About this hotel
General information
&Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the only permanent lodge inside Lake Manyara National Park. It sits in an old mahogany grove at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, with ten suites raised on stilts into the tree canopy. Built from local timber under makuti palm thatch, the lodge was designed to tread lightly on the forest: elephants sometimes amble beneath the decks, and mornings start with birdsong.
The park is small yet remarkably varied — a soda lake, groundwater forest, acacia woodland, grassy floodplains and hot springs — and is known for its tree-climbing lions, large elephant families and more than 400 bird species. The lodge lies in the remote south-west, beyond the reach of most day visitors, so sunrise and sunset over the lake are usually enjoyed by its guests alone. Meals, most drinks, game drives and laundry are included, and it makes a gentle first or last stop on a journey through northern Tanzania’s parks.
Location
The lodge stands in the south-western part of Lake Manyara National Park, between the lake and the Rift Valley escarpment. Several airlines run twice-daily scheduled flights from Arusha to Lake Manyara airstrip, and Coastal Air flies there daily from Dar es Salaam. From the airstrip it is roughly a 3½-hour scenic drive through the park, which doubles as a first game drive; the transfer is included.
Spa
Wellness treatments using all-natural Healing Earth products are given in a secluded massage sala surrounded by the sounds of the forest, or in the privacy of the suite.
Sports & leisure
Each morning and afternoon, guests head out with a guide and tracker in open 4×4 vehicles with canvas canopies, exploring parts of the park that day visitors cannot reach, with stops on the lakeshore and drinks at sunset. Other experiences include:
- night drives of around three hours after an early dinner, looking for genets, civets, porcupines, hippos and leopards;
- birdwatching among some 400 species, with the lodge’s own Star Birds checklist;
- nature walks in the forest around the lodge, for birds, butterflies and the small creatures missed from a vehicle;
- a treetop canopy walk on boardwalks, suspension bridges and viewing decks up to 18 m above the forest floor;
- a sleepout under the stars: after an evening drive, guests are taken to a secluded spot in the park with netted beds, a campfire and dinner (two to four guests aged 16 and over, weather permitting);
- a guided bicycle ride with local guides through Mayoka village to the lakeshore, taking in community projects run with &Beyond’s partner Wild Impact;
- a half-day walk through Mto wa Mbu, the market town at the park gate known for its rice fields and red bananas, meeting farmers, craftspeople and painters and tasting local banana beer;
- a swimming pool set in the forest;
- a Safari Shop selling locally made Tanzanian crafts.
For children
Children aged 3–12 join &Beyond’s WILDchild programme, included in the stay: each child receives a backpack of age-appropriate gifts and tasks, and guides help them collect feathers, leaves and pods, learn to identify animals and take part in seasonal activities from bark rubbing and bug collecting to baking with the chef. Children’s menus are available, and childminding can be arranged at extra cost.
Restaurants & bars
The dining area opens onto a boma, a traditional open-air enclosure where dinner is served by firelight as jiko fires and tandoor ovens do the cooking. The interactive kitchen lets guests watch the chefs or cook alongside them and learn about pan-African cuisine. There is a bar, private dining can be arranged, and halal and other special diets are catered for with advance notice. Three meals a day and drinks — except champagne, cognac and fine wines — are included.
Swimming
The lodge pool is ringed by forest, a place to cool off after the morning drive or idle through the heat of the day.
Rooms
Ten treehouse suites, one of them a Family Treehouse Suite, stand on stilts among the mahogany canopy, about 20 m apart. Bedrooms are furnished in a contemporary style in neutral colours and textures, with large windows and generous decks suspended above the forest floor.
Each suite has a personal bar, overhead fans, mosquito nets, a telephone, a hairdryer, a safe, Wi-Fi, a gym-in-a-basket and a pair of SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars for the stay; butler service is provided.
Treehouse Suite
A stilted treehouse with a bedroom, a sitting room and a deck over the forest; the bathroom has a freestanding bath with forest views and an outdoor shower. Double bed, with twin beds in two suites; an extra bed for a child can be added.
Family Treehouse Suite
Two ensuite bedrooms linked by a shared foyer, with a generous deck above the forest floor; the main bathroom has a freestanding bath and shower, the second a shower. Sleeps two adults and two children, with a third child on request.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.