With the shiny glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro and the treacherous peaks of dormant volcano Mount Meru keeping watch, Hatari is a unique lodge where Hollywood history,  funky retro design, and a parade of colorful creatures – from black-and-white colobus monkeys to shocking-pink flamingos – all come together.

Hatari is set on the northern border of Tanzania’s Arusha National Park, an area akin to a ‘little Serengeti’: Ngurdoto Crater is smaller than its bigger cousin Ngorongoro but nearly as legendary. The Momella Lakes are home to waterfowl and lazy hippos, and are a short walk from your doorstep, and, of course, there are endless plains for spectacular game viewing.

The lodge itself was once home to the cast and crew of the biggest-grossing movie of 1962, Hatari!, which starred John Wayne as a hapless animal wrangler. The elephants in the movie inspired Henry Mancini’s famous Baby Elephant Walkcomposition, and today, guests can also be amused by the playful antics of the baby bellies and their protective mothers at Hatari’s private jetty that runs to a popular watering hole. Hatari’s nine rooms have been stylishly inspired by the ‘Op Art’ designs of the 1950s and 1960s, with many components designed and custom-made in Tanzania to support various co-operatives and charity initiatives.

Highlights

• Offbeat décor in homage to the 50s & 60s
• Excellent wildlife & birding
• Game drives & safari walks
• Mount Meru hiking tours

Activities

• CANOEING
• DAY TOURS
• FULL-DAY SAFARIS
• GUIDED WALKS
• HIKING
• LOCAL VILLAGE VISITS
• PICNICS

Magnificent views, wildlife wandering right past the lodge, and the stylish (or quirky if you prefer) decor make this lodge a great choice. I love the idea of easing into a safari and Hatari would be one of my first options for a pre-safari stay near Arusha. The location truly is outstanding.

Rooms

Deluxe Room

Hatari Lodge has arguably the most striking décor in this part of the world. Inspired by the milieu of the 1960s smash-hit movie Hatari!, the designers commissioned craftsmen in Dar es Salaam to make the unique ceramics, wash basins, and wooden furniture found in the nine bedrooms. The ‘modern retro’ bed linen – in typically funky greens, whites, and classic Sixties’ ‘burnt orange’ - was created by the women of a nearby village, while the carpets were woven by a women’s co-operative and the sisal mats by a local church group.

Even the wallpaper is custom-designed and made! In addition to their playful designs, the bedrooms all have large en suite bathrooms with signature amenities and walk-in showers, log fireplaces for cooler evenings, and private verandahs from which to enjoy a morning cuppa and the sunrise over northern Tanzania.

Facilities

Hatari Lodge consists of three lovingly restored farmstead buildings nestled in a grove of sweetly fragranced acacia trees. The largest houses the cozy lounge and dining area, and the breakfast terrace often hosts a passing parade of visiting warthogs and curious giraffes. Guests can choose to take meals at a communal table, perfect for swapping stories of the day’s game drive or hiking highlights. Linking the garden with the interior, the long bar is a good spot for a post-dinner nightcap, while the wooden jetty snakes its way to the nearby watering hole, which is great for game spotting by day and shooting-star gazing by night. Pluck a volume from the thoughtfully stocked library and curl up by the open fireplace in the sitting room before going to bed in the quiet bliss of the African night.

Dining

The team of chefs at Hatari Lodge creates a tasty fusion of international cuisine with an African twist. Featuring fresh ingredients and focusing on wholesome and healthy fare, each meal is carefully planned, from the early breakfast buffet and grill to the convivial evening dinners around the central dining table. A mouth-watering selection of delicacies is always available, whether dainty cakes and savouries for afternoon high tea, or a delicious picnic lunch as you explore the primeval wonders of Arusha National Park on a day trip.