Set on a coffee farm about 12km west of Arusha, lovely Kimemo offers a genteel and secluded getaway, and a convenient base for exploring northern Tanzania’s parks. Its five self-catering villas are each set in large private gardens surrounded by impeccably manicured grounds.
All are beautifully designed, with Cape Dutch-influenced exterior architecture and spacious, well-ventilated and well-lit interiors. Each villa has two bedrooms, both with large paned windows overlooking the gardens on two sides, spotless white linens on the beds, billowy mosquito nets, and wooden beamed ceilings. There is also a smaller third bedroom, which has an Internet connection and can double as an office. The spacious living room has a fireplace and cable TV. Each villa also has a fully-equipped kitchen, a covered patio, and a main bathroom with a sunken garden-view bathtub.
For those not wishing to self-cater, breakfast and lunch can be ordered at Kimemo Café (closed Sunday) in the main farmhouse, and dinner is served at a restaurant nearby. The café also sells Kimemo’s signature coffee, plus homemade jam and cookies. Don’t miss the marvelous sunset views of Mt. Meru from the café’s garden tables.
The grounds of the coffee estate surrounding Kimemo are filled with an amazing variety of birds, and are ideal for quiet walks. Two-hour coffee tours can also be arranged, including an overview of the history of Kimemo Farm, which dates to the early 1900s, and a visit to the coffee processing area. Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks are within easy reach as day excursions. It is also possible to visit Ngorongoro Crater in a day, with an early start. Kimemo is just a short drive from Arusha Airport, which has daily flights to most national parks and Zanzibar.
Kimemo (which takes its name from KI-limanjaro, ME-ru and MO-nduli – northern Tanzania’s three coffee-growing mountains) is probably not the best choice for those wanting to be in the thick of things (one of the Arusha town hotels would be better), nor for those wanting hotel-style services. However, it is an unbeatable choice for families and for those travelers seeking comfortable, classy surroundings away from the more traditional accommodation options, and I heartily recommend it.
Expert Review
Set on a coffee farm about 12km west of Arusha, lovely Kimemo offers a genteel and secluded getaway, and a...
Set on a coffee farm about 12km west of Arusha, lovely Kimemo offers a genteel and secluded getaway, and a convenient base for exploring northern Tanzania’s parks. Its five self-catering villas are each set in large private gardens surrounded by impeccably manicured grounds.
All are beautifully designed, with Cape Dutch-influenced exterior architecture and spacious, well-ventilated and well-lit interiors. Each villa has two bedrooms, both with large paned windows overlooking the gardens on two sides, spotless white linens on the beds, billowy mosquito nets, and wooden beamed ceilings. There is also a smaller third bedroom, which has an Internet connection and can double as an office. The spacious living room has a fireplace and cable TV. Each villa also has a fully-equipped kitchen, a covered patio, and a main bathroom with a sunken garden-view bathtub.
For those not wishing to self-cater, breakfast and lunch can be ordered at Kimemo Café (closed Sunday) in the main farmhouse, and dinner is served at a restaurant nearby. The café also sells Kimemo’s signature coffee, plus homemade jam and cookies. Don’t miss the marvelous sunset views of Mt. Meru from the café’s garden tables.
The grounds of the coffee estate surrounding Kimemo are filled with an amazing variety of birds, and are ideal for quiet walks. Two-hour coffee tours can also be arranged, including an overview of the history of Kimemo Farm, which dates to the early 1900s, and a visit to the coffee processing area. Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks are within easy reach as day excursions. It is also possible to visit Ngorongoro Crater in a day, with an early start. Kimemo is just a short drive from Arusha Airport, which has daily flights to most national parks and Zanzibar.
Kimemo (which takes its name from KI-limanjaro, ME-ru and MO-nduli – northern Tanzania’s three coffee-growing mountains) is probably not the best choice for those wanting to be in the thick of things (one of the Arusha town hotels would be better), nor for those wanting hotel-style services. However, it is an unbeatable choice for families and for those travelers seeking comfortable, classy surroundings away from the more traditional accommodation options, and I heartily recommend it.