Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is absolutely magnificent. It's a long drive to get there at the far end of what many people say is one of the quieter parks in Tanzania, to the extent that beforehand I had been worrying whether spending two nights at the Tree Lodge was a mistake. Nothing could be farther from the truth. 
When we arrived, pretty much the entire staff turned out to welcome us, and make us feel not just welcome, but special - it was as if they really appreciated you making the journey to get there.
The manager has a lot to do with this, and we thought he did an excellent job. The rooms were stunning - built into the trees with an outside shower, and just a really luxurious feel to it - you'd be impressed to find this kind of comfort anywhere, let alone in the depths of the bush (and this place is right out in ther middle of the bush - you're basically in the depths of the forest). Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is located in Lake Manyara National Park and is the ONLY lodge/Camp in the park. There are 10 stilted tree houses and they are nestled in the thick "bush".
The drive from the airport is long and bumpy. It took over 2 hours, but we had our first game drive on the way to the lodge, which was nice. This is a very special place and is worth the visit. In fact, in hindsight, we are glad we started at Lake Manyara. The intimacy of the lodge and National Park, and the excellent bird watching and night game viewing, are a plus. In Tanzania, Lake Manyara is the ONLY National Park that allows night game drives. They are testing the program. We paid some good cash per person extra for the night game drive but it was well worth it. We saw many nocturnal animals including hippos, hyenna, a genet (cat), porcupines, and a rare sighting of an aardwolf.
The bird watching is excellent with over 400 species. No other area of Tanzania comes close. We didn't have an appreciation for birds when we arrived, but after our fist day, we started ticking them off our bird checklist. It became a fascination by the end of our trip to see how many species we could spot. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is wonderful and the rooms complete with outdoor shower, do not disappoint. We went at the beginning of summer and it was hot and humid Our Ranger/Guide, George, was exceptional and has the excitement of a child with every spot of an animal. In fact, he spotted a monitor lizard in a tree...how did he do that? He is amazing!
What we quickly learned as our Safari continued is that not all Rangers/Guides are created equal. It takes a real observant person and excellent "spotter" to see and find the hiding animals. The reception/main lodge area is amazing. It is literally a tree house and the meals are served overlooking the "bush". A quick word about the food - EXCELLENT! The chef prepares fresh culinary delights daily. They also do a wonderful job of accommodating special requests and dietary requirements. The evening dinners were held in the outdoor boma with lanterns and torches (outdoor area simulated to look like the Masai tribe bomas, the pen (kraal) where they keep their cattle). Very romantic!
After sunset, you will be escorted to your room by a local Masai "warrior". Since there are no fences and wild animals all over, they take every precaution to keep you safe. As a plus, each room has a safe, blow dryer, separate tub, outdoor shower, dual sinks, flashlight, Raid bug killer, converter to charge your electronics and a cooler with your favorite beverages (a nice touch). They turn off the generator each night at midnight (until 5am) so make sure to charge your electronics before midnight. If you are a light sleeper, you may want to bring ear plugs. The nocturnal animals come to life and some can be very noisy. The bush baby (like a squirrel) was our favorite but WOW, they can make noise. Overall, the staff and rooms are great and the game viewing above average
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