Hillside Retreat – Africa Amini Life

Name: Hillside Retreat – Africa Amini Life
Address: Ngare Nanyuki Village, Arumeru district, Usa River, tz

Location: Ngare Nanyuki Village, Arumeru district, Usa River, tz

Star Rating: 9.7 Stars

Property Type: Holiday homes

About this Property

Luxurious Amenities
Hillside Retreat – Africa Amini Life offers a luxurious experience with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and stunning views of the pool. Guests can relax on the sun terrace or enjoy the mountain views from the balcony.

Family-Friendly Environment
Families are welcome at this sustainable holiday home, with outdoor play equipment available for children. Parents can unwind by the outdoor fireplace after a day of cycling while the 24-hour front desk ensures convenience for all guests.

Convenient Facilities
From free WiFi throughout the property to a coffee shop and packed lunches, Hillside Retreat – Africa Amini Life prioritizes guest comfort. Each unit is equipped with a desk, kettle, and private bathroom, with some rooms featuring a fully equipped kitchen for added convenience.

Book now to experience the perfect blend of luxury and sustainability at Hillside Retreat – Africa Amini Life!

Policies

Check-in: 01:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Amenities & Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
Tour desk
Massage services
Packed lunches
Non-smoking throughout
Board games/puzzles
Shuttle service (additional charge)
Kid meals
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Outdoor furniture
Coffee Shop on site
Staff adhere to local safety protocols
Guest rooms disinfected between stays
Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
Physical distancing rules followed
Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
Cashless payment available
First aid kit available
Invoice provided
Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
Physical distancing in dining areas
Access to health care professionals
24-hour security
Supervised childcare/activities
Front desk (limited hours)
Free wired internet
Access to nearby outdoor pool
Playground on site
Self parking (surcharge)
Pool sun loungers
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Internet access
Housekeeping on request
Exercise/lap pool
Japanese garden
Horse riding nearby
Swimming nearby
Bicycle-friendly property
Charcoal grill
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Vegetarian menu options available
Paddle boating nearby
Accessible shuttle
No accessible shuttle
Accessible train station shuttle
No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

One-Bedroom House

The pool with a view is the standout feature of this holiday home. Boasting a private entrance, this holiday home features 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower and a bath. The holiday home has a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a dining area as well as a terrace with pool views. The unit has 1 bed.

Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor dining area
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Toilet paper
- Board games/puzzles
- Pool towels
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Adapter
- Mobile hotspot device
- Hand sanitiser
One-Bedroom House

The pool with a view is the standout feature of this holiday home. Boasting a private entrance, this holiday home features 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower and a bath. The holiday home features a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a dining area as well as a terrace with garden views. The unit has 3 beds.

Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor dining area
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Toilet paper
- Board games/puzzles
- Pool towels
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Adapter
- Mobile hotspot device
- Hand sanitiser
Deluxe Holiday Home with Terrace

This holiday home features a spacious living and dining room that open onto a large veranda.

Max Occupancy: 8 (4 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Additional toilet
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Additional bathroom
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor dining area
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Toilet paper
- Board games/puzzles
- Pool towels
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Adapter
- Mobile hotspot device
- Hand sanitiser
Standard Holiday Home with Terrace

This holiday home's special feature is the pool with a view. Featuring a private entrance, this holiday home consists of 1 living room, 2 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a walk-in shower and a bath. A seating area, a desk, a terrace and a tea and coffee maker are provided in this holiday home. The unit offers 2 beds.

Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Additional toilet
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Additional bathroom
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor dining area
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Toilet paper
- Board games/puzzles
- Pool towels
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Adapter
- Mobile hotspot device
- Hand sanitiser
Vacation Home

The pool with a view is a top feature of this holiday home. This spacious holiday home comes with 1 living room, 4 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a walk-in shower and a bath. The kitchen features a stovetop, a refrigerator and an oven. The holiday home features a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area as well as a terrace with mountain views. The unit has 6 beds.

