We stayed at the Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge for one night in June 2006 and absolutely loved it. The lodge is about a 2-2.5 hours drive from Arusha and the roads to the lodge are very nice (as opposed to some of the bumpy roads you encounter in Tanzania). It is is located on top of a mountain, overlooking the beautiful Lake Manyara. In fact, you can see the individual "hut" tops of the various rooms on the way to the hotel! Be sure to remind your drive to point that out to you.

Since this was going to be my first night in the "bush", I was very skeptical and wary. However, as I drove through the driveway of the hotel and saw the lobby, all my doubts vanished and I was in awe of the beauty of the place. Although the lodge is very modern, you still feel like you are someplace very exotic. There is lush greenery everywhere. We had booked a double bedroom. it had an attached bathroom, and a private patio. The bathroom is huge, and had a private stand in shower with 24 hours of hot water, a modern toilet and a sink area with loads of towels and products.
The room was decorated in bright terracotta colors and was lovely.

The hotel has a beautiful pool overlooking Lake Manyara, although I didn't get a chance to swim in it. There is an outdoors bar located next to the pool and we had a nice drink there. For dinner, we ate in a huge dining area. The food was buffet style, although I think you could order something off the menu. They had an Indian food stand, huge salad bar, and a spread of cakes, pastries, fresh fruits. They also had a very extensive wine list. For breakfast, we ate at the same dining area. They had a cook making fresh pancakes and eggs. They had a huge spread of various types of bread, cereals, juices, jams, porridges, fruits, and yogurts.

The staff at this lodge is exceptional. They take care of your needs with a smile on their face and a great attitude. They always greeted me with "Jambo Madam." Right from the time we drove to the lodge to the time we left, the staff was always at hand to take care of us, to escort us to our room in the late evenings, and to handle our bags.
I would highly recommend this lodge to everyone. It is truly lovely and we had a great time there.

Dinner was slightly more formal but still very comfortable; the temperature was about 65 degrees F. Dinner was ordered from a menu with a salad, fruit (including the sweetest pineapple I've tasted), and dessert. Green gecko lizards could be found in the corners of ceilings, but our waiter told us that geckos are good for homes (they eat flies and insects) and are considered good luck. Plus, they are harmless.