Irente View Cliff Lodge

We really wanted to love Irente View Cliff Lodge in Lushoto Town Tanzania.

We wanted a spot to just hang out and relax after all the thrills and busy activity of our wildlife safari.

The bus ride from Arusha was pretty brutal (though we did get some great views of Mt. Kilimanjaro!) and we needed a spot to recuperate and update our journals.

We didn't get timely responses to our emails, so I called and asked about available rooms.

The manager told me they did have a room at the superior rate.

I said OK. I then got an email from the woman who is something like an assistant manager. She told me they had both regular and superior rooms.

Being on a budget, we opted for the regular.

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When we arrived, the nice young woman seemed very confused. Eventually she consulted with the manager and he, very chidingly, told me I had reserved a superior room and that is what they prepared.

I told him about the follow-up email and pointed out he didn't tell me about the availability of a less expensive room.

I think we were discussing $65 versus $80... kind of premium rates for a hotel in an out of the way place in Tanzania.

Inexplicably, the manager returned and informed us he was giving us the superior room at the rate of a single rather than double - $60.

The hotel is on ideal location, you will need a taxi from Lushoto bus station( 10000 tsh) to get there as it is 6 km away in the mountains.

Apart from stunning views - all rooms overlook the mountains, and irente viewpoint is only 100 meters away up the hill.

Hot showers, tv ( didnt watch it) , spacious and clean rooms with balcony, peacefulness and friendly staff.

Rooms are cleaned daily and they even had a trash bin in the room which wasnt so common on my travel in Tanzania,;) Breakfast included, all meals were delicious and among the cheapest on the trip.

Highly recommend it .

There also works a young lad James, born in Irente village. You can arrange daily hike with him to Magamba forest or anywhere else, then Lushoto and back to Irente for 20 Usd per person.

He was really knowledgeable about the history of the region, he told us legends, showed us natural medicine plants in the forest, we have also tracked down a colubus monkeys, saw albino blackman, holding chameleons in the hands.

A very nice hike with a trustworthy guide. He also arranged us bus tickets for Dar with front seats and called a friend when our cab driver didn't show up early in the morning as we were leaving. Highly recommend this hotel, it is a bit pricy, but the views and tranquility are spectacular.