Arusha Coffee Lodge

Location: Tucked away on the western edge of Arusha Town, just a five-minute drive from Arusha Airport and roughly an hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Coffee Lodge sits serenely within one of Tanzania's largest coffee plantations at the foot of Mount Meru. It's peaceful yet perfectly placed as a handy gateway to national parks or Kilimanjaro treks and just a 35-minute drive from Arusha town centre.

Rooms: The lodge's 30 charming Plantation Houses include 18 cosy Plantation Rooms and 12 more expansive Plantation Suites. Both types of accommodation are reminiscent of classic colonial plantation architecture but fitted with modern comforts: open log-burners, en-suite bathrooms with both bath and shower, verandas or private decks overlooking green coffee gardens, in-room safes, tea-and-coffee stations, hair-dryers, satellite TV and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Amenities: Facilities at Coffee Lodge include a relaxed à la carte restaurant and bistro, a snug lounge and bar centred around log fires, a swimming pool set amid lush gardens, a spa offering massages and beauty treatments, boutique shops and a 24-hour room service and a 24-hour room service and laundry option (both at additional cost). Guests can also unwind on garden terraces or enjoy warm pizzas from the on-site oven at the bistro.

Activities: For immersion with purpose, the lodge offers a fascinating "bean-to-cup" coffee tour through its own plantation complete with tasting. Other optional excursions include visiting Traders Walk (a centre of artisans, beaders and cafes), game drives to Arusha National Park (to spot monkeys, buffalo and birdlife) or Ngorongoro Crater for Big Five wildlife, Momella Lake canoe safaris, village bike tours, walking or running trails through the gardens - and child‑friendly play areas and babysitting services upon request.

Sustainability: While the lodge isn’t certified eco‑lodge, its very design is woven around one of Tanzania’s oldest functioning coffee estates - preserving rather than clearing the landscape. Guests learn about sustainable coffee production first‑hand on the coffee tour and supporting Traders Walk fosters social entrepreneurship and local handicrafts. Within the lodge, sourcing of local produce and limiting disruption to the plantation environment reflect a mindful approach. Plus, while coffee farming globally carries water and emissions concerns, shade‑grown estates like this can act as carbon sinks and maintain habitat integrity compared to full monocultures ; and as discussed more broadly, shade‑grown, organic and small‑holder systems often sequester carbon and support local economies better than intensive alternatives.