Kaliwa Lodge

I spent three days and two nights at Kaliwa and felt so cared for! I was traveling alone, and the staff went out of their way to ensure I had an amazing time. I coordinated rides through them, added on dinners, and had a blast on the “Machame Walk” excursion with Omega. They upgraded my room for free since it was not a busy time which was so kind. Justina the manager was so great at helping me coordinate all the details prior to my arrival. Thank you for an amazing start to my time in Tanzania.

We had an unforgettable stay at Kaliwa Lodge! The service was top-notch, the food was fantastic, and the stunning view of Kilimanjaro made it the perfect spot to enjoy a beverage and take in the scenery. Despite our last-minute request, they organized a walking tour for the next morning with our wonderful guide, Elizabeth. We learned about the Chaaga people, visited private coffee and banana plantations, and explored the Weru Weru river. Our highlight was visiting Joanne, who walked us through the coffee-making process and served an amazing meal—her banana soup is the best! We can’t wait to return! Asante Sana!

Our best decision was to start our safari trip at Kaliwa Lodge near Kilimanjaro instead of driving directly to the bustling town of Arusha. Kaliwa Lodge is set in the rainforest with breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro and is the best place to get acclimated to the time zone and get over jet lag, waking up to the sounds of birds and monkeys and a delicious and hearty breakfast. We arrived late in the evening and stayed two nights. On our full day, we decided to do the Machame Walk, organized by the lodge. Our guide was Omega, a young local known to many in the village. He was fantastic, and we learned so much about the Chagga people, their history, daily life, and agriculture (vanilla, coffee). The highlight of our walk included stopping at Uduru primary school, where we had a great time playing and dancing with the children, and a delicious lunch at the home of Joanne, who taught us firsthand how coffee is made. The Machame walk starts out slow and easy, but it could be a moderate hike for some, especially going down to the waterfall. The activity lasts about five hours. I would highly recommend this walk ($27 per person). Pros: • Rooms are spacious and comfortable • The friendliest people work there • View of Kilimanjaro • Delicious breakfasts Cons: • Inconsistent water temps/flow (our shower was lukewarm and trickled; our friends was super-hot) • Dinner was $20 per person, which Is a bit pricier than expected, but there is no other option