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Since 2006, "Onsea House" has been a synonym for charming comfort in a picturesque setting, which is unique in Arusha. With more personal approach than in a hotel and more privacy than a lodge resort, we aim to be your preferred luxury Bed & Breakfast. Just next doors and yet almost worlds apart, "Machweo" offers larger and more luxurious rooms in a tranquil Boutique Hotel environment, while maintaining the same personal approach. Machweo is a refuge for those who enjoy the finer things in life since 2011. Besides the daily pursuit for culinary excellence for our resident guests, we have been catering for all types of events over the years. With "Axel Janssens Signature Catering" we bring since 2016 our experience, services and a unique blend of African and European cuisine to your place of venue or even to the most remote locations for a truly special event.
I had a wonderful stay at the Onsea House while recently visiting Arusha and the surrounding areas. The property is set on a hill overlooking the green valley of Arusha and Mount Meru. It’s set back off of the busy road so you really feel nestled into the natural environment, away from all of the buzzing horns and city life. I loved waking up to the birds singing and stepping out of my room and into such a lush natural environment. My house (#7) was very quiet, I never heard the neighbors next door and I slept better than I have in a long time!
The staff were extremely accommodating and very responsive via email even before I arrived. In person, they couldn’t be warmer and sweeter. I enjoyed the many chats that I had with them. While everyone was incredibly friendly, they were also very efficient and on top of everything. Even when there was a misunderstanding on my end regarding the bill, they treated me with kindness and grace- a true reflection of the character and values of the Tanzanian people.
I could write an entire review dedicated to just the food, which was superb. What I will say is that I appreciated that they went out of their way to provide food to guests that had allergies or intolerances. They made a special rosemary cassava flour bread for me since I don’t eat wheat- and I’m still dreaming about it.
Just a heads up to future travelers: if you need to rely on a strong internet connection while here, I would suggest getting an international or local SIM card while you’re there so you can use the hotspot. The internet at the hotel is a little slow and spotty.
Looking forward to my return at Onsea House when I'm back in town!
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:if you need to rely on a strong internet connection while here, I would suggest getting an...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dirk Janssens, Owner at Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
Responded Mar 18, 2023
Dear nutellala, Many thanks for your glowing review and appreciation of the quiet room, lush environment, accommodating and responsive staff, nice food taking into account allergies and intolerances,... The issues with the slow internet has been addressed with our supplier. We look forward to welcoming you back when you are next time in Arusha!
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We stayed at Onsea House for one night at the start of our safari for our honeymoon. We really enjoyed our stay. The staff were very helpful and attentive. They also kindly gave us some celebratory champagne for our honeymoon and decorated our dinner table with rose petals. We thought the food for dinner was delicious and also enjoyed the breakfast too. The hotel is set in a beautiful location with a great view of Meru. We found it to be very quiet. The room was comfortable though there were some issues with the electricity which for a period of an hour or so did keep cutting out. However this isn’t unexpected given the location. We would definitely recommend Onsea House.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dirk Janssens, Owner at Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
Responded Aug 14, 2023
Congrats once again with your wedding and thanks for choosing Onsea House & Machweo Retreat for your first night of your honeymoon! Many thanks for your recommendation. Hope you enjoyed also the rest of your honeymoon and wishing you a happy life together!
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A warm welcome in a magical setting, in the heart of green hills with a view of Mount Meru. We spent a night in a house a little below the Onsea house, furnished with great charm, very far from the impersonal hotels. The kindness of the team, the quality of the service and the gourmet dinner, as well as the philosophy and commitment of the owner of the place will leave us with very fond memories.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here after a week of safari trips. It felt like a wonderful oasis, being surrounded by a beautiful garden in a very tastefully decorated house. Onsea is the original place, extend via a walkway to the newer Machweo part (where you also find the fine-dining restaurant). We stayed in Machweo House and were treated amazingly well. The room has a patio to enjoy the garden and the pool, the bathroom was huge with a big bathtub, and the bed was very comfortable. We chose the place because of its great restaurant, and we were not disappointed! Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed 2 nights at Onsea House to explore Arusha and surroundings before going on a 5-day safari. Onsea House is an up-scale accommodation. Room are very spacious with beautiful views, very peaceful amid a wonderful garden, about 10kms out of town. A taxi ride into Arusha is 35 usd both ways. Rooms are quite expensive at usd 300+ a night. At least you expect then decent wifi, and the opposite was true: every 5' you had to reconnect and do a login with password, the worst ever. Dinner was offered, at a stunning rate of usd 60pp. And altough the food was decent, it was nothing spectacular to justify this price. We were told the restaurant was once run by a Belgian chef, but nowadays we only could see local staff who probably still copy what was once explained to them. Breakfast buffet was OK.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dirk Janssens, Owner at Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
Responded Mar 8, 2023
