Arusha Serena Hotel

Lake Duluti fills a forest-ringed crater on the lower slopes of Mount Meru, and Arusha Serena Hotel sits right on its shore. The setting was once a colonial-era coffee farm, and this gracious Arusha hotel still holds onto that 1920s mood.

Stone walls, leaded windows and French doors give the main building its character, with vintage artefacts throughout. A cosy library and lounge invite you to slow down after a long flight, while bougainvillaea spills across the lawns between the cottages.

Mornings can begin with breakfast cooked on the lakeshore. Later, glide across the crater in a canoe with Mount Meru rising above, or follow a guide along the forest trail around the rim, where the birdlife is plentiful. As the light fades, sundowners are served in safari chairs beside a crackling campfire at the water’s edge.

Dinner is served by the fire in the stone-built restaurant, where Tanzanian dishes sit alongside international favourites, much of it sourced from nearby communities. For a first taste of local life before your safari, there are Swahili and cooking lessons, and the lively Tengeru Market is a short walk away.

ACCOMMODATION

Each cottage-style room is designed to feel like a 1920s lakeside retreat, with warm red accents against crisp white finishes, tiled floors and leaded windows. French doors open onto the gardens, with views over Lake Duluti or the lawns. Choose from king, twin or triple rooms, all with a marble bathroom, a work desk and a tea and coffee station. Interconnecting family rooms are available, along with cots and babysitting by prior arrangement. Room service runs around the clock, and Maisha treatments can be enjoyed in the privacy of your room.