Rift Valley Photographic Lodge

The lodge is about 120 km west of the Arusha, en route to the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Plains. By road from Arusha, the journey takes around 2 hours. You can also fly from Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airports, landing at Lake Manyara Airstrip, then complete the journey by road (30 minutes).

The Rift Valley Photographic Lodge is only 4.4km from the center of Mto wa Mbu village.

All our camps consist of between 8 and 12 Guest Tents. The rooms provide spectacular views over the African savanna & wilderness. All the bedrooms have been designed to capture the diversity and energy of local African wilderness and Nature and the rich colors of the magical landscapes. Bedrooms have free Wi-Fi.

Tent rooms in rustic, African style each contain one king-size or 2/3 twin bed, bedside tables with lights, a lockable storage box (for cameras and valuables), a portable solar torch, and a whistle. Mosquito nets are provided for the beds. The bathroom contains a flush toilet and shower, a vanity unit with a sink and mirror, toiletries, towels, and bathrobes.

Yes, the Rift Valley Photographic Lodge provides hot water for showers. Lodge staff will provide 25 liters of hot and 25 liters of cold water. Solar power is used to heat the water.

Guests are always advised to drink bottled water at the lodge and use the water in the taps for showers and washing. Use bottled water for cleaning your teeth, too.

Yes, with advance notice, we can cater to most dietary requirements. Rift Valley Photographic Lodge will be able to cater to these, and we recommend that you stress your needs on arrival at the lodge.

It is useful to arrive at the lodge with sufficient cash to pay for extra drinks and staff gratuities. Banknotes such as 5-dollar, 10-dollar, and 20-dollar bills are best. Poor network coverage in the park may mean the card machine is not always working. Most of the time, you can use US Dollars in Tanzania, particularly in tourist areas, and major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, lodges, and camps. However, we advise having some local currency on you if you want to purchase from a local shop. Major towns and airports have forex bureaus where you can exchange most major currencies such as US Dollars, British Pounds, Euros, etc.

Rift Valley Photographic Lodge takes its inspiration from a traditional Masai village but combines modern standards with rustic African styling. An ancient baobab, the iconic tree of Africa, sits in the middle of the setting in traditional Maasai fashion. You can enjoy unbeatable views of Lake Manyara.

Many activities can be arranged, though these should be pre-arranged and will be at extra cost. Some examples are walking safaris, night game drives, wedding celebrations, private bush lunches/dinners, Cultural trips, birdwatching, and introduction to bush cuisine, among other possibilities.