If you haven’t been to Tanzania, you might not have heard about Arusha. It’s a city between Mt Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park that doesn’t even have an international airport. It’s a lush oasis on the rainy side of Mount Meru, the fifth largest peak in Africa that has become a hub for tourists and diplomats. The city features upscale hotels for discerning guests that want respite before starting a grand expedition or as a base for fly-in safaris from the Arusha Airport.
While there are many choices of Arusha hotels, the five-star Gran Meliá Arusha stands out as the World Travel Awards recipient of Tanzania’s Leading Hotel for four years running. While it’s an acclaimed business hotel, it’s also one of the greenest hotels in Africa. We recently had a chance to stay at the Gran Meliá Arusha and would like to invite you to tour the property with us.
One of the Largest Pools in Africa
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
When we first walked into the Gran Meliá Arusha, we knew that we were in a five-star hotel, from the front-of-the-house services to crisp, clean, classic styling. Looking across the oversized pool to Mount Meru, we felt like we were in a garden oasis. However, the longer we stayed, and the deeper we looked, the more we realized the finer points that make this property so sustainable.
We wandered out to the overside pool and took in its glorious view of Mount Meru as a porter took our bags to our room. We noted the ample umbrellas and loungers for sunbathing but, even though the pool was heated, we weren’t ready to take the plunge and go for a swim. We headed up to see our room after our brief pool tour.
Comfortable Rooms
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The first thing we noticed about our room was how clean and modern it appeared. However, as we investigated further, we realized all the hidden accouterments. We found green touches like pencils fashioned from recycled newspapers, wooden toothbrushes and bamboo straws and very few single-use items. Even the coffee was grown and roasted on the grounds and brewed with water from a glass decanter purified at the hotel. We noticed something else that should help us rest easy, a pillow library to ensure sweet dreams.
Farm to Table Roof Top Bar
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
After some combination of unpacking, coffee, and hot shower, we feel refreshed and ready to continue touring the grounds. Like the saying goes, you start at the top so we head up to the rooftop bar. Of course the views are incredible, but we realized the extent of the grounds.
The menu boasted of many farm to table specialties, but we weren’t hungry yet. We did note the happy hour specials and set a mental note to return. However, the gardens and greenhouses we saw from our bird’s eye view told us it was time to travel down the garden path.
Lush Landscape
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The elevators opened next to the pool entrance so we stepped outside again. This time, we ventured past the pool. A small stream wound its way behind the pool area adorned with colorful flowers. Small trees and banana plants formed a backdrop to the scene.
We were tempted to think this landscape architecture was simply an ornamental garden to complement the pool experience. However, the paths leading up the hillside reminded us of how far back the gardens went so we continued our exploration.
Coffee Plantation
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
We got lucky while photographing a particularly attractive banana plant, one of the hotel’s gardeners offered to show us around. If you don’t feel like trusting your luck, you can book several garden and culinary tours at the front desk. The first significant plot he showed us was coffee bushes planted up and down the slopes. Our guide highlighted the full coffee growing cycle, starting with small white flowers and ending with red beans ready for harvest.
After seeing the plants, he took us to the back of the gardens where the coffee magic happened. He demonstrated how to pop the slimy white fruit from the casing and spread it out on a screen to air dry. He insisted that in three days, these little slimeballs dry out and are ready to be roasted.
Gardens Galore
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Our guide was extremely proud of his work and eagerly showed us the herb and vegetable gardens. There were typical African plants like okra growing well, but surprisingly, cool weather crops like broccoli were also thriving in sheltered shade houses. He pointed out organic gardening tactics like marigolds in the beds for natural pest control and an extensive rainwater collection system.
What surprised us the most was a chicken house that supplied the hotel with fresh meat and eggs. Farm to table at the Gran Meliá Arusha was not only thriving, but perfectly sourced. All the chef needed to do was call down to the gardner for a fresh-picked delivery with no waste.
Sanaa Workshop
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Our garden tour ended at the Sanaa Workshop where disabled artists create unique crafts from recycled waste. A new guide met us at the entrance and was eager to give us a tour. We visited more than a dozen different “departments” with teams of disabled artisans hard at work. We could tell each one took pride in their work and valued the opportunities it afforded them.
We recognized the weaving and blown glass from the accessories we saw in our room. Others, created uniquely Tanzania artifacts, like carved horn jewelry ethically sourced from cattle instead of elephants. Like many places, our tour ended in the gift shop where we could purchase anything we saw being created. Weight limits kept our souvenir collecting to a minimum, but the delicious smells from the neighboring garden cafe were too tempting to pass up.
Garden Cafe
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The Garden Cafe is located adjacent to the Sanaa Workshop in the back of the hotel’s garden. We picked patio seating so we could be immersed in the tranquility of the garden. We wanted to experience truly fresh farm-to-table delights so we selected a buddha bowl of fresh greens and roasted chicken which was even more delicious than it sounded because of the superior food quality. We headed back to our room with hearts and bellies full.
State-of-the-Art Workout Facility
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
We stopped into Gran Melia’s state-of-the-art gym on the way back to our room to work out some kinks from traveling. We found plenty of machines and free weights for any workout we imagined, but most importantly for us, they had plenty of yoga mats for stretching. We noted the professional spa adjacent to the gym and were tempted to book services. However, despite copious coffee consumption, it was time for a nap before dinner.
Fresh Buffet
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
We headed downstairs to buffet dinner after our beauty sleep. Like you’d expect, everything was bursting with farm-to-table freshness. The array of European and African specialties tempted us to keep filling our plates, but we wanted to save room for the delicious desert table. Jenn was particularly happy with the desert offerings because there was an extensive gluten-free section carefully separated from the other dishes.
Breakfast was equally as impressive, with fresh European cold cuts, breads, and cheese along with farm-fresh eggs prepared in any style you wanted. We made sure to order lattes from the in-house coffee plantation as well as getting seconds on fresh squeezed juices from the garden.
Leaving the Gran Meliá Arusha
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
After breakfast, we met our Guide, Cathbert, in the lobby. He would be our guide and driver for the next four nights on a spectacular Tanzanian safari with Altezza Travel. He arranged for us to pack a boxed lunch from the breakfast buffet before heading off into the Tanzanian countryside. In some ways, our stay at the Gran Meliá Arusha was too short. We didn’t have time for spa treatments or to partake in their culture excursions. However, it was so tranquil and well equipped that we never wanted to leave the grounds and were rested and ready to begin our adventures in Tanzania.