Naibala Manyara Lodge

A Maasai hut or a room on the cliff? That’s the choice you face at Naibala Manyara Lodge in Mto wa Mbu, a short way from Lake Manyara National Park. In one wing you stay in huts modelled on traditional Maasai houses; the other, called Msonge, sits right at the top of the cliff above the lake, with a view of the sunset. Both come as double and family rooms with natural materials in earthy tones, and at the pool with its sun deck the water seems to flow straight into the horizon of the lake. The restaurant cooks local and international dishes with fresh ingredients from the region, and the team organises game drives, birdwatching, cultural tours and nature walks. According to the lodge, by the way, the huts stay pleasantly cool during the day and give off warmth at night, Maasai-style air conditioning, so to speak.