I just got back from here yesterday (June 12 2022). We were staying overlooking the Arusha savannah, I will list the animal species that I actually saw in each savanna. Unfortunately my binoculars broke when I was there, so I was not able to see anything further out than my admittedly poor vision.
I spent the most amount of time viewing Arusha, then Uzima, Pemba and Sunset. I only spent maybe 5 minutes at Sunset due to limited time as I chose to spend more time at the Pemba overlook by the Samawati pool to attempt and see Okapi or red river hogs (I did not) and Sunset only has animals that I had seen in the other savannas already (except the ostrich). Ironically I did not even see the ostrich until I was looking at my pictures later.
It it worth noting that if you walk to the end of the hallway in the hotel parts that there is an open stairwell that overlooks the savannas, including the area between Arusha and Uzima. Between these two savannas there is a large fenced off area that I suppose is used for a variety of reasons. These stairwell overlooks provide a good view of the savannas from different levels, if you visit here you must go to the stairwells to really get a good view.
As a themed hotel it is fantastic, it looks like a grand lodge in Africa. Detail is incredible and the place is wonderful. Parking is easy and free if you are staying there. The pools are both zero entry and have water slides. The kids splash pad was closed, by the amount of leaves in the area it seems like it may have been closed for a while.
As for the cost-for-stay - I am not 100% sure it is worth it. The animals and hotel property are fantastic. The pools are great and the whole property is well taken care of.
The rooms and "things" need attention. For reference, the rack rate per-night is between $500-$1000, depending on a few variables. This is not a $500 a night hotel. The outlet by my bed had a gap between it and the wall (poor build), the bathroom was tiny and one had to shimmy between the toilet and the tub to open or close the door (had the door opened out that would not be a problem), one of the pool towels had a hole and was getting thread bare. Do these things really bother me? No, I don't mind those very minor things at a inexpensive hotel - or even a hotel like a Hilton, etc. but not at these prices.
However, I thoroughly recognize that one is paying for the experience, not the room. But then, that is the problem. For 5 days here you could also literally go on a 5 day safari in Africa. I was fortunate that we did not actually have to pay for the stay as a generous friend of my wife had a pre-paid reservation that she could not use due to circumstances.
I think the way to "do" this property is to visit for a dinner or lunch and tour the area on foot. You will still see pretty much everything you could have seen if you stayed there, of course some of the experience will be lacking, but I think that would be a better value.
The animals are much more visible in the early morning around 7-8AM and again in the early evening 6-8PM when it is still light out. Plan accordingly if you are not staying there.
Uzima Savanna:
Giraffe
Addax
Impala
Common eland
Hartman's mountain zebra
Watusi cattle
African spoonbill
Habitat by the Uzima pool:
African lesser flamingo
Fenced off area between Arusha and Uzima savannas:
Sitatunga
Arusha savanna:
Giraffe
Common Wildebeest
Roan antelope
Impala
Lesser kudu
Hartman's mountain zebra
Waterbuck
East African crowned crane
Pink backed pelican
Sunset Savanna:
Addax
Wildebeest
Ostrich
Pemba Savanna:
Waterbuck
Egyptian goose
Ruppel's Vulture
Abyssinian ground hornbill
I spent the most amount of time viewing Arusha, then Uzima, Pemba and Sunset. I only spent maybe 5 minutes at Sunset due to limited time as I chose to spend more time at the Pemba overlook by the Samawati pool to attempt and see Okapi or red river hogs (I did not) and Sunset only has animals that I had seen in the other savannas already (except the ostrich). Ironically I did not even see the ostrich until I was looking at my pictures later.
It it worth noting that if you walk to the end of the hallway in the hotel parts that there is an open stairwell that overlooks the savannas, including the area between Arusha and Uzima. Between these two savannas there is a large fenced off area that I suppose is used for a variety of reasons. These stairwell overlooks provide a good view of the savannas from different levels, if you visit here you must go to the stairwells to really get a good view.
As a themed hotel it is fantastic, it looks like a grand lodge in Africa. Detail is incredible and the place is wonderful. Parking is easy and free if you are staying there. The pools are both zero entry and have water slides. The kids splash pad was closed, by the amount of leaves in the area it seems like it may have been closed for a while.
As for the cost-for-stay - I am not 100% sure it is worth it. The animals and hotel property are fantastic. The pools are great and the whole property is well taken care of.
The rooms and "things" need attention. For reference, the rack rate per-night is between $500-$1000, depending on a few variables. This is not a $500 a night hotel. The outlet by my bed had a gap between it and the wall (poor build), the bathroom was tiny and one had to shimmy between the toilet and the tub to open or close the door (had the door opened out that would not be a problem), one of the pool towels had a hole and was getting thread bare. Do these things really bother me? No, I don't mind those very minor things at a inexpensive hotel - or even a hotel like a Hilton, etc. but not at these prices.
However, I thoroughly recognize that one is paying for the experience, not the room. But then, that is the problem. For 5 days here you could also literally go on a 5 day safari in Africa. I was fortunate that we did not actually have to pay for the stay as a generous friend of my wife had a pre-paid reservation that she could not use due to circumstances.
I think the way to "do" this property is to visit for a dinner or lunch and tour the area on foot. You will still see pretty much everything you could have seen if you stayed there, of course some of the experience will be lacking, but I think that would be a better value.
The animals are much more visible in the early morning around 7-8AM and again in the early evening 6-8PM when it is still light out. Plan accordingly if you are not staying there.
Uzima Savanna:
Giraffe
Addax
Impala
Common eland
Hartman's mountain zebra
Watusi cattle
African spoonbill
Habitat by the Uzima pool:
African lesser flamingo
Fenced off area between Arusha and Uzima savannas:
Sitatunga
Arusha savanna:
Giraffe
Common Wildebeest
Roan antelope
Impala
Lesser kudu
Hartman's mountain zebra
Waterbuck
East African crowned crane
Pink backed pelican
Sunset Savanna:
Addax
Wildebeest
Ostrich
Pemba Savanna:
Waterbuck
Egyptian goose
Ruppel's Vulture
Abyssinian ground hornbill
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Also very nice photos, I really would love to do a photo shoot there! I don’t want to side track this so I apologize but I was wondering if you possibly knew: is the Lodge accredited by the AZA by proxy or some other form since the DAK is accredited?