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Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge

(formerly Lake Manyara Hotel, this Lodge has undergone recent renovation)


This is a basic mid-range lodge which boasts excellent views over Lake Manyara National Park. As the hotel is not a cheap option compared with some other camps, the service on offer is, perhaps, underwhelming. However, as a place to eat, shower, relax and sleep after a full day of safari it is adequate.


Accommodation at Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge


The hotel is large, with over 100 rooms. Rooms are not all equally spacious, and some feel quite cramped. All rooms are en suite however, and include a private veranda with park view. The hotel offers some adjoining rooms suitable for families as well as a selection of superior suites.


Decor is an approximation of traditional African, but tends to feel more dated and lacking in personality than images on the hotel’s website would suggest. However, rooms are generally comfortable, if not spectacular.


All rooms include mosquito netting, which, in this area is vital and the hotel does suffer from mosquitoes in the rooms. Rooms include a safe and sockets for shavers, telephone, mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities and hair dryers.


Food and Drink at Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge


The hotel offers both half and full-board accommodation.


Food is served buffet style at dinner and the hotel offer the option of packed lunches. Breakfast is uninspired but sufficient, while dinner is better (themed nightly) but still quite disappointing for many visitors. Packed lunches tend to be bland and rather unsatisfying, but sadly this is typical of this style of food on safari.


The hotel bar offers a reasonable selection of drinks. The hotel charges extra for coffees and teas at dinner and also for bottled water. The bar is well located for taking sunset drinks while looking out over the exceptional views.


Service at Hotel Manyara


The service at the hotel is passable but rather impersonal compared to that on offer at some other camps and lodges. While staff at bar and reception are reasonably good, restaurant service can be slow and clumsy.  It is important to bear in mind that the remoter, lower grade hotels in this area employ many people who have had little chance to gain any formal training and who have weaker English language skills. Staff can also appear unfriendly and disinterested due to the hotel’s size.

The hotel offers a gift shop, laundry and currency exchange. The hotel internet café is unreliable and pricey. The hotel has its own nurse who is normally on-site and the lodge can also arrange babysitting services (it is advisable to forewarn the hotel if you wish to use this service).


Things to do at Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge

The hotel is surrounded by a pleasant garden and has its own recently renovated pool area. There is a satellite TV lounge.  

The hotel can help arrange game drives, boat trips, canoeing safaris, bird walks, mountain biking, horse riding and cultural visits as well as visits to the Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme, offering village walking and bicycle tours.



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