Max Occupancy: 8 (4 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Refrigerator
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Kitchen
- Additional toilet
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Private entrance
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Oven
- Stovetop
- Bidet
- Terrace
- Linen
- Dining table
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor dining area
- Entire unit located on ground floor
- Toilet paper
- Board games/puzzles
- Pool towels
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Wine glasses
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Adapter
- Mobile hotspot device
- Hand sanitiser

Guest Reviews

Dana (10/5): Charming rural retreat and experience! - The staff were amazing! The property is rural and charming. .everything we wanted as we started our adventure in tanzania. Also the food was incredible as was the service! Also they took us on a walking safari which was cool! It was a tad further away from Kilimanjaro Airport and the roads during rainy season and just following that time frame make it a big more time intensive. Just to note ahead of time id you are planning to go out there as you def need a big vehicle!
Hadasik (10/5): - All
Leah (10/5): Grateful to Lucas, Aby, Boniface, Lamick for their wonderful care, conversation, transportation and hospitality. - So thoughtful at every step. Meals served on terrace. Amazing views. Exceptional staff.
Ida Hrönn (10/5): - Its an amazing place with very k7nd and helpful staff.
Anouk (9/5): - Amazing place. It is an NGO owned place, run by locals . Great food and very helpful staff.
Rebecca (8/5): -
Claudia (8/5): Ein wunderschönes Retreat , das man nur empfehlen kann! - Ein wunderschönes Haus mit Terrasse und Garten, ruhig gelegen. Alle Mitarbeiter sind am Wohl der Gäste interessiert und unglaublich aufmerksam. Es werden interessante Aktivitäten, zb Wanderung auf nahegelegenen Berg Mukuru, angeboten. Alle Mahlzeiten werden auf der Terrasse des jeweiligen Hauses serviert, ein Restaurant gibt es nicht. Das ist für Ruhe liebende schön, aber ein wenig ungewöhnlich.
Jessica (10/5): Enjoyable - Clean, quiet, comfortable and easy to access
Julien (10/5): Une retraite au calme, dans une magnifique villa devant une vue superbe de la montagne - Tout était parfait : emplacement idyllique au calme avec une vue magnifique sur le Mont Meeru, villas très grandes agréablement décorées et aménagées avec une superbe terrasse privative, service à table dans sa villa devant la vue avec une cuisine de qualité, un staff si agréable et prévenant, longe dans son ensemble avec toutes les comodites (piscine, petit bar, restaurant) et pour finir un très beau projet plus global Africain Amini Life dont fait partie l’établissement. À un prix extrêmement raisonnable. Un grand bravo. Toute la famille (4 enfants et 2 adultes) était ravie. On aurait aimé rester une nuit de plus Rien. Tout était vraiment parfait.
Peggy (7/5): -
José (9/5): Wonderfull stay, magical place! - Most beautiful location and landscaped gardens, the views of Kili and Meru are stupendous. Attentive and helpful staff. We did to great safaris and Kelvin, our guide, has been amazing. Food was delicious in every meal. Had the greatest time there. Overall cleaning was reasonable, but could be better.
Ruben (10/5): Absolute recommendation for anyone! - It was the most warm arrival and departure we could have wished for. Such motivated and friendly people, always ready to help. We enjoyed our stay so very much. The community initiatives they are doing is really inspiring and with so much respect to the country and its people, and just by booking this accommodation, you could be contributing to this as well.
lucile (9/5): - la vue sur le mont meru confort de la villa dîner et petit déjeuner délicieux personnel et hôte très sympa piscine fraîche
Verena (10/5): Außergewöhnliche Unterkunft, mit tollen Menschen und einem Aussichtspunkt auf den Kilimandscharo. - Wir haben jeden Tag ein ausgezeichnetes Frühstück bekommen, ein super Mittagessen und ein drei Gänge Menü am Abend. Die Mitarbeiter waren mehr als aufmerksam und sehr freundlich. Was uns aber am meisten beeindruckt hat, war, dass das Geld unseres Aufenthalts für die Unterstützung einer Schule und anderen Einrichtungen, die durch die Gründerin ins Leben gerufen wurde, zu Gute kam. Die Schüler haben in ihren Ferien die Möglichkeit eines Praktikums bekommen und sie waren wirklich auf einem 5 Sterne Niveau. Toll, toll, toll!! Leider war der Anfahrtsweg schlecht beschrieben. Dies wäre durchaus ausbaufähig!
selma (10/5): - Un lieu incroyable au pied de la réserve d'Arusha avec un personnel attentionné. Nous avons très bien mangé, l'endroit est très calme. Fortement conseillé, expérience inoubliable
Taryn (10/5): - Perfetto Perfetto
Helmuth (10/5): it was inspiring and vibrant - I’ll sure to come again - very friendly service, especially to mention- lucas and ezra. but the whole team is extraordinary……
Malini (10/5): -
John (9/5): Lovely, relaxing and insight in local projects from Africa Amini Life. - Perfect cabins/views, friendly personnel and delicious food/meals. Nice hiking in the mountains. It is remote unless you come for the mountains, Arusha N.P. (accommodation at the gate / border of the park) or relaxing and enjoying the nature and views) You have to travel around the N.P. (Otherwise paying entrance fee ($59 pp)
