Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge is one of the oldest family-owned and managed lodges in East Africa, a historic lodge built in 1905 as a German colonial farmhouse (famous as the estate of the Von Trapp family from "The Sound of Music") that has been adapted and operated by the same family since 1974. Set in lush gardens amid 50 acres (20 hectares) of pristine forest and crystal-clear lakes on the slopes of Mount Meru, the lodge is located just 20 kilometers east of Arusha, only 30 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha town centre. It serves as a perfect base for safaris in northern Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Arusha National Park.
Rooms
The lodge offers an intimate collection of authentic accommodations including 10 Garden Rooms adorned with Zanzibar-style king-size beds or twins, 2 Main House Suites with colonial charm and spacious verandas located on the first floor of the main building, 1 Kilimanjaro Summit Suite with panoramic views of both Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro, and a Farm Cottage with 3 bedrooms (sleeps 5 people) ideal for families. Rooms blend old colonial style with modern comforts, featuring olden-day bathtubs, antique furnishings, and colonial-style decor while retaining comforts of modern hotels. The Main House rooms keep their colonial past style while the cottage is a private villa perfect for families.
General facilities
The lodge's grounds include its own crystal-clear natural spring lake from which it creates its own hydropower and supplies nearby villages with piped water, eco-friendly features that make it much more than a simple stopover. The main lodge includes a lounge with Wi-Fi access, library, dining room, expansive veranda, swimming pool, and open fires for cozy evenings. The decor has an upcountry feel with comfortable armchairs, stone benches, old leather sofas, antiques, Persian rugs, stone-flagged floors, and a beautiful polished dining table, exuding colonial elegance and Zanzibar-inspired charm with handcrafted furniture and native fabrics.
Activities
Activities include nature walks through the private forest, bird watching (over 200 bird species including colorful rarities), horse riding (with their own horses and stables), boating on the serene lake in handcrafted punts, yoga, mountain biking, croquet, and massages. Guests can also enjoy fishing in the trout lake, and the lodge offers excursions into Arusha National Park, up Mount Meru, and into Arusha coffee plantations. The peaceful atmosphere is assured from arrival, with tranquility enhanced by playful colobus and Sykes monkeys swinging through treetops and the ever-changing vistas of Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers reflecting on the crystal-clear waters.
About
The lodge exudes a distinctive and welcoming atmosphere with intimate, personal hospitality reflecting nearly five decades of family-run service delivering some of Tanzania's highest levels of customer care. The rustic, captivating surroundings of lush forest, "dappled waters" of the lake, and epic vistas of both Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro create a serene and surreal experience perfect for unwinding before or after a Tanzanian safari odyssey. Guests can savor gourmet meals crafted from the lodge's own vegetable garden, enjoy refreshing drinks on sprawling verandas, and linger over sundowners while admiring the breathtaking mountain views.
Destination
Tanzania Safaris
Style
Lodge