Dear reviewer, We regret that your stay was not up to expectations although service and sleep quality were all fine? You did not indicate any negative comment during your stay or at your check-out which we also very much regret as otherwise, we could have rectified the situation immediately. We would like to respond and correct several elements you have stated in your review: 1. We are located on the eastern edge of Arusha town. The center starts less than 5 km from our front door so certainly not 10 km. 2. For a taxi ride to/from Arusha we charge 20 USD only. A return transfer INCL 30 minutes waiting time costs 35 USD incl. VAT. You write 35 USD "both ways" which can be wrongly interpreted and gives no idea of the included waiting time. Our transfer prices are low in cost compared to other hotels in Arusha. 3. You write that rooms are very expensive at +300 USD per night. I would like to point out that there is a discount for stays from 2 nights and other luxury lodges in Arusha are much more expensive. 4. As you can also read on TripAdvisor, all of Arusha is currently plagued with power cuts. We have back-up facilities for this with 2 generators and inverter (something that certainly not every lodge has) so you will not notice much of this. These power cuts cause sometimes unstable internet reception. We work with the most reliable Internet Service Provider in Arusha. We immediately checked the internet after your review and the situation with our Wi-Fi is back to normal. We could have done this immediately if you would have told us during your stay. 5. For dinner, you mention 60 USD. The price for the full dinner incl. appetizers, soup, choice between 2 starters, choice between 2 main dishes, dessert, coffee or tea amounts to 55 USD. For guests who find this menu is too much, we have a lighter version at USD 45 for a 3 course menu with coffee. A wine pairing costs USD 15 incl. mineral water during the entire meal and should work lower in cost than ordering a bottle. Both the price of the meals and the wine pairing are usually not considered extremely expensive at all. 6. Our lodge and restaurant are led and continue to be led by Axel Janssens (as director and executive chef). Not only have we been appreciated for years as one of the best places to eat in Tanzania, but we are also a renowned training center for young chefs. Axel was absent when you were there. Usually the sous chef and kitchen team do their best to give everyone a nice evening. Your terms mentioned are really inappropriate! Apart from the incorrect and misleading information in your review, we find it strange that the few comments and the 4 on 5 ratings of Service and Sleep Quality lead to this poor final score. I can re-assure that we have taken measures not to have this happen again as we strive for 100% client satisfaction.
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Marilyn and I were guest at Machweo both before starting out and after our safari in Tanzania. Machweo is like an oasis, a calm, most charming, peaceful place tucked in a hillside away from the hustle and bushel of Arusha. Easily accessible to both Kilimanjaro and Arusha airports. There was a choice of local activities to fill ones day or simply enjoy the tranquility of ones surroundings. The staff were impeccable, an appeared genuinely happy to attend to ones needs. There was a blend of varied sounds from the surrounding area that lent to a unique experience. And each sunset was a gift to behold. Alex Janssens, the co-owner and chef shared time with us and spoke of the retreats history and the outreach to the community. The food was exceptional as was the setting. Thank you all for this splendid time spent at Machweo.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at Onsea for accommodation and their food. Service is impeccable, views are impossible to beat (the sunsets are to die for - enjoy them with a cold beer by the pool or the outdoor lounge). Little known fact: many of the staff here are former street kids that are trained through a special college and given opportunity at Onsea - the staff are so lovely, so amazing, they make this whole experience all the much better. Do yourself a favour and come stay here, or simply come grab a cocktail around sunset. Other perk: the birds around here are amazing, diverse and so beautiful. Worth noting: this place is slightly out of town, which makes its charm in a way. If you can grab a hold of Axel the owner, ask him about his private cooking for lavish safari tours ;) THANK YOU ONSEA AND AXEL
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Date of stay: October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dirk Janssens, Owner at Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
Responded Dec 15, 2021
Many thanks SimonAmary from Canada for your wonderfull review and appreciation. Thanks for highlighting also some of the little know facts about Onsea House & Machweo Retreat.
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My wife and I stayed here for 3 days after our trip to the Serengeti. Onsea House is an upmarket boutique hotel, with a unique approach to serving guests embodied by the owner, Axel Janssens. In his early life, Axel was trained as a chef in some of the best places in Bruges and Gent - this says it all. Many guests have commented on the outstanding food, but it is the overall attention which makes him and his place special. The rooms have a personal touch, and any request for help will be dealt with in a "can do" attitude. We were a little unhappy about the noise pollution from a nearby mosque, and were transferred to a room with double glazing facing the opposite side of the mosque where we slept perfectly well.. Two recommendations: Get to know the surroundings of the place, we recommend a walk to the Moivaro plantation lodge (about 2.5km), back with a moto-taxi. Second, do not leave without taking a look at Axel's incredible book about Tansania.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Ask for room with double glazing!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from OnseaHouse, General Manager at Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
Responded Jan 17, 2020
Dear 252ernstf, Many thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put guest experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. You may be pleased to note that plans are underway to install double glazed windows (and sound absorbing curtains) in all our rooms. So thanks for your kind words and we look forward to welcoming you again.
