incredibly welcomed! Christmas felt more homey even miles away from home thanks to you all.

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We visited Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat as a mini-moon immediately after our wedding in Arusha. Tired and in need of rest and tranquility, the place exceeded our expectations. Perched in a prime viewing point above the only permanent water source in Mkomazi National Park, this is the kind of luxurious camp in which you can take a breadth, slow down and just relax without feeling the need to spend every moment in the jeep!

The rooms are tastefully decorated with gorgeous views looking out onto either the water hole or the plains and small mountain range. They have all the comforts you would expect from a high-end permanent lodge while also being totally secluded. We've not seen such a beautiful view in 3 years living and traveling around Tanzania.

We were treated to effortless service including some beautiful touches, from the delicious hand cooked snacks and plentiful meals to a special private starlit dinner on the viewing deck. We especially enjoyed sitting in the common areas with a coffee while looking at all the birds who make their home in the brush surrounding the lodge.

This is a very wild location, and is deliberately off the beaten track with little to no chance of crowds or other cars. There are lions close by that you can hear at night, but the camp is safe and you're escorted to and from your room by the watchman after dark. It took us little over 30 minutes drive from the gate to the lodge and the roads were all in extremely good condition and easy to navigate.

We spent our mornings sitting on our wood veranda watching the animals come to the water hole, and went exploring out after lunch by car including to the TANAPA Rhino Sanctuary and along a few different driving routes. The animals are slowly building up in numbers as this is a fairly new national park but you're sure to see some interesting species and beautiful birds... We would recommend the good value option to have Janush, the camp manager, escort you on a drive to get the best chances of good sightings.. he has a second sense for lions!

Definitely one to book if you want to escape the crowds and explore a lesser known area of Tanzania with very a different landscape to the northern circuit... All while still enjoying unbeatable views, great food and stylish...

Perched on Dinidira Hill, overlooking the lake and the surrounding Pare Hills and when lucky with a view of Mt Kilimanjaro, this is truly a wonderful place to stay in Mkomazi National Park. |We probably saw it at its most beautiful. The rains having turned the dry grass to green, the view of the landscape from the Lodge was stunning. Because of the rains and the availability of water in the Park, we didn't see that much game. For game watching the best time to go is the dry season. We were told that one day there were over 300 hundred elephants by the lake and lions have also been seen to hunt and make a kill by the lake. No need to go on a game drive, just witness it all from the comfort of your tent balcony or from the viewing point.|The retreat has been designed and decorated with a lot of taste. I would say Simple Luxury describes it well. |Both the main sitting area and the tents are beautiful.|When we were taken to our tent, we were welcomed by a 'white heart' cloud just hovering above!! Waking up in the bush, to the sound of birds was magic. No ugliness around, no buildings, no cement, no people, only nature at her best!|At sunset Moses played the guitar and sang and was even accompanied by an elephant trumpeting by the lake below.|Food was AMAZING!!! My vegetarian dishes were delicious and so well presented.|We went on a game drive which we thoroughly enjoyed. With us was Hilary, a guide and a real bird lover. I was touched by his gentleness and his deep love of nature.|Janush and Savannah own and manage the Retreat, with a very friendly and efficient staff team. |Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat started as a dream in one man's mind, Kim's mind, and together with his wife Simone, their son Janush and his wife Savannah, they turned the dream into a beautiful reality. |We are grateful to them for having created something so special and we thank them for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this unspoiled...