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.
Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
5.0
#1 of 19 lodges in Moshi
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.9
Value
4.8
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.
Hotel, conference center, restaurant and bar at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Just 25 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport. All proceeds from the hotel go to fund the adjacent Stella Maris Primary School for orphaned or at-risk children of Mailisita village.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Stella Maris Lodge is lauded by guests for delivering exceptional value, with its pocket-friendly rates, comfortable rooms, and delectable cuisine standing out. The lodge's commitment to cleanliness and warm service frequently garners compliments, creating a welcoming atmosphere that many appreciate.
Although the rooms are noted to be somewhat basic and occasionally dark, the inclusion of amenities like air conditioning is well-received. While some travelers mention the Wi-Fi limitations and the need to schedule hot water use, the overall experience is enhanced by the lodge's attentive staff and the incorporation of local art and charitable initiatives.
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Affordable
Cleanliness
Clean
Service
Warm
Amenities
Satisfactory
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveler reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Talk about hospitality - every staff member is very pleasant and genuine, always willing to help and go the extra mile. The rooms are clean and hot water is available. The dining area and lounges are superb and the food is exceptional. I trust my stomach and traveling with that kitchen! Food is reasonably priced and they have a good selection of local beer and wines. They will make strong coffee if you ask and always aim to please! It was such an incredibly pleasant and safe start to a long trip and I felt genuinely welcomed to my first time to Tanzania. The staff provided recommendations and safety tips as well offered rides into town if needed.
The location is quiet and peaceful with a lot of local birds and hikers/travelers often stay, so there is always someone to talk to. They lodge has a school and church on premises and you can hear the children during the day sing which is so beautiful and peaceful. Rooms and top floor have stellar view of Kilimanjaro!
These are good people. I highly recommend staying with them and having a great cultural experience.
Respects Covid-safety - masks inside and clean! Accepts cash and credit. Wifi is available but not very reliable, but that is common around the country.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:covid safe, extremely friendly, good and safe food, clean, peaceful and quiet
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 property has great rooms and great food but what makes it completely outstanding is the staff. They were family and friends at the conclusion of our trip despite us only staying 2 nights. Each and every staff member went out of her/his way to assist and spoil us. Don't even think about touching your bags! We had great laundry service even when our travelers arrived in the evening. Food was great. Rooms have hand and bath towels, no washcloths, warm water but low pressure. Beds were comfortable and rooms had AC.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2021
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Great view of Mt Kilimanjaro
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.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveler reviews.
We stayed in two different rooms at Stella Maris before and after our Kilimanjaro trek with G Adventures. Our second room was a King room and more spacious and nicer than our first (which had a double and a twin) but both were nice rooms and bathrooms. Pros: Incredibly friendly and helpful staff, on-site restaurant with delicious food, they make it easy to arrange transfers and tours to town or the airport or really anywhere you need to go, nice outdoor space to relax in, views of Kilimanjaro (when/if the clouds clear!), and knowing that your money is benefiting the children at the Stella Maris school is wonderful too. Cons: Limited hot water! Because we had climbed Kili this was a big bummer, since my fiance had to take a half cold shower when we came down. You share a water heater with another room for most rooms, so just be wary of taking longer showers. They do also price beer and water pretty high, so for the convenience just know you are paying a lot. Besides that, a great place to stay and the staff make the 5 stars!
Read more
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.
This is not a luxurious hotel, but what it offers is the friendliest and most attentive staff and a really worthy cause since this lodge pays for the teachers and food for a school of underprivileged children in Mailisita Village (you can ask to visit it and see the wonderful work they do) So this is a non for profit hotel, and most guests are either about to head out or returning from trekking Mount Kilimanjaro. There is free wifi (strongest signal in the ground floor), staff at front desk is simply delightful and so kind as are all the servers. We had all of our clothing washed about returning from Kili, and the service was provided swiftly since we left the following morning. Food is homey and comforting. Baths and rooms are clean and have the basics. The driver who drove us to town to buy souvenirs was also sooo nice and friendly, as everyone related to Stella Maris staff.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021Trip 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 recently stayed at Stella Maris for 10 days and was blown away by it! The hospitality, workers, rooms and food were exceptional! The lodge had a GREAT view of mount Kilimanjaro. The people working at the lodge were warm and welcoming. Wifi worked great and the room had US adaptable plugs. I have no complaints about Stella Maris and will definitely be coming back!
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled on business
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 here before and after my climb to Kilimanjaro. The staff here made me feel like family which as a solo traveller was greatly appreciated. The service was excellent, they welcomed us with juice, hot towels, and cleaned our hiking boots for us upon return from the mountain at no charge. The staff called me by name and made me feel so welcome. Rooms are simple but very clean, and sometimes I was even luckily enough to spot monkeys in the trees from my balcony! It was also very heartwarming to know that it is a non-profit hotel where all the profits go towards supporting the school next door. I would happily stay here again, it was a truly wonderful and unforgettable experience!
