Katambuga House | Luxury

Katambuga House Overview

An oasis on the outskirts of town, it's ideal for an overnight stay before heading out on safari. Katambuga means roughly "cut the bush" (kata mbuga) or "march through the bush" referring to the "1000-mile shoes" made of car tyres, favoured by the Maasai – mini-versions of which feature on the lodge room keys.

Katambuga House is a beautiful surprise. It’s a long drive from Kilimanjaro Airport (over an hour) but once you’re there, it’s a relaxing and friendly place with a homely ambience, miles away from the hustle and bustle of Arusha, and only ten minutes to Arusha airport if you're flying off on safari in the morning.

It’s more than just a stop-over place, however. The food here is imaginative and delicious – it would be worth coming here just for that. It’s a set menu but they’ll cook special options on request. The pumpkin mousse with a hint of chilli is excellent, as is the pork in mustard and cider sauce. Do let us know about your food preferences in advance so we can notify them. The eight rooms are extremely comfortable with private terraces to the gardens, and the gardens themselves are delightful, partly manicured, partly left quite wild, with Jacaranda trees and colourful blooms. The birds clearly love it – the birdsong in the mornings here is fabulous. There’s a good-sized swimming pool in the gardens and on a clear day, you can spot Mount Meru, the fifth highest mountain in Africa.