Legendary Lodge

We rate it among the best hotels in Arusha, hidden inside a coffee estate with a century of history. One moment you are in Arusha traffic; once through the gates it turns into wide lawns, mature trees, coffee fields and very quiet gardens. There are only 12 free-standing cottages spread through the grounds, so even at full occupancy it never feels like a big hotel.

The rooms are properly Ultra-luxury: generous in size, each with its own veranda and sitting area, plus a fireplace, a four-poster bed, a deep tub, a rain shower and air conditioning. The style is not the overwrought contemporary look of a new build but a beautifully kept East African estate house — wooden floors, fireplaces, older furniture, set in a garden that has had decades to mature.

We particularly like how it works at the start or the end of a safari. Straight off a long flight you can eat slowly in the garden, have a massage, sit by the pool; with energy left, walk or cycle the estate, or go and look at the coffee. Coming back for a final night lets the trip wind down properly rather than running from the bush straight to the airport. What really earns it this tier, though, is the service and food: reviews do not just say the staff are friendly — they describe meals moved to suit your timing and state, very early breakfasts arranged, massages fitted in, with the kitchen consistently well regarded.