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This bed and breakfast was recommended by our travel agent. I then researched the retreat and read alot of positive reviews and thought it would be a good place to finish up our trip to Africa. The grounds were beautiful, but our four night stay was very disappointing. After the first night they did clean our room and leave fresh towels and collect the trash. After that we never had any kind of room service. The trash was overflowing, we had to ask for towels several times. Our tv did not work, we were told it was the signal, but the tv would not even turn on. Finally did get it to work, but with only a few channels, not what their information said was available. We tried to order off of their menu, but they mostly didn't have the items on their menu, or their drinks. Just very disappointing. Not sure I would have stayed here if I had known all this in advance.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dirk Janssens, Owner at Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
Responded Jul 7, 2022
Many thanks for your feedback and the appreciation of the very nice gardens. We regret that your four night stay in June 2022 was all together disappointing and wish we would have been informed earlier. After 2 years almost without guests, it has been challenging to get things back to normal but with pleasure I can confirm that all the necessary improvements, also in our procedures, have been implemented to avoid the issues you were confronted with: - Although the newly renovated Machweo room are cleaned every day and also turn-down service is done every day, from now more care will be taken, not only by clearly placing fresh towels every day but also by re-assuring every time all bins are emptied; - All 9 Machweo rooms have Multichoice DSTV service. The signal will be checked before check-in and the DSTV channel menu in the room folder has been updated and now correctly mentions the 43 available channels; - Due to the low occupation during the past 2 years, we have been operating with limited stocks. The Machweo fine dining restaurant has re-opened since the end of June 2022 and both the Brasserie menu as drinks list are now back fully available. - We regret that your feeling was not revealed during the check-out procedure. Thanks once again for your stay with us and helpful feedback which has all been addressed to guarantee future guests again a perfect stay, which is what we are known for.
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We spent the first week of our three-week safari adventure at Onsea House. We had a beautiful view of Arusha and Mt. Meru from our bedroom patio. We felt very pampered with the exceptionally friendly service we received from all the staff. and the delicious entrees we were served at every meal. This was a wonderful place to begin our safari as we were able to visit the Cultural Museum, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Arusha NP. which are all within reasonable driving distance. We had a couple of days of simply relaxing and enjoyed some spa time. The massage was wonderful, but the spa area is a bit sparse, and soothing music would be nice addition. The 7 for 4 nights was an excellent deal, which included full board. We even got to meet Chef Axel and enjoyed a nice chat with him one evening. This was also a great way to ease into the local culture and learn a few words of Swahili from the lovely young people who work at Onsea House.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:It is cool in the mornings and evenings so bring a jacket and long pants.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dirk Janssens, Owner at Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
Responded Oct 9, 2022
Many thanks for your lovely review, highlighting the possibility to staying 7 nights with us in Arusha while taking advantage of our exceptional offer and to ease into the local culture with several daytrips before leaving on a mulitple day safari. We hope to welcoming many more lovely American guests like you, who we can help to realize the ultimate dream safari in Tanzania!
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Dear Annette,
Sincere apologies for the incredible late response. For some reason this message was not forwarded to our email and still pending. We do have limited space left on October 19 and happy to advise you now also a last minute rate applicable 1 month before arrival :-) Please do get in touch with our reception desk.
Hi Vicky/Kasha from the UK,
Many thanks for your request.
As our reception desk would be able to advise you 7/7, you would be able to leave a small suitcase behind whilst on safari when you would stay again with us after your safari. The team would return your suitcase from the Luggage room upon your return.
We look forward to your stay with us.
Best wishes.
Hi,
We have a mobile Phone available at the recepton desks of all the properties we operate. Clients can use these mobile phones to make local and international Phone calls in privacy and will be charged a minimal cost.
We have 1 mobile airconditioning unit available which we can use for guest rooms in Onsea House or Machweo. So far guests have rarely used it as the temperature is throughout the year quite moderate at an altitude of around 1450 meter / 4750 feet.
There are more places to choose from in the Arusha area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
onsea house country inn & guest cottage hotel arusha, onsea house country inn and guest cottage, country inn arusha, arusha country inn
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Onsea House & Machweo Retreat
LOCATION
TanzaniaArusha RegionArusha
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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