Luxury Lodge · Arusha, Tanzania
Gran Meliá Arusha
Five-star eco-hotel on a working coffee and tea plantation in Arusha, with Mount Meru views and the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro within reach.
Arusha is Tanzania’s northern safari hub — the city from which the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Mount Kilimanjaro National Park are all accessed, and the point through which most Tanzania safari itineraries begin and end. It sits at 1,400 metres above sea level on the slopes of Mount Meru, with a climate temperate enough to make it genuinely pleasant as a pre- or post-safari destination rather than merely a transit point. The question for safari operators and travellers arriving in Arusha has historically been: where do you stay that matches the calibre of the camps you are heading to or returning from? Gran Meliá Arusha was built to answer that question.
The hotel occupies 18 acres of working organic coffee and tea plantation on the eastern edge of the city, a setting that gives it a quality of grounds — lush, planted, alive with birdsong, and producing a fresh crop that feeds directly into the hotel’s kitchen and coffee programme — unavailable to properties built on cleared or urban land. Mount Meru dominates the western skyline from the infinity pool, the restaurant terraces, and every room facing the gardens; on clear days the summit appears above the plantation canopy with the authority of a mountain that is, at 4,566 metres, Africa’s fifth highest.
The design draws explicitly on Tanzania’s cultural and agricultural heritage. Rooms are decorated in the motifs of local Tanzanian tribes and painted in the warm tones of the coffee bean — a palette that gives the interiors a warmth and specificity that generic five-star hotel design does not. The property is part of Meliá Hotels International’s SELECT Hotels & Resorts programme and offers the RedLevel premium tier across its suites and select deluxe rooms — a private lounge with breakfast service, evening open bar, organic Tanzanian toiletries, private check-in, and butler service on request.
Three restaurants, two bars, a full-service spa, sauna, 24-hour gym, infinity pool, and one of Tanzania’s most capable conference facilities — suitable for events from small board meetings to 500-delegate international gatherings — complete a property built as much for the business traveller arriving via Kilimanjaro International as for the safari guest transiting to the Serengeti the following morning.
Gran Meliá Arusha sits on 18 acres of organic coffee and tea plantation in central Arusha, with rooms inspired by Tanzanian tribal motifs, an infinity pool facing Mount Meru, three restaurants, full spa, and the RedLevel butler programme.
Why Stay Here
- 18 acres of organic plantation; the hotel grows and serves its own coffee, avocados, and honey.
- Infinity pool with Mount Meru views — the signature image of the property
- RedLevel Program: VIP lounge, premium open bar, organic Tanzanian toiletries, private check-in, and butler service.
- Dining & Drinks: Three restaurants and two bars serving African, international, and barbecue cuisines.
- Wellness Center: Full-service spa, sauna, and a 24-hour gym with comprehensive wellness programs.
- Event Spaces: State-of-the-art conference facilities accommodating up to 500 delegates.
- Airport Proximity: 9 km from Arusha Airport and 50 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Safari Gateway: Strategic base located 1–4 hours from Tanzania's major northern circuit parks.
Our Commitment to Conservation
Gran Meliá Arusha reduces its environmental impact through energy-efficient design, gas water heating, and an 1.8-acre on-site organic farm. This working farm supplies coffee, tea, avocados, vegetables, and honey directly to the hotel kitchen, eliminating supply chain transport for core produce.
Rooms & Accommodation
Gran Meliá Arusha’s rooms and suites are decorated in Tanzanian tribal motifs and coffee-bean tones, each with air conditioning, balcony, 65-inch or 86-inch TV, minibar, free Wi-Fi, safe, tea and coffee facilities, and en-suite bathroom. Standard and deluxe rooms are 40 m²; suites range from 90 m² (Junior Suite) to 283 m² (Presidential Suite with connected Deluxe RedLevel). RedLevel categories include private lounge access, organic Tanzanian toiletries, private check-in, and butler service on request.
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Deluxe Room — Mount Meru View
King or twin beds in a room decorated with Tanzanian tribal motifs and coffee-bean tones, with a private balcony overlooking Mount Meru and the hotel gardens. Air conditioning, 65-inch TV, minibar, safe, tea and coffee facilities, and en-suite bathroom with shower.
King or twin beds · Private balcony · Mount Meru views · Air conditioning · 65-inch TV · Minibar · Safe · Tea and coffee · En-suite bathroom · Free Wi-Fi
Deluxe Room RedLevel — Mount Meru View
Same Tanzanian-inspired room as the standard Deluxe but with full RedLevel benefits: private lounge access with breakfast, evening open bar, organic Tanzanian toiletries, private check-in, and butler service on request. Balcony with Mount Meru views. 86-inch TV.
