Rivertrees Country Inn
Once an old coffee estate, Rivertrees is now a charming country inn nestled in abundant foliage with the Usa River flowing by. Set in the foothills of Mt Meru, conveniently close to Kilimanjaro International Airport and a short drive to Arusha, its location proffers a wealth of natural wonders to explore. Comprising the original Farm House, an elegant River House, luxurious River Cottages and several beautifully appointed Garden Rooms, it also serves delicious garden-fresh cuisine in its stunningly set restaurant. The swimming pool and spa are tailored for relaxation, and friendly personalised service ensures a memorable stay, whether for a one-night stopover or much longer.
River House
With all the style and understated elegance of the owner’s private pied-a-terre, the River House is well suited to those with discerning taste, and who value secluded space and exclusivity. Two ample bedrooms and a lavish living room can comfortably host a group of four, while the wrap-around veranda and its river views offer a peaceful setting for repose.
River Cottage
Snugly set in forested thickets and perched high on the riverbank, two spacious cottages are designed to complement the privacy and seclusion of their natural element. A terrace opening onto the forest and the outdoor rain showers invite inhabitants to soak in the beauty of their surrounds, and to appreciate the wildlife animating the canopy overhead.
The Farm House
The Farm House was the heart of the coffee estate before it first became a B&B, and still retains the air of a much-loved home, adorned with family antiques and old portraits on its walls. Containing four en-suite rooms, each with its own entrance, the house can comfortably accommodate families or groups of up to ten, with plenty of space for lounging on its vast veranda or curling up in front of the fireplace.
The Garden Rooms
The delightful Garden Rooms are each uniquely and tastefully furnished, and yield views across acres of lush lawns from the shelter of fertile foliage. Several are adjoined for families and friends, while others offer couples the exclusivity and romance of their own private space. The Rivertrees reservation team makes a point of allocating each room according to the needs of their individual guests and takes care to ensure that the right match is made for the perfect stay.
Rivertrees is immersed in the natural beauties indigenous to Northern Tanzania, and there is never any shortage of exploring to do. Opt for Arusha National Park and the foothills of Mt Meru a mere 15 minutes away, or spend an afternoon canoeing on Duluti’s spectacular crater lake. A cycle through the colourful bustle of the village and past smallholder coffee projects offers insight into local life. Most tours are at additional cost.
LOCAL VILLAGE TOUR
A few hours meandering through the bustling village of Usa River offers an enchanting insight into day-to-day Tanzanian life, and a wonderful way to interact with the vibrant culture of the region. A guide will lead the way past local farms, stopping to talk farming methods with the people working the fields, before escorting you to the heart of the community to impart a flavour of the colour and vitality of the village.
SELF-GUIDED BIRDING TOUR
Even without leaving the estate, the impressive diversity of bird species dwelling in Rivertrees’ swathe of woodland makes for an engrossing afternoon of spotting and identifying, for those who enjoy peaceful pottering with binoculars in hand. The pathways that wind around the grounds were made to make the most of the river and the forest’s natural charm, and yield up many scenic spots en route.
TANZANIAN COFFEE TOUR
The Aranga Coffee Group consists of 28 Tanzanian families, some of whom have been growing organic coffee since the early 1900’s. A three-hour guided tour wends its way through Nkoaranga Village to the Group’s nursery, where one of the local farmers will walk you through the process of growing, picking and drying the berries, before a tour of the factory where the coffee is ground and packaged as the delicious final product enjoyed the world over.
MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE
For those fascinated by the local lifestyle, an expedition on bicycle meanders through colourful village life and rural scenery, highlighting smallholder projects that bear out the region’s coffee-growing legacy. Zigzagging up into the hills of Mt Meru before spiralling back down to the inn, this is a two-hour trip that can be tailored to the fitness of the individual, and is led by one of our local guides.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK DAY TRIP
Tarangire National Park is a mere three-hour drive from Rivertrees, and offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a day’s safari in one of Tanzania’s richest reserves. Its high elephant population imparts a rare chance to get up close to these gentle giants, and there’s always the possibility of glimpsing some predators slinking through the savannah. The proximity of such a treasure trove of wildlife, and in such a scenic setting, makes this a must for those with a day to spare.
MANYARA NATIONAL PARK DAY TRIP
Lake Manyara is one of East Africa’s spectacular soda lakes, created by the tectonic activity of the Great Rift Valley. When water levels are high, this is a body of water that spans up to 200 square kilometers, and plays host to unfathomable numbers of flamingoes as well as hundreds of other species of birds and wildlife. Within easy reach of Rivertrees, it makes for a memorable day trip and beautifully showcases one of Northern Tanzania’s natural beauties.
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK DAY
Blessed with a stunning national park on our doorstep, there are activities abounding to do justice to this special spot. For those happy to take in the sights from the seat of a jeep, a full-day game drive showcases the diversity of this lush Eden. For the more active, break the drive with an exploration on foot and absorb the cool quiet of the forest. Alternatively, trade the jeep for a canoe and take in the birdlife on Momela Lake… Or, better yet – do all three.
LAKE DULUTI CANOEING
A short drive in the direction of Arusha leads to the little-known gem that is Lake Duluti Forest Reserve, whose lake is a crater enclosed by plush slopes of forest leading down to the water’s edge. An afternoon canoeing across its calm surface offers stunning views of Mt Meru, as well as a wealth of birdlife resident to its surrounds. Most notably, flocks of Cattle Egrets numbering in the hundreds swoop in overhead as they return to roost toward evening.
Kili Climb - 9-day Kilimanjaro hike starting at Machame Gate.
Highlights:
• A gradual and breathtakingly beautiful climb to the roof of Africa; the highest free
standing mountain in the world.
• Avoid the crowds and ascend through Afromontane forest to the edge of the
remnants of the Shira Volcano.
• Circumnavigate the main peak, Kibo, passing the spectacular giant steps and
glacial valleys.
• Leisurely route allowing for acclimatization.
• Professional, experienced mountain guides with first-class safety objectives
including the latest technology, training, tools, communication and support.
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Rivertrees Country Inn - Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport, transfer to Rivertrees Country Inn 1 NIGHT
Days 2-7 - Mount Kilimanjaro climb - Machame Route 6 NIGHTS
Day 8 - Rivertrees Country Inn - Descend through the mountain forest, transfer to Rivertrees Country Inn - 1 NIGHT
Day 9 - Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport
Summary:
From Machame Gate hikers will ascending through the Afromontane forest and camp on the first night at the edge of the forest. The second day takes the party to the edge of the remnants of the Shira volcano. A steep incline takes walkers into the heath zone, filled with helichrysum and lobelia plants as well as various geologic features from lava tubes to glacial valleys. The third day is an ascent onto a steep, rocky ridge through heather and open moorlands, to Barranco Camp. The route then turns east and circumnavigates the main peak, Kibo, passing some spectacular features such as lava towers, giant steps and glacial valleys. The final ascent is from Barafu camp, with a night time ascent to Uhuru Peak via Stella Point. The descent is via the Mweka route.
