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Rivertrees Country Inn

Our rating

7/10

Price guide

Highlights

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Overview

Rivertrees Country Inn is situated halfway between the town of Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport. It lies on the banks of the Usa River within four hectares of lush, well-tended, tropical gardens. Filled with flame trees, bougainvillea, hibiscus and banana trees, these are a haven for birdlife, and the lodge's rural location adds to its feeling of calm and tranquillity.

The old farmhouse at Rivertrees has been restored and converted into the lodge's main lounge area. Furnished with antiques and with old framed photos of the property and surrounding areas on the walls, it has a large fireplace and a few separate seating areas. In one corner, a cabinet houses a selection of books, magazines and board games; in another is a small TV area with satellite TV. Afternoon tea is served here or out on the large covered veranda, overlooking well-tended lawns.

The dining room and bar are in a separate thatched building, which is completely open-sided with views over the gardens. On sunny days the dining tables may be moved out on to the lawns under large shady trees. There is an open kitchen, too, so you can watch the chefs as they prepare your evening meal: home-cooked food, using fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit from Rivertrees' extensive vegetable gardens. There is also a small seating area with comfortable sofas around a fireplace. Tucked around the corner from the dining area is a rustic bar, made from the wood of an old dhow, and lined with chunky wooden bar stools.

Rivertrees has a total of 14 rooms dotted around the large property, all of which are en suite and have fans and mosquito nets. These are made up as follows:

10 standard rooms form the bulk of the accommodation. Three of these are located in the original old farmhouse, with the other seven grouped together nearby. Each has red-polished concrete floors dotted with traditional grass mats, under a whirring ceiling fan. The furniture consists of a wooden four-poster bed (or twin or triple beds) draped with mosquito nets, a writing desk and chair, a day bed, and a simple wardrobe. It's all very solidly built, and should be very cool – even when temperatures outside are high

The white-tiled en-suite bathroom is small and functional with a single basin, shower cubicle with shower curtain, and a toilet. Some of the rooms also have a bath. Complimentary toiletries are provided. Outside is a small, covered veranda with two small wooden chairs and a table.

Two cottages stand on the banks of the Usa River, with the relaxing sound of flowing water nearby. These are very similar in style and furnishings to the standard rooms, and can be either twins or doubles, but are quite a bit larger. Each has a small seating area with two armchairs and a table beside a fireplace – lovely for chilly evenings. Both cottages have a ramp and handrails and are Rivertrees' most wheelchair-accessible option. The cottages have en-suite bathrooms that feel fairly light and spacious, with double basins set into a wooden cabinet, a separate bath, a shower cubicle and toilet. A door leads from the bathroom to a private outdoor shower. Fluffy white towels and bathrobes and complimentary toiletries are provided.

The River House, which is also located on the river bank, has two separate en-suite double bedrooms, a separate living room with fireplace and satellite TV, and a wrap-around veranda where you can eat dinner if you want some privacy. Since the beds are doubles, and the bathrooms are fairly open, we would recommend this as a good option for two couples travelling together as opposed to families, indeed they don't generally allow children to stay here.

Rivertrees is a lovely place to relax, whether wandering through the tree-lined gardens or by the large swimming pool or enjoy a variety of spa treatments. A range of activities is also available, although these really need to be booked in advance. It is possible to visit a local village, tour a nearby coffee plantation, or go to see the local market. Horse riding is also an option, organised on a nearby farm.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.

    MissingClaudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024

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