King or twin beds · Private balcony · 86-inch TV · Air conditioning · Minibar · Safe · Tea and coffee · En-suite bathroom · RedLevel Lounge access · Organic toiletries · Butler service on request · Free Wi-Fi
Junior Suite RedLevel
A suite with separate bedroom and lounge, balcony overlooking Mount Meru and Arusha National Park, and full RedLevel privileges. Bathtub and shower en-suite. Butler service on request.
King bed · Separate lounge · Balcony with Mount Meru and park views · Bathtub and shower · Air conditioning · 65-inch TV · Minibar · RedLevel Lounge access · Organic toiletries · Butler service on request · Free Wi-Fi
Grand Suite RedLevel
Master bedroom, separate lounge, and dining area with Mount Meru views. Bathroom with bathtub and shower, bathrobe and slippers. Full RedLevel service including butler. One of the hotel's principal long-stay and VIP configurations.
King bed · Separate lounge and dining area · Mount Meru views · Bathtub and shower · Bathrobe and slippers · 65-inch TV · Minibar · RedLevel Lounge access · Private butler service · Organic toiletries · Free Wi-Fi
Family Suite
Suite with separate lounge, Mount Meru balcony views, and a sleeping configuration suited to families. En-suite bathroom with bathtub and shower. Designed with the same Tanzanian tribal aesthetic running throughout the property.
King and/or twin beds · Separate lounge · Balcony with Mount Meru views · Bathtub and shower · Air conditioning · TV · Minibar · Free Wi-Fi
Presidential Suite RedLevel
The hotel's most expansive configuration — a Presidential Suite connected to a Deluxe RedLevel room, with panoramic Mount Meru views, master bedroom, lounge, dining area, and full RedLevel butler service. The largest and most prestigious stay at Gran Meliá Arusha.
King bed + connected Deluxe room · Panoramic Mount Meru views · Full RedLevel service · Private butler · Lounge and dining area · Bathtub and shower · 65-inch TV · Minibar · Organic toiletries · Free Wi-Fi
Experiences & Activities
Every moment at Gran Meliá Arusha is crafted to immerse you deeper in the wild.
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Dining
Gran Meliá Arusha operates three dining venues. The Grill is the flagship restaurant — an open-air space serving international cuisine with a focus on premium grilled meats, fresh produce from the hotel’s organic farm, and an extensive wine list. Saba Saba serves African and Swahili-inspired cuisine in a more casual format. The poolside bar covers daytime drinks, cocktails, and light meals beside the infinity pool. The hotel’s organic farm supplies fresh vegetables, avocados, honey from on-site beehives, and coffee from the plantation directly to the kitchen. RedLevel guests receive a private breakfast in the RedLevel Lounge each morning, with hot beverages, pastries, and an evening open bar service with premium spirits and snacks. Room service is available 24 hours.
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Best Time to Visit
Arusha and the northern Tanzania safari circuit operate year-round, and Gran Meliá Arusha functions as a year-round gateway rather than a seasonal destination. The choice of when to visit is driven by the safari itinerary rather than the city itself.
The dry seasons — January to February and June to October — are the peak safari windows for the northern circuit. The Great Migration in the Serengeti peaks in the July to October window, when the wildebeest river crossings at the Mara and Grumeti are at their most dramatic. January and February bring the calving season to the Serengeti’s southern plains — a predator-rich spectacle that rivals the crossing season in its wildlife intensity. The dry months also offer the best Kilimanjaro summit visibility and the most favourable trekking conditions.
The green seasons of March to May (long rains) and November (short rains) bring lush vegetation, lower visitor numbers, and significantly reduced rates at most northern circuit camps and lodges. Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park are particularly rewarding in the green season — the crater’s permanent water supports year-round wildlife, and Tarangire’s elephant herds are at their most concentrated in the wet months when newborn calves are present. Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro International operate year-round without seasonal restrictions.
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Location & Getting Here
Destination
Arusha, Tanzania
Conservation Area
Arusha, Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit
Nearest Airstrip
Arusha Airport (9 km / 15 min) · Kilimanjaro International Airport (50 km / 45 min)
Transfer Time
15-min road transfer from Arusha Airport; 45-min from Kilimanjaro International
Getting Here
In Arusha city, 9 km from Arusha Airport (15 min) and 50 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport (45 min). Gateway to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Kilimanjaro — all within 1–4 hours. 2.6 km from the Old German Boma; 12 km from Arusha National Park.
Safaris That Include This Lodge
Explore handcrafted itineraries where Gran Meliá Arusha forms part of the journey.
