Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Lying on the gently rolling foothills that cascade down from the ever-present Mount Meru is the bustling and vibrant town of Arusha. It is here on the outskirts of this town, hidden amongst one of Tanzania’s largest coffee plantations, that you will find Arusha Coffee Lodge, a perfect haven for relaxation either before or after any East African safari.
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Nestled among coffee plantations, the Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge garners praise for its exceptional service, with staff often described as going the extra mile, though a few guests have experienced slower service. The lodge's cleanliness and maintenance are highlights, with spacious and elegantly appointed rooms, despite some criticism regarding lighting and the absence of air conditioning.
While the lodge's atmosphere and amenities receive commendations, particularly the unique shopping and dining experiences, the value for money has been questioned, with some guests pointing out overpriced services and instances of overcharging.
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Relaxing
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We stayed at this lodge 9 years ago and had another Plantation Suite. In spacious and very tastefully furnished room with wide four poster bed (very lush mosquito net - perfect) a seating area indoors and on the veranda, a large bathroom with double vanity, shower, bathtub and separate toilet. We were particularly pleased that Denis still works there and exudes such joy for his work. For us overnight stay with breakfast was booked. Lunch - a barbecue was not to our taste as the beef, although still pink, was tough and not edible. Many travelers who did not stay there were there partly in large groups eating. We had the impression that it was not so much about quality, but about quantity. Dinner was much better. That was a nice start to our trip.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Arusha Coffee Lodge turned out to be a nice hotel. There was a bedroom with a comfortable bed, a bathroom with double sinks, a sitting area, a fireplace and a private deck. We had two dinners and two breakfasts there and all were good. The only problem we had was the one time we went to the bar to kill some time and they charged us for double drinks without offering them to us; we had no idea they were doubles, if they were. Oh well, chalk it up. The location of the Coffee Lodge was close to the African Cultural Center ( a must see in Arusha) and reasonably close to the main part of town (not walking distance). I would recommend the hotel to anyone staying in Arusha.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Responded Aug 14, 2023
Dear nermalcat, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Arusha Coffee Lodge on TripAdvisor. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay and found our hotel to be a comfortable and pleasant choice during your time in Arusha. It's wonderful to know that you appreciated the well-appointed bedroom, the convenience of double sinks in the bathroom, the cozy sitting area, the fireplace, and the private deck. We're glad these features added to the overall comfort and enjoyment of your stay. We're delighted that you enjoyed the dining experience at our lodge. It's great to hear that you had positive experiences with both breakfast and dinner offerings. We apologise for any confusion regarding the bar charges and the incident with the double drinks. Our team is dedicated to ensuring every guest has a smooth and enjoyable experience, and we're sorry for any oversight in this instance. Your feedback helps us improve, and we appreciate your understanding. We're glad to hear that our location near the African Cultural Centre was convenient for your visit. The centre is indeed a captivating attraction, and we're pleased that our lodge's proximity added value to your stay. Thank you for recommending Arusha Coffee Lodge to fellow travellers staying in Arusha. We're honoured by your kind words and endorsement. Should your travels bring you back to the area, we would be delighted to welcome you once again for another memorable stay. Warm regards, Ms Hazel General Manager
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The drive to Arusha Coffee Lodge was approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from JRO. We upgraded to the VIP option at the airport, which was nice as we were immediately greeted off the plane and taken to a special area with drinks and snacks while the airport staff cleared our passports and gathered our bags. I loved experiencing this service, but for our next trip I do not think I will add this again as the lines seemed very reasonable and easy to navigate. The drive in was dark as our flight arrived around 8pm, but it was still really fun to see the people out and about in areas we passed in Arusha. Upon arrival at the lodge I was very pleased. The staff was incredible greeting us with fresh scented cloths, drinks and offering us dinner or snack options to be sure we had absolutely anything we needed. The check in process was extremely smooth, and 3 staff carried our bags to our beautiful private room and explained everything to us. We were very pleased with the room and had plenty of space for my husband and I as well as our 7 and 9 year old children. Basecamp Tanzania arranged our safari and Christian with Basecamp was our guide for the day to show us Arusha and Arusha National Park. Basecamp and Christian were wonderful to work with and I highly recommend! We really enjoyed the drive through Arusha and learning more about it en route to Arusha National Park. The drive through the park was great and we were able to see many animals. We did a walking tour accompanied by 2 of the rangers and seeing the Giraffes right up close, so many other animal spottings, a beauty I waterfall and gorgeous scenery. We arrived back at the lodge around 5pm and enjoyed drinks by the beautiful and very relaxing bar area before dinner. Dinner was excellent! The second day we had an earlier flight to Serengeti so left for Arusha airport after a delicious breakfast. The airport was extremely close to the lodge. (Approx 10 minutes). I would highly suggest the lodge and will absolutely stay again on our next safari. Thank you to all of the staff for making the start of our safari so great!!