Stefanie (10/5): Super leuk project! - Het uitzicht! Dat een deel van de opbrengsten naar een super project gaan! Het bezoek aan de school, de kinderveilige en het ziekenhuis. Het was wel heel lang rijden en moeilijk te bereiken.
Kristina (10/5): Exceptional -
Andrew (10/5): Lovely stay - Quiet, friendly and personalised service Difficult to get there, far off the main road
Bart (10/5): Unbelievable experience - The luxury of the accommodation is wonderful, the back patio with a stunning view of Mount Meru an unbelievable place to enjoy breakfast and dinner. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Oh and you're supporting an NGO that does fantastic work for the local Meru and Masai people. Nothing really, only that we only had 1 night to spend there.
Peter (10/5): Exceptional -
Matthias (10/5): Very friendly, lovely stuff, nice location - Very calm location, close to the park, nice on the hillside
Meikšāns (7/5): Excellent views, and the romance of country side - We liked the bounty of nature, privacy, and amazing views; it was really outstanding, with extremely friendly personnel, very tasty food, and three meals per day, which was even a bit too much for us. Even lunch box on the way to the airport. We lloved to support local community with our stay. And we would recommedn to attend the local woman taylor shop. Kelvin showed us around local market and we loved his stories. We were bitten with some of some mosqitos, but that is the part of the game in Tanzania. Cold or medium warm shower in mornings, but in evenings the water was already warm enough.
Laelaye (10/5): Exceptional - Location and staffing attentiveness. Especially Lucas was exceptional with us.
Mohammed (9/5): For Nature lovers - Friendly welcoming staff, the design, location in the middle of the forest The road condition to reach the hotel is not the best also the distance is a bit far
Christine (10/5): It was wonderful to discover this really confidential place. - More than a beautiful accommodation, Hillside retreat is part of Africa Amini life ( Humanitarian project including a school, a medical center , an orphanage ) it worse to go to there just to help them. The location was amazing with mount Meru view. Comfortable and spacious villa. Friendly and helpfull staff. For me nothing to change it was above my expectations and it was touching to meet all the Africa mini Life adults and childs. I have liked everything but I will just make a comment about the access to find Hillsidd retreat . The gayest way to access is from the main gate of Arusha park you can cross it takes 45 min to 1 hour but you will have to pay the entrance fee of the park. If you are not planning to visit Arusha park and pay the entrance fee the alternative road is much longer from the main road driving on really small road and signs to reach the place is not to easy to find ( specially when you arrive by night like we did). Knowing this , no regret the place really worth it . Just take in mind this point to plan your drive .
Janine (10/5): A really special place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Tanzania - Wonderfully remote and breathtakingly beautiful location. Accommodation is very tasteful and comfortable. The team led by Lucas greeted us with the warmest of welcomes and were so attentive throughout our stay. The food which is locally produced is delicious and plentiful. With proceeds contributing to the local community, this really is an amazing treasure of a hotel. Nothing. It requires careful following of instructions to find - it is very remote (which we loved)
Douglas (10/5): Magnificent! - We love the location, the welcoming hosts, the view and the food. Very accommodating. Lovely quiet retreat. We would absolutely recommend this place. Be prepared for a 1 hour bumpy ride to get here from T5. But, beautiful scenery along the way. The staff is great. The money from the lodge goes to support a local school and clinic. All solar powered. We also loved the resident dog “Puma”. She just loved hanging out with us. The night and early morning bird sounds are something to experience. Can’t beat the view of Mt. Meru.
Doug (9/5): Superb -
Tobias (10/5): Exceptional - Just wow! We stayed at the large house and we absolutely stunned by the incredible view onto Mt. Meru. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. We did several of the offered activities and loved all of them. We loved it so much that we extended our stay. It was our favorite place to stay in our whole Tanzania journey.
Arne (10/5): If you want to find out more about this area, come there. - It's not just a lodge, it's part of a community project. The lodge itself is located on the edge of Arusha National Park with a magnificent view of Mount Meru. We had a very large lodge for 2 people and were able to let off steam there. nothing.
Bert (9/5): Superb - Very nice and helpful staff. Wonderful environment. They could do more to explain in detail/ exactly how one gets there. Not obvious to avoid the route which requires paying park fees.