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
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 here for 2 nights before our Kilimanjaro climb and again for one day at the end. The staff were excellent - always smiling and helpful. Teddy was a star!
The 2 rooms we got were plenty big enough for the 2 of us - twin single beds first room then a double and single in the second. Everything was clean dnd had comfortable beds. Yes the hot water is a bit hit and miss but we managed. AC worked well, mosquito nets around the beds and a great view of Kilimanjaro from the balcony in our first room.
Breakfast was good each morning with a selection of fruits and hot items (eggs cooked to order). Evening meals were OK rather than great but there was a reasonable selection.
Safe to leave your bag there whilst on Kilimanjaro and did a great job cleaning our walking boots at the end.
Profits from the hotel were put towards the running of the school in front of the hotel- what a fabulous cause
Read more
Date of stay: July 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.
Exceptionally friendly and caring staff. We were greeted with a hug and a huge smile. Because of our flight issue and rerouting, we ended up reaching at 8:30 am, far earlier than our anticipated arrival of 3:30 pm. They were very nice and gave us a room at 8:30 am and we were able to catch up with our sleep (the previous night was meant to be restful in Nairobi, which never happened due to flight delays and rerouting directly to JRO...so, we were really tired).
In the late afternoon, we were hoping to take their transportation service to go to the hot springs (about 50 minute drive each way). Instead of quoting a flat fee for the transportation, they told up that they would charge $70 per person. For 8 people in our group, it would have been $560 for a total of a 3-hour trip. That was too steep. We ended up hiring a taxi service who charged $120 total for two different vehicles. I guess Stella Maris did not really ever offer that service in the past and was quoting prices based on several tour operators' prices...but the tour operators take people for a day trip to the hot springs and include a lunch and entrance fee and they do charge about $45 to $75/person.
I think Stella Marris is a great place to stay...not fancy but great service and extremely friendly people. We found their gift shop offerings to be very reasonably priced (as compared to the shops in Arusha).
Their breakfast (included in the room price) was good. We ate lunch and dinner there too. They were good and reasonably priced.
The transportation service (mis)quote notwithstanding, I would highly recommend the place. Mama Teddy (the manager) is simply an outstanding and genuinely caring person.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:A Trumpeter horn-bill bird in their garden sounded like a child crying. Can be a nuisance for...
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 hotel provides before and afters for folk trekking up Kilimanjaro and was booked for us by our trekking company. It is actually a charity itself supporting the school for orphans & under privileged children which is situated next door. Amazing staff who could not do enough for us, led by the ever cheerful Teddy. Rooms were a decent size altho the bed was a bit short for my 6ft 3 frame. You just had to remember to turn on the hot water 15-20 minutes before having a shower. No biggie. Nice food and by our standards - very cheap. They were happy to store our extra bags whilst we were up the mountain. Cool art on the walls done by local artists is for sale. The only tricky thing was some difficulties paying for extras by credit card but that was solved by a visiting merchant with his little machine. Thoroughly recommended.
Read more
Date of stay: August 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 was a great unexpected addition to my trip to Tanzania. I stayed the night prior to and the night following my climb on Mount Kilimanjaro. The hotel is attached to a school with the proceeds from your stay and dinning (as well as other services) going towards the school which is fantastic! The staff is kind, welcoming, and very accommodating. They securely held my belongings as I hiked and I never once had any worry. Thank you to all of the staff especially Innocent who all made my stay fantastic. They go above and beyond to make you feel like you are family. The staff send us off on our hike with cheers and welcomed us back after descend with congratulations and juice! The facility itself is clean, safe and more than I expected. There are clean comfortable beds with mosquito nets (even though these weren’t needed as I never saw a mosquito!), air conditioning in all rooms, towels, soap and hot showers (which is an absolute must after hiking Kilimanjaro). The dinning included a free breakfast with items available daily and eggs any style to order! Coffee and tea free of charge are constantly available too. I had dinner there twice which was delicious and reasonably priced. One of my travels friends was craving an American style grilled cheese following our hike and the chef made this for her. The menu includes everything from traditional food (soups, chicken, fish), curry, burritos, rice, pasta, and there is an upstairs bar. They accommodated my food allergies without any inconvenience. Additionally my meal for my safari from the hotel was especially made to my liking. The staff will set up airport transfers, excursions, spa appointments etc without hesitation, you can even by gifts from the hotel which includes beautiful pieces of art etc. I can’t say enough about this hotel, please make sure to include a stay here in your travel to Tanzania!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
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.
Jambo!
$50 is the usual rate for a taxi. We can send a driver to meet you at the airport for the same price. We have hair dryers available at the front desk.
Karibu Tanzania!
"Ask about the waterfall and coffee plantation tour if you have a few afternoon.
There's a bar on the upper floor, and they will staff it if you want to use the space."
There are more places to choose from in the Moshi area.
PRICE RANGE
$86 - $100 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
TanzaniaKilimanjaro RegionMoshi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
25
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.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
