Arusha Serena Hotel: Legend of the Forest, the Lake, the Mountain and the Village
There is an amazing story of Lake Duluti, the mystic water body located at the foot of Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second highest peak.
The legend has that, Lake Duluti once used to be a village on the foot of mystic Mount Meru, during ancient times.
Somehow the village got flooded after its residents did something awful which angered the gods that sent down a forest fairy who cast a spell which turned the village into a lake.
The resulting water body exists today as ‘Lake Duluti.’
But that is a story for another day.
The Village
In the present day, a new village has emerged on the shores of this Lake Duluti.
It is not an ordinary village, but rather a cluster of luxury huts that form part of the state-of-the art Arusha Serena Hotel.
The huts, aping the Maasai cultural rounded cabins are breathtaking treats in their own right.
But the old forest of ancient trees surrounding the modern huts is also still intact, in fact it also offers some wildlife species including old world black monkeys, squirrels and baboons, plus guests can also enjoy bird watching excursions, forest trekking and canoeing on the Lake.
Wuthering heights of Mount Meru
Behind this landscape stands Mount Meru, this is the second highest peak in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro and a dormant volcano.
Approaching the main hotel building gives you the feeling of walking into Emily Bronte 19th Century’s Wuthering Heights settings or experiencing The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and maybe any large historical England castle at the heart of Africa.
It is a classic stone sculptured structure which feels quite like a Victorian countryside manor and the fact that it is engulfed inside a lush forest further complements the idyllic set up.
It is hard to believe that this secluded Hotel is just a few kilometers away from the bustling Arusha City.
It is even harder to comprehend that this Hotel is essentially less than three decades old having been established in 1999.
During those early days, the hotel was known as Serena Mountain Village and essentially started serious business at the turn of the new millennium in 2000.
The forest of Sausages?
Sausages for breakfast?
That comes with two meanings, the real edible sausages served in the morning, or a stroll in the surrounding lush forest which features various types of indigenous plants including the Sausage trees
A walk in the forest doesn’t mean you need to venture far from the hotel, because the property stands in a virgin forest which also has the iconic pink-flowered Silk frost trees.
For years in the past, silk frost trees as well as the Jacaranda trees have been the floral landmarks of Arusha city and surrounding environs.
They have now almost disappeared elsewhere in town but Silk Frost Trees and others still grow in the forest surrounding the Arusha Serena Hotel.
And they all blend well with Lake Duluti below, where again activities like canoeing and boat riding can complement forest trekking, wild bike riding or bird watching.
For the cultural experience, a visit to the local Tengeru fruits, Vegetable and commodity Market adjacent to the main Arusha-Moshi Road, could just be what the doctor had ordered.
Alternatively, you can attend Kiswahili language classes at the Hotel or rekindle the WWII history by visiting the old Polish Graves near Tengeru.
Located 1.5 kilometers from the main Arusha-Moshi Road and 35 kilometers to the Kilimanjaro International Airport and some 15 kilometers from the Arusha City Center.
At the center of the property stands what looks like an old stone house serving as the main building, featuring the lobby, reception, dining area, a library, a fireplace and conference facilities.
Lakeside romantic gateway
And just like an old Victorian manor, Serena Arusha main building’s lounge is equipped with a proper Library full of physical prints to interest any bookworm.
But in case you have brought your own Kindle or Kobo, and would rather read digitally, then there is a cozy wood fireplace where you can cuddle for that when it is cold, or the sunny garden outside when warm.
There is also an outdoor firepit in case one wants the best of both worlds.
You want to freeze the moment with oil on canvas? Serena has residential painters, who can sketch, draw or paint any type of picture at request.
Feel like doing some shopping? An Indoor curio shop stock a variety of icons to gift the loved ones back home including the rare blue, Tanzanite gemstones.
Slightly down the contoured slopes and concealed within thick natural forest and bushes emerge the traditional round huts that serve as boarding facilities.
They reflect the Maasai culture and are also constructed in such a way that they naturally control the temperature inside temperatures and cut out outside sounds.
The set up comprises 42 rooms or huts located inside a cluster of six villages and complemented with several garden layouts.
You can also stay put in luxury huts that hang over Lake Duluti.
Serena is not a place you would want to leave in a hurry.
And if responsibility calls, then all the work can also be undertaken there. Arusha Serena offers Meeting and Conference facilities capable of handling 80 delegates.
The several expanse garden layouts at the Arusha Serena also create the perfect setting for exclusive parties and ceremonies such as weddings, anniversaries or simply get-together gatherings.
But what happens when the dinner bell rings?
From buffet, to à la carte the Arusha Serena offers an assortment of specially prepared dishes including Swahili cuisine, African dishes and Intercontinental menus to impress any gourmet.
African food is specifically served on Sunday but can be specially requested at any other time.
So, who are you likely to find at the Arusha Serena?
Florence Mushi, the corporate sales manager at Arusha Serena Hotel lists Tourists, corporate clients, honeymooners, local holiday makers, travelers, researchers, writers or even casual diners, both local and foreign.
The type of people who love the peace and tranquility of remote landscapes without necessarily having to veer far away from civilization.