Katambuga House: Our full report

Situated just a 10-minute drive from Arusha Airport, Katambuga House is a traditional, colonial bungalow-style ...

... property, with eight comfortable guest rooms. It is set in tropical gardens and has lovely views of Mount Meru.

Katambuga House’s location, on the western outskirts of Arusha, makes it a great choice for an overnight stay before your safari. It is close to Arusha Airport, allowing for quick transfers for onwards safari flights. And if you're on a privately guided safari by vehicle it allows you to make an easy departure from Arusha without having to drive through town.

Katambuga House consists of eight well-appointed guest rooms, two on each side of the main house and four in in the garden in two buildings of interconnected, paired rooms. They feel fresh and modern, with a neutral colour scheme and floor-to-ceiling windows which let in plenty of light. Each room can be arranged either as a double or a twin, and beds are surrounded by a retractable mosquito net. They put out fresh flowers on the coffee table and artwork, including some impressive wildlife photography, decorates the walls. A ceiling fan helps to keep you cool during hot afternoons and there is an electric safe for valuables. Sliding glass doors or steel-frame patio doors lead out on to a veranda with a couple of chairs overlooking the garden.

All the bedrooms have an en-suite bathrooms (shower, not bathtubs) and toiletries and hairdryers are provided.

The open-plan lounge and dining area in the main house is furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas, and there's a fireplace as the focal point. There is a dining area to one side of the room with individual tables. As with the bedrooms, the lounge and dining area feels stylish, with white walls, wooden beams, beaded mirrors and monochrome photography. Outside a wide verandah has further seating and it's a good spot to gather for pre-dinner drinks.

The established gardens are beautiful, filled with tropical flowers, and on a clear day you can see Mount Meru towering above you. A flagstone path leads to a good-sized swimming pool, laid out with parasols and sun loungers. Beware, however, there's no lifeguard or depth markings.

If you're planning an extended stay in Arusha there are lots of activities on offer. Take a trip to Arusha National Park and go canoeing on the lakes or go for a day hike on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Alternatively, if you are looking for less strenuous activities then you may like to visit the cultural heritage centre or go for a coffee tasting tour in the nearby plantations.

Our view

Katambuga House is a small, contemporary lodge on the outskirts of Arusha. It is one of the more economical options in this area and we feel it's excellent value for money. This is a good base as an overnight before or after a safari in northern Tanzania, or for exploring Arusha.

Richard Trillo

Tanzania expert

Geographics

Location: Arusha, Tanzania
Ideal length of stay: Stay one or two nights to explore Arusha or as an overnight before or after a safari.
Directions: Katambuga House is a 60-to-90-minute drive from Kilimanjaro Airport and ten minutes' from Arusha Airport.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: On our last stay we were impressed with the food at Katambuga House and found the dishes fresh and very tasty.

Breakfast is typically served in the dining area and consists of a cold buffet with a selection of fresh fruit, cereals, bread and pastries. Hot items are available with eggs cooked to order.

Lunch is typically a buffet. Depending on the weather, it is eaten outside on the terrace. There were a good selection of salads accompanied by fresh bread.

Dinner is a more formal, three-course meal. You might start with creamy aubergine croquettes, on green salad bed with garlic mayo dipping sauce, followed by a deconstructed lasagne with spinach and cherry tomatoes. On another occasion we had lentil and sweet potato soup followed by almond and coriander crusted tilapia. Dessert might be a coconut pannacotta, with ripe mango. It's all very tasty and quite imaginative.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Room service can be arranged on request
Drinks included: Drinks are at extra cost, with a beer costing around $3 US dollars and a glass of wine around $4. Drinking water is provided.

Children

Attitude towards children: Katambuga House welcomes children of all ages.
Property’s age restrictions: None
Special activities & services: Babysitting by housekeeping staff is possible.
Equipment: Baby cots and highchairs are available.
Generally recommended for children: We think Katambuga House is well suited for children.
Notes: Parental supervision is required around the swimming pool.

Communications

Power supply notes: There is a backup generator
Communications: There is reasonable mobile phone signal and free wifi in the main building. The garden rooms have weaker (or sometimes no) wifi.
TV & radio: There is no TV at Katambuga House.
Water supply: Mains
Water supply notes: Katambuga House has plumbed showers and flush toilets.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: There is a doctor on standby and it is only a short drive to a hospital in Arusha.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There are security guards outside the property day and night.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are in place throughout.

Extras

Disabled access: In Place
Laundry facilities: A laundry service is available at a cost of around $3 per item.
Money: There are electric safes in all rooms.
Accepted payment on location: Katambuga House accepts all major currencies including US dollars, Euros and GB pounds. Most credit and debit cards are accepted, although there is a surcharge of 4%.