Arusha Coffee Lodge

The original, and very attractive, red-brick estate house is the centre of the lodge and home to the dining room, lounge, bar and several comfy seating areas. Expect squishy leather armchairs, chandeliers and dark wooden furniture in a cosy, colonial vibe, completed by the roaring log fire to chase away the chilly Tanzanian evenings. Outside, there’s an inviting swimming pool and acres of manicured gardens where meals are served when the sun is shining.

The rows of green coffee bushes conceal 30 chalets (12 rooms and 18 suites), all built in the pretty plantation style with tin roofs and wooden decks. Inside, the chic 1900s theme continues with open fireplaces, elegant four-poster beds and pretty furnishings in the sitting room areas. En-suite bathrooms are spacious and modern and all have bath tubs. And of course, a room on a coffee plantation wouldn’t be complete without start-of-the-art coffee making facilities and bean-scented toiletries...

When you’ve sampled enough coffee, wander into Arusha town and visit the Maasai market on Faya Road or the Tanzanite museum for some souvenirs of the glittering kind. There’s also a wonderful organisation at the lodge, Shanga Shangaa, which employs local people with disabilities to create beautiful pieces of jewellery, glassware and artwork and is a fun way to spend the morning. Otherwise, soak up the tranquillity of the gardens, tour the plantation and get ready for your safari adventure!