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Issue 00493 |
November 3 - 9, 2007 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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dining out |
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Serenity at Arumeru River Lodge By: Elisha Mayallah
The tranquillity of the Arumeru River Lodge set in lush tropical gardens providing breathtaking views of Mount Meru [4566m] and Mount Kilimanjaro [5895m] is reason enough to leave behind the maddening traffic jams now a talk of the town in Arusha after the Sanawari intersection was installed with traffic lights. The bird life and wilderness setting breathe life on to this quiet Lodge. Speaking of birds, the patch of the forest and the neighbourhood provide some of the best forest birding in the area. Forest birding, is believed, to be notoriously difficult with the birds being easy to hear but not so easy to see. Passing through winding smooth paved road which is stretched for nearly 700m south of the main Arusha - Moshi road and just a 15 minutes drive away from the town of Arusha is, but, a highlight. After some suggestions from a friend who thought we could actually take a late lunch outing within our town, his memories of this apt lodge gave me reasons to take the whole afternoon trip off. This magnificent new lodge is built on the site of an old coffee farm spread over 12 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and natural African bush land, bordering on a river lined with precious large old trees. These also give a panoramic view over the lodge and its surrounding areas. The lodge is the vision of Mr. Norbert Veit who is the Director and owner with the main ethos being to provide an opportunity for guests and visitors to enjoy the unique beauty that the former farm has to offer and to develop it without sacrificing the wild beauty of the area. Being somewhat vertically challenged, I've always believed in the idea of small is beautiful. Happily, it's a view supported by Mr. Norbert Veit. "This really is a special place," he says, aiming at the indescribable feeling of peace which combines great romantic ambiance, gracious lifestyle, incomparable recreational facilities that are found in the deep African bush setting of the lodge. Perhaps it's the English accent, perhaps it's the "being there" attitude, perhaps it's the enthusiasm for new views and creatures, but the owners of the lodge definitely had a touch of contemporary African design. The design is just gorgeous! The decor is eclectic, whimsical and a relief. The rooms are designed and decorated in harmony with the main building where the accent is on traditional eco-friendly African architecture. Three suites - houses might be a more fitting description - spaced along a hillside, this place defines safari chic. The lodge's 20 spacious comfortable rooms with en suite bathrooms and verandas in 10 chalets, all in otherwise a flat landscape – provide the intimate, exclusive choice for people who like their lodges small, posh and personal. In the morning, tourists love to take it slow and walk through the twist of the roads under the forest canopies. Apart from breathing in some fresh air you would catch a few guests seated in the beautiful gardens doing some leisure reading. The evenings call for a rise in the adrenaline as folks soak themselves in solar heated swimming pool. Incidentally as I learn from the hotel owners, you don't have to look beyond this lodge for your honeymoon, as the lodge is slowly becoming a destination for the honeymooners and everyone is trying to stand out for something unique. Its extensive gardens make it ideal for corporate retreats and study tours as well. All meals are eaten with other guests in the main carvery restaurant and the outdoor terrace areas. Sumptuous international and African cuisine dishes both a la carte and buffet are in supply. For those who are not 'in appetite' special light snack menus are on offer served on the terrace and at the swimming pool. The menu at the lodge offers a remarkable selection of generally lavish continental dishes with fresh ingredients in a lively setting, with the occasional burst of Eurocentric cuisine. Our hosts chose to start us off with some flattering reception of coffee as we watched a Thomson Gazelle wander around in the backyard. It was all-quiet save for the storyteller who was at it as he proudly unfolded an account that has seen the lodge add value to its clients to one of the country's potential tourism zones. And the real food at the lodge is one of the big surprises, outstanding in every respect as ingredients are fresh, veggies never overcooked and sauces light and tasty. The hints of ginger, coriander and chili introduced into various dishes suggest a very light-handed fusion of cooking styles. Exercise, in the form of walking or stretching out is compulsory, as the food is plentiful, wholesome and filling. Service was, as always, simply perfect and the kitchen earned some points for the lavish food. One thing that had garnered raves from those in our group was the fresh mixed fruit which was served as a desert. While the lunch was undisputably the highlight of our travel but we fell in love with the serenity of the lodge which provided wide range of exciting and varied experiences from cultural history and spectacular scenery to its friendly people. We left the lodge late in the evening and declared that a day's visit is not enough to explore nor is it sufficient to get a sense of the African culture that gave rise to this diverse and extraordinary lodge.
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