Kirurumu Tarangire Lodge: Our full report

Kirurumu Tarangire Lodge, sometimes known as Tamarind Camp, is located just outside the gates of Tarangire National Park. It’s a simple tented camp, similar in standard to its sibling Kirurumu Manyara, and is usually used as a base from which to explore Tarangire.

The communal areas of Kirurumu Tarangire are fairly small. In the dining room, a small open-sided mess tent, they’ve put quite a number of tables, so when full it could feel quite cramped. That said, if the weather is fine, then dinner is often served around the campfire.

Another tent of similar size is used for the lounge and bar. Here you’ll find Persian rugs covering the canvas floor, giving a bit more of a homely feel, chunky wooden tables, and a few sofas – a good place to relax, perhaps with one of the books from their small library.

The ten tented rooms at Kirurumu Tarangire are identical in design, simple and rustic, but perfectly comfortable. Each is raised on a stone base, and suspended under thatch, giving quite a permanent feel. There are even proper glass doors to enter the tents! Inside, the tents are spacious, and the red polished stone floors help keep them cool in the heat of the day. There is minimal furniture – a chunky double bed (they also have twins and triples) under mosquito netting, a bedside table, and a small writing desk where you’ll find a torch, water, and insect repellent.

The bathroom is at the back of the tent – and although it’s a separate area, there isn’t a door or partition. As well as twin sinks, a shower and a toilet – both of which have thin curtains which pull across for privacy – there’s a large lockable cupboard to keep any valuables.

One thing which we did find quite unusual was the proximity of Kirurumu Tarangire to the village. Less than five minutes’ drive from the lodge entrance is the village well, which is usually surrounded by people collecting water. Driving past this straight into a lodge with plentiful quantities of running water felt a little uncomfortable to us, although the camp does work on their relationship to the village, with US$10 per person per night contributed into a fund to help improve the village.

Our view

Kirurumu Tarangire works well as a relatively inexpensive base from which to visit the north side of Tarangire National Park – but bear in mind that this is the busiest part of the park, especially during the price game-viewing months of the dry season.

Geographics

Location: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Ideal length of stay: Stay here for 2 nights as a base to explore Tarangire National Park. Tarangire National Park is about two hours’ drive from Arusha.

Directions: Tarangire National Park is about two hours’ drive from Arusha.

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Food quality: When we last visited Kirurumu Tarangire in 2011 we didn’t have a chance to sample the food, but the manager told us what to expect.

Breakfast is a buffet selection of cereals and fruit, and you can also order a cooked breakfast.

Lunch and dinner are both three-course meals with a soup to start. That said, the majority of guests take a packed lunch so they can spend the whole day exploring Tarangire National Park.

Dining style: Individual Tables

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included

Drinks included: Drinks are an extra cost here.

Children

Attitude towards children: Kirurumu welcomes children of any age.

Equipment: Kirurumu Tarangire has a small bed for young children but no cot.

Generally recommended for children: Kirurumu is a wild, unfenced camp and its proximity to the village means that the animals here can be a little more aggressive than usual, as they are sometimes attacked by the villagers. Given that there are no special activities or facilities for children, we could only recommend it for older children over the age of about 8 years.

Central communications

Power supply: Generator

Communications: There is a computer in reception which guests can use to access the internet.

TV & radio: There is no TV or radio.

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: Kirurumu Tarangire has a basic first-aid kit, but for serious health problems guests would be drive to Arusha.

Dangerous animals: Moderate Risk

Security measures: Askaris patrol the grounds, and escort guests to and from their rooms after dark.

Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers around the tents.

Extras

Laundry facilities: There is a laundry service, which is a small extra cost.

Money: Guests can lock valuables in the lockable cupboard in their bedroom, or hand them into reception.