Arusha City · Safari Lodge
Arusha Coffee Lodge
Garden cottages on the largest coffee estate in Arusha — ten minutes from Arusha Airport, the natural first or last night of a Tanzania safari.
About
Arusha Coffee Lodge sits on the largest working coffee estate in Arusha. Garden cottages and plantation suites are tucked among the coffee plantings, with a converted colonial manor at the centre serving breakfast and dinner. The location, ten minutes from Arusha Airport (ARK), forty minutes from Kilimanjaro International (JRO), makes it the natural first and last night for almost every northern Tanzania safari itinerary.
Most guests stay one or two nights as a logistical anchor: a comfortable bed and a hot shower after the long international flight, or a calm last evening before the flight home. The estate itself takes about an hour to walk, with self-guided trails through the coffee, and a Shanga workshop tour (a fair-trade artisan studio employing Tanzanians with disabilities) included in the rate.
The lodge runs around twenty-six rooms in two main categories: Plantation Rooms and the larger Plantation Suites, each available as Single, Double, Twin, or Triple configurations. The decor is colonial restoration warm, exposed beams, polished wood, plantation shutters opening onto private verandas. Day-use rooms are available for guests on tight onward connections (a flight that lands in the morning and connects to a bush flight in the late afternoon, for example).
Best for arrival and departure nights on any safari circuit. Not a destination in itself, but the most reliable gateway property in Arusha for first-time guests who want comfort and a familiar restaurant standard before they board the small plane.
Gallery
Signature experiences
Coffee estate self-guided walks
Marked trails through the working coffee plantation. About an hour at a relaxed pace. Coffee plants, native trees, and the original estate machinery from the colonial era.
Shanga Workshop tour
A fair-trade artisan studio on the estate that employs Tanzanians with disabilities producing glass, beadwork, and textiles. Tour included in the rate.
Spa treatments
Half-day spa menu in the renovated estate building, with the usual safari recovery treatments after a long week in the bush.
Day-use rooms
For guests on tight connections. A clean room, a shower, and a meal between a morning international landing and an afternoon bush flight departure.
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Garden
- Coffee Estate
- Wi-Fi
- Spa
- Airport Transfers
Best for
- First Night
- Last Night
- Day Use
- Tight Connections
- Comfort Stay
Wildlife you might see
- Mount Meru (4,566m) Visible From The Estate On Clear Mornings
- Songbirds And Weaver Bird Colonies In The Coffee Plantation
- Hyrax And Bush Babies On The Estate At Dusk
- Easy Day Trip To Arusha National Park For First-time Wildlife Viewing
Best time to visit
May
Location & access
Arusha City
Fly-in: Not applicable: Arusha Coffee Lodge is the road-arrival lodge that PRECEDES bush flights. Guests typically spend their first night here, then transfer 10 minutes to Arusha Airport (ARK) the next morning for the bush flight to their first safari park.
Drive: Approximately 40 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) by road. Most guests are met by their transport provider at JRO arrivals and driven directly to the lodge.
Room types
Plantation Room
Garden cottages with private veranda among the coffee plantings. Single, Double, Twin, and Triple configurations available.
Plantation Suite
Larger cottage with a separate sitting area and additional space. Single, Double, Twin, and Triple configurations available.
Plantation Room (Day Use)
Day-use only for guests on tight onward connections. Shower, rest, and a meal between flights.
Plantation Suite (Day Use)
Day-use suite for guests with longer layovers or family groups needing more space.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation
- Breakfast
- Wi-Fi
- Shanga Workshop Tour
- Coffee Estate Self-guided Walks
Not included
- Lunch And Dinner
- Beverages Other Than At Meals
- Transfers
- Flights And Airport Taxes
- Gratuities
Frequently asked
How many rooms does Arusha Coffee Lodge have?
Around twenty-six rooms across Plantation Rooms and Plantation Suites. Maximum capacity comfortably handles families and small groups.
When is the lodge open?
Year-round. As an Arusha-area transit property, it operates without seasonal closures.
How do guests reach Arusha Coffee Lodge?
By road from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), approximately 40 minutes. Most safari transport providers include the JRO transfer as part of the trip; airport pickup can be arranged.
Is the lodge suitable for families with children?
Yes. Plantation Suites work well for families and have configurations sleeping up to four. The estate's coffee walks and Shanga workshop are family-friendly.
What's included in the rate?
Accommodation, breakfast, the Shanga Workshop tour, and self-guided coffee estate walks. Wi-Fi is included. Lunch and dinner are charged separately. Airport transfers, flights, and gratuities are excluded.
Are day-use rooms available for tight connections?
Yes. Day-use Plantation Rooms and Plantation Suites are bookable for guests with morning international landings and afternoon bush-flight departures. Pre-booking recommended.
What's nearby
- Arusha National Park45min drive. Mount Meru, Momela Lakes (flamingos), and Tanzania's only walking safari park inside a national park boundary. Often a half-day add-on for arrival days with time to spare.
- Cultural Heritage Centre15min drive. Large Tanzanian crafts complex with carvings, tanzanite jewellery, and a Maasai gallery. Worth a stop before flights.
- Shanga WorkshopOn the estate. Fair-trade artisans producing glass, beadwork, and textiles.
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