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip 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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Responded Jun 24, 2024
Dear feliciapav, Thank you so much for your glowing review of Arusha Coffee Lodge! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with us. Your detailed description of the warm welcome, smooth check-in, and the attentive service provided by our staff truly captures the essence of what we strive to offer every guest. We are delighted that you and your family found the plantation rooms spacious and comfortable, and that our team made you feel at home from the moment you arrived. We are glad you had a relaxing and enjoyable time at our bar area and that you found our dining options to your satisfaction. We aim to provide a seamless and delightful experience for our guests, and it’s rewarding to know that you appreciated the convenience of our location, especially for your early flight to the Serengeti. Your kind words and high recommendation mean the world to us. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back to Arusha Coffee Lodge on your next safari adventure. Warm regards, Ms Hazel Grumpo General Manager
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The only good thing I can say about this operation is the outstanding service we received from a few staff members. It was as if they were trying to compensate for their indifferent colleagues and/or the mediocrity of the place. Other than these few islands of exceptional service in a sea of indifference (at best), I have no idea why this faux colonial operation/tourist trap gets high ratings.
The hotel reception I have received was the most shocking in decades for a property marketing itself as premium. It was treated like a nuisance/disruptor of sleep. The lunch buffet was far below acceptable and that's being very, very generous. We have had much, much better food in the middle of the bush in 4 different lodges where serving good food is a massive challenge and I could only bow to the operators & chefs.
The property borders a busy road and there is no noise barrier. We were assigned what was supposed to be a suite next to that road and when I inquired about other rooms, I was told that the property was full. I inquired again and was ready to call the local agent for a transfer to another property. The person with us probably sensed what was about to happen an another room a bit away from the road was miraculously available and shown to us. Still noisier than should be allowed but not worth the hassle of a transfer given a very early checkout for the airport. I will still tell our agent to never again inflict this pain on other people.
For me it's one of the (not so few) cases where I am simply puzzled by how forgiving reviewers seem to be in the face of glaring deficiencies. We have stayed in some very beautiful park settings in bigger cities in East Africa and they unmask this one for what it is: a minimal investment to extract maximum money tourist trap. There is no love nor pride on display anywhere. and where you experience great service, it seems entirely based on personal initiative and not on training/corporate culture. You have been cautioned to do your homework.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:If you still want to stay here, then get a room far away from the road.
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 Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Responded Oct 27, 2024
Dear SwissFarmBoy, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. I sincerely apologize that your stay fell far below your expectations and the standards we strive to uphold at Arusha Coffee Lodge. We value every guest’s experience, and it is disappointing to learn that we did not deliver on the level of service and quality we are known for. Additionally, I am sorry to hear that the noise and the lunch buffet detracted from your stay. This feedback will be shared with the team to address these concerns and to ensure improvements are made moving forward. I’m glad to know that some of our staff members were able to provide exceptional service, and I assure you that we will work on improving consistency in service across the property. We are committed to enhancing training and ensuring all staff reflect the high standards that our guests expect. Your comments regarding the location, noise, and overall experience are extremely valuable to us, and we will take them seriously in our ongoing efforts to improve the property and guest experience. Once again, I apologize for the shortcomings you encountered and hope that we can one day welcome you back to demonstrate the improvements we are committed to making. Warm regards, Ms. Hazel General Manager
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I would easily accept the rather poor standard for a lodge located in a national park, but not for accommodation in a city with half a million inhabitants. The reception was minimalistic, the facilities and possible activities were rattled off as if they had been memorized the day before. The complex itself is beautiful with lots of greenery, but the bungalows are old and really gloomy. There is hardly any protection from mosquitoes, one window frame had a hole and the mosquito net had at least five larger holes. The towels in the bathroom were really scratchy and there was no decent light either. Water is not provided in bottles but in thermos flasks, which do not exactly give a hygienic impression. The breakfast is rather meager. At dinner they initially did not want to let us into the restaurant because we did not want to eat a set menu but rather a la carte, but then they let us in because hardly any other guests came (we did not want to eat outside in poor lighting because we like to see what is on our plates). Check-out was already at 10 a.m. and we were not given any answer to our question about late check-out. I would have liked to give it one ball. However, I added a second ball because of the charming hotel chauffeur Johannes, who was very friendly, accompanied us on a shopping trip and advised us where to find things. This accommodation may just about suffice as a stopover before a safari, but I still cannot recommend it.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I loved my stay! I was so impressed with the hospitality of the staff, the incredible service, the unbelievable bungalows, and the amazing food! I couldn't believe the bungalows, they were absolutely beautiful, very spacious, and everything was well taken care of. The coffee tour was well worth it and a great experience, even as a non-coffee drinker. The staff immediately fixed the outlets in my room when they weren't working and brought mineral water whenever asked. It was a great experience.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Responded Dec 27, 2023
Dear Getaway63312881104, Thank you for choosing Arusha Coffee Lodge and for sharing your wonderful experience with us. We are delighted to read your glowing review and learn that you loved your stay. Our team is thrilled to know that you were impressed with our hospitality, service, bungalows, and food. It's fantastic that you enjoyed the coffee tour, even as a non-coffee drinker, and that our team promptly addressed any concerns you had during your stay. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another delightful experience. Warm regards, Ms. Hazel General Manager
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This was our first lodge on our 9 day adventure. We were originally booked for one night, but our travel agent recommended we book the evening before as well so when we got to the lodge (early in the morning) we could use the amenities immediately. This was a great idea! After a 29 hour journey it was nice to check in immediately, take a shower and a quick nap. The room was incredible! It gave me vintage safari vibes and I loved it! The staff was incredible and provided exceptional service! The food was delicious and the staff even surprised my husband and I with an anniversary cake and a beautiful song the morning of our departure. Make sure you check out the small shops on property. I wish we could have stayed longer! A few notes: The room provided shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, shower caps, cotton balls and fresh glass bottled water. A blow dryer was also provided. We stayed in July and it was a little chilly at night and in the mornings and also very damp. I would highly recommend a fleece or light down jacket.
