andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge — Hotel in Manyara Region

After two long restricted travel years, we finally started a three week safari at andBeyond Lake Manyara Lodge. It was suggested by our andBeyond advisor (who planned our entire incredible journey) as a good starting point for seeing elephants (boy, I’ll say), and we trusted we were in good hands because of the label. It turned out to be magical. As four friends traveling together, we were constantly surprised and delighted by this little “tree house” property, its team, and the dreamlike natural park in which it sits. |When we first touched down at the air strip, our guide Hussein, met us with a smile, drinks and homemade cookies. It set the tone for the next three nights, as the andBeyond team made us feel cosseted and constantly amazed. Every single detail was conjured by May, the manager, and her staff; Isaya and his cocktails “Why Not?”, Chef, who made all our delicious meals to order, to the Maasai warrior who [literally] escorted us to our room each evening sated and content. |Upon learning that our group was interested in Swahili, Salim made us a handwritten glossary each morning. Upon learning that we were interested in birds, Hussein showed us every flying critter in east Africa, and went out of his way to make sure we saw the elusive tree lion. Somehow the original lodge designer/andBeyond figured out how to meld the natural world but make it cushy and comfortable. Details were well thought out and beautiful to behold. It was almost like a film set, but oh so real, when bush babies started calling at night and elephants sometimes wandered within hearing distance. It's also the only lodge in the national park, so before and after certain hours we were literally the only folks on a game drive. Besides the Maasai village, where we were taught the wedding dance, we also visited a local elementary school andBeyond helps fund (well worth the trip). |Top all this with a warm and well trained staff, and you have andBeyond Lake Manyara.|If you are ever lucky enough to go to this part of the world, experience Lake Manyara Tree Lodge; it will always be in...

This lodge is situated at the southern end of the Lake Manyara National Park, which makes for a long and rewarding game drive through the park from the northern Main Gate. The drive largely follows the western shore of the growing lake, and offers chance encounters of all of the big five (although we did not see leaopard), and a very rich avian and reptilian fauna.||The lodge is nestled deep in the dense forest of the lake shore without any barriers to wildlife (hence the requirement for Maasai Warrior escort during the dark hours. It’s main structure is built with a two-story open front facing the fenced in open sky dining area with decor of carved wood canoes.||Service is impeccable and very attentive with a private waiter/host. Abdullah, our server, having worked at the lodge fopr 27 years, was the epitomy of friendly (and funny) personal attention. The food, prepared in an open access kitchen, was delicious and expertly prepared, with access to cocktails (we were always welcomed to dinner with a frozen gin&tonic) and premium wines.||On the evening of our last day, a “Sundowner” drink reception was set up on a grassy shore of Lake Manyara and we enjoyed the sunset together with other quests, serviced by bar and restaurant staff.||Our “villa,” built on stilts so that we were positioned high among the trees, was very comfortable with a wrap-around deck. The ambient temperature made it comfortable to shower outdoor and the lack of solid walls (metal net frames throughout, offered an effective insect barrier).||We can highly recommend this very comfortable, high-end lodge to visitors of Lake Manyara...

From the very moment we arrived, we knew this was going to be an exceptional experience but the staff at the &Beyond Lake Manyara exceeded even our wildest expectations. We were greeted with the entire staff singing us a traditonal welcome and then escorted to our own private tree house where lo and behold hundreds of rose petals had been strewn around a tub filled to overflowing with a sumptuous bubble bath. Thoughtful personal notes welcomed us at every turn and our personal butler took care of our laundry with miraculous efficiency. We were looking forward to supper but had no idea that Mr Joachim had prepared us a private champagne meal poolside. The path to our table was strewn with thousands of rose petals as was the table itself. Thank you so much Grace for cooking us that exceptional meal and even indulging my chili addiction. We love the &Beyond properties not only for their highly personalised approach but their consistently exceptional location (the &Beyond Lake Manyara is the only lodge inside the Lake Manyara Reserve for example) and especially their vision as a hospitatlity group-- they exemplify what it means to be a corporate good player by their commitment to wildlife and nature conservation, their active involvement in local community development and their partnership with the Africa Foundation. Thank you to the entire staff (including our personal Masai guard) for such a...