Tented room

Raised up on wooden decks about a metre off the ground, the tented rooms at Kirurumu Manyara Lodge are spacious, clean and comfortable. A few steps lead up to a wide wooden veranda where there are cushioned wood lounging chairs.

From the veranda, wide canvas tent flaps zip open and lead into the bedroom, which feels cool and fresh. Makuti mats (made from palm fronds) are dotted across the russet-red stone floors which are polished to a high shine.

Each room has large double, twin or three single wooden or wrought-iron beds made by local craftsmen, with wooden side tables. Subtly patterned linen and the use of traditional Maasai blankets (shukas) add style and character. There is also a writing desk. Drinking water is provided, as is 24-hour electricity for charging batteries. The rooms don't have fans or air conditioning, but these are not really necessary since the temperature is naturally quite comfortable here due to the altitude, and it gets quite cool in the evenings.

What we liked most about the bedrooms at Kirurumu Manyara Lodge was the sense of space. A lot of tented properties can feel a little small and even stuffy, but these are cool and breezy. That they are simply and quite sparsely furnished just enhances the feeling of space even more.

Moulded adobe walls divide the bedroom from the en-suite bathroom, which is similarly subdivided into three separate sections, with a sink, a flush toilet and a hot-and-cold shower. All are perfectly clean and functional.

Suites | Tented room |