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Date of stay: July 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 Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Responded Jul 26, 2023
Dear Eileen, Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback about your stay at our lodge on TripAdvisor! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time during your 9-day adventure with us. We're delighted to know that booking the evening before your arrival was a great idea and allowed you to fully enjoy our amenities after your long 29-hour journey. We understand the importance of a smooth and comfortable check-in experience, especially after such a tiring trip. It warms our hearts to hear that you loved the vintage safari vibes of your room. We strive to create a unique and memorable atmosphere, and it's fantastic to know that we succeeded in doing so for you. Our staff takes great pride in delivering exceptional service, and we're thrilled that their efforts made your stay even more special. We are also happy that you enjoyed the delicious food we offer, and we're honoured to have been part of your anniversary celebration. Surprising you with an anniversary cake and a beautiful song was our pleasure! Once again, thank you for your kind words and recommendation. We wish you all the best, and we hope to welcome you back for a longer stay in the future. The small shops on our property will be eagerly waiting for your exploration! Warmest regards, Ms. Hazel General Manager
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This was a wonderful start to an amazing Safari experience. The rooms are well appointed in a coffee plantation providing much needed relaxation after a long flight. The Shanga experience was a highlight of our stay. We found the alcohol prices to be overpriced for the brands that were available. Food was amazing.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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 Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Responded May 20, 2024
Dear daR4568KN, Thank you for choosing to share your safari experience with us and for taking the time to leave your feedback. We're thrilled to hear that your stay with us was a wonderful start to your adventure. It's fantastic to know that you found our rooms well-appointed, providing the relaxation you needed after your journey. We're delighted that you enjoyed the Shanga experience; it's indeed one of the highlights of staying with us. Your feedback regarding alcohol prices is duly noted, and we appreciate your honesty. We continuously review our offerings to ensure they meet the expectations of our valued guests. We're glad you enjoyed the amazing food during your stay. Our culinary team works hard to deliver memorable dining experiences, and it's wonderful to hear that they succeeded in delighting your taste buds. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable safari experience in the future. Best regards, Ms Hazel General Manager
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The lodge is located by jeep 10 minutes drive at Arusha Airport (not: Kilimanjaro International !), which is why we chose these as the starting point for the flight safari. The historic lodge is located in a very large beautiful garden with coffee plants. Very large, cozy rooms, with open fireplace, nice separated bathroom. Breakfast as a buffet was extensive, with very tasty and high quality food, freshly squeezed juices, excellent salmon, fruit, great cereals, coffee was mega. The price of the lodge is in the higher range.
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Date of stay: October 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.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The staff were very welcoming and took our bags to the room. The room was very spacious. The bedroom was large with a net around the bed for protection against any bugs . There was also a lounge area with a coffee table tea and wonderful coffee making facilities. The bathroom was also large with a full sized bathtub and large shower. The bench contained two Basins and mirrors. Plenty of very thick bath towels and hand towels. Lotions and hair shampoo also supplied The restaurant served a reasonably good food variety and all of the staff were very friendly
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip 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.
Response from Alina Haq, Owner at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
Responded Jan 12, 2023
Dear Evelynne, Thank you for taking the time to share your delightful experience at Arusha Coffee Lodge. We are thrilled to hear that you found our accommodation to be of a generous size and the bed to be clean and comfortable. Our team takes great pride in providing personalised services with attention to detail. We are delighted to hear that our efforts were not unnoticed. We are also glad to hear that you enjoyed our guest amenities, coffee, and tea-making facilities. The large bathroom with a full-sized bathtub and shower is indeed therapeutic after enduring hours of travel. Wow, you did indeed put a smile on our chefs' and waiters' faces. They were pleased to hear that you enjoyed their food and services. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the near future. Happy new year from the team at Arusha Coffee Lodge Kind Regards, Ms. Hazel General Manager
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Hello. Yes there is a little boutique, a cafe and a shop with little necessities. If we don't stock what you need someone can always run you down to the local supermarket which is very close by and has a great range of items.
We arranged at check in. We were told that the cost was US$1 per person. Don’t believe that. It cost US$30 per person. The tour was interesting and informative, but pricey. It’s your call if you are happy with that cost. We were ok with it, but winged to management as we had been misinformed.
There are more places to choose from in the Arusha area.
PRICE RANGE
$342 - $686 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
arusha coffee hotel arusha
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Arusha Coffee Lodge
LOCATION
TanzaniaArusha RegionArusha
NUMBER OF ROOMS
30
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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