Rivertrees Lodge - The Facts
Rivertrees is located to the west of
Arusha about a 30 minute drive from Arusha airport and equidistant to Kilimanjaro airport. It is in the small foothills of Mt Meru and close to the border of Arusha National park; in a great location for starting your
Tanzania safari.
The main area of the lodge is built in a typical country inn design with open walls with a large and high thatch roof. The restaurant is open and you can see into the kitchen though various red brick arch ways. The food here is very good and made even better with the atmosphere created here, plus there is a fantastic wood burning pizza oven.
There is a large reception room with sofas and a dominant central fire place. The window frames are all wooden and soft in design, which goes very well with the large open garden’s enormous trees that look over the property. The best feature is the Usa River that runs through the property, which is a stream that comes from Mt Meru itself.
Most of the cottages are located in the old farmhouse. They are very cosy with big beds, mosquito nets, a few armchairs and a fan. Being a traditional design these remain cool in the heat. Each has a small veranda with chairs.
The two cottages are out by the river, similar to the traditional room but are much larger. Ideal for
families and those wanting the extra space and large bathrooms.
Rivertrees really is the perfect place to rest and relax for a day or two after long international flights. For those who want to explore, all nearby activities can be arranged here, such as kayaking on Lake Duluti, mountain biking, cultural trips and visits to Mt Kilimanjaro.
From here, a typical Northern Tanzania itinerary would see you head to the Ngorongoro Crater. Whether you decide on a driving circuit through Lake Manyara to
Ngorongoro Farm House or a flying itinerary to Entamanu or The Highlands, two nights around the Ngorongoro Crater is more than enough. Although activities include hiking and visiting the local Maasai villages are fun, they can be undertaken in a morning or an afternoon. With the Crater itself being very small in size, and the high volume of visitors, it does not need more than one day to visit. Here you can see a plethora of big game animals in this unique eco-system and it does offer some brilliant photogrpahic opportunities, from the view-points dotted around the rim to the Crater floor itself.
After a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater, flying into the Serengeti it typically the next desitnation. Landing in the Serengeti from Lake Manyara will normally depend on what time of year you visit. From November - March the wildebeest congregate in their largest numbers on the plains of Ndutu. During a three week period during February, 8,000 calves are born per day giving rise to some intimate and beautiful moments. From March - July the herds start heading North and pass through the Seronera and
Grumeti regions. As July begins, the herds start to arrive in the Kogatende region where the epic river crossings occur. From July - October the herds criss cross the Mara River, braving the lurking crocodiles and the ambushing cats that await their arrival.
There are so many different options when staying in the Serengeti that talking to one of our Tanzania experts is a must. Having visited the camps personally, our experts can give you the information you need and help make the decision that is best for you.