Antonio (10/5): Your own paradise - This is the place to stay if you can go away from it all, it is like your own house in África, wonderful food, beautiful and authentic premises, incredible landscape with 2 volcanos on sight and a very special staff involved in an enrichment project, what else can you ask for?
Julien (10/5): Great stay with wonderful host - thanks Lucas! - Great location and sets you up well if you are going on safari. There are multiple types of birds everywhere and saw giraffes in the distance. Lucas and team were great. Nothing
Kg (10/5): Unique place - This is not a conventional lodge. The property consists of several separate houses, and meals are served individually at each, would be perfect for a honeymoon. The property is affiliated with an amazing foundation providing a range of educational and health care services. We spent a day visiting most sites, well worth it if you are interested. To other basic points, staff was beyond great, food excellent. The avocado toast at breakfast was the best I’ve ever tasted. Nothing really. Awesome place. Just one word of advice, if you are at all tall, stoop a bit at the doorframes, at least the case in our house.
Erwin (9/5): Superb -
Yuki (9/5): Remote & Lovely - This Lodge is lovely if you are intending to go into Arusha National Park. The location has lovely views of Mt. Meru and it is very quiet and remote. The staff was all very kind and attentive. For our purposes, it was out of the way, but that was our own fault for not fully understanding how long the driving distances are in the bush. And for anyone self-driving be mindful the roads are very hard to navigate! The bathrooms could use a little spiffing up.
Sarah (10/5): Gorgeous on every level. You do good and feel good by staying here. - The term ‘hidden gem’ was invented for places like this. Seek it out amid the lush mountainous scenery and you will not be disappointed by its story, its heart or its seemingly magical powers. The incredible food, welcoming team, the homely warm accommodation and the overall wonderful restorative vibe will stay with our family for a very long time. Asante sana. Minor thing but wish we’d known ahead of time to arrive via Ngare-Nanyuki (north of Mount Meru), or via Kingori from the south - our family were very nearly charged 400USD to access via road through Arusha National Park in our 4x4 vehicle. Sorted with a phonecall but also added a smidge of stress + a couple hours Plan B travel time. Still worth it in the end though!!
Sarah (10/5): Words can’t describe this truly special place doing incredible things. - From the moment we arrived, we knew this was a magical place (and in a heartbeat decided to extend our stay). Not only does staying here impact the bottom line of the multiple ways the Africa Amini foundation supports local health and community projects, there’s so much on offer, all without any sense of urgency or push. The team were incredibly welcoming and thoughtful, Pearl, Lucas, Malachi - all utterly brilliant with our kids. The food (oh my…) was seriously impeccable - truly the best we had in our whole Tanzanian trip - made with love and brought to a wonderfully laid table right outside our accommodation - with the bonus of waking to find an unexpected giraffe casually mooching through our garden one morn, then serenaded by the sound of bush babies as we ate in the evenings. The swimming pool, grounds, coffee bar and even the micro gift shop - all perfection. The story behind its inception and the progress they’ve built here in the area is truly inspirational. I visited the incredible Africa Amini Alama Clinic (about 10 mins drive away) for a booked massage which was wonderful, if a little selfish compared to all the excursions on offer to locally-founded schools and working co-operatives. You get a real sense of the good they do in one short visit so I’d recommend it highly. The property itself that we stayed in was unique - homely in style, thoughtfully rustic but with a wonderful attention to detail, brimming with a genuine warmth. We could have happily stayed a month or more in this hidden gem that we feel blessed to have discovered. Nashukuru to you all. We actually really enjoyed the huge variety of bugs and mini-beasts indoors - but some might find them distracting (nb: there were cans of bug spray on offer - we chose not to use pesticides and instead embrace nature in full!)
Kazim (10/5): Lovely stay - Beautiful place and very lovely staff They took extra measures to make our stay comfortable and unforgettable I have been to several places but this retreat by far was the top The food was great Gorgeous view Welcoming staff Definitely will come again It was a bit stuffy since there was no air-conditioning or fans But the weather was cool so we kept the windows opened It would have been lovely if there was at least fans
Amy (10/5): Exceptional -
Aneesha (10/5): Exceptional -
Alex (10/5): Top top top!!! - we liked everything, staff, food, room, visits around the hotel… we had the chance to visit the projects they created: schools, hospitals, orphanage, organic farms…. and it was amazing. all the benefits from the hotel go to those projects so don’t hesitate!