Summit collection · Arusha and Kilimanjaro
Gran Melia, Arusha
A polished resort stay in Arusha, ideal before or after the bush
- Collection
- Summit · Luxury
- Destination
- Arusha and Kilimanjaro
- Area
- Arusha
- Style
- Luxury city resort
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
About Gran Melia, Arusha
Gran Melia Arusha is the luxury arm of the Melia group, and it brings full city-resort comfort to the gateway of northern Tanzania. For many travellers it is the first night after a long flight or the last before heading home, a place to arrive, rest and let the safari begin or end properly.
The public spaces set the tone: a spacious marble-floored lobby with white lounge seating and carved wooden screens, then an open-air restaurant with colourful cushions and floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, a free-form swimming pool sits among palm gardens, with the multi-storey guest wing looking over it and out towards the Arusha hills.
Rooms are generous, with balconies and bathrooms that include freestanding tubs. It is a different mood from a bush camp and that contrast can be part of the appeal. Wi-Fi, a spa and a pool make it easy to catch up on rest, work or travel plans between parks.
- Marble-floored lobby with carved wooden screens
- Free-form swimming pool surrounded by palm gardens
- Open-air restaurant with colourful seating and large windows
- Suite bathrooms with freestanding tubs and chandeliers
- Private balconies looking over the resort and Arusha hills
- Spa and Wi-Fi for rest before or after safari
Setting
The resort stands in Arusha, the busy highland town that acts as the starting point for most northern Tanzania safaris and Kilimanjaro climbs. The guest wing rises above landscaped gardens and a pool, with views across the grounds towards the surrounding hills. Its position near the airport makes arrivals and departures straightforward, and Lemala arranges transfers to and from the lodge.
Rooms and tents
Rooms and suites are spacious and hotel-style, with private balconies that look down over the pool and gardens towards the Arusha hills. Photographs of the suite bathrooms show a freestanding tub, a chandelier and plenty of space. Expect a comfortable, modern finish that feels a world away from tented camps. Ask us which room category fits your party and plans.
Dining
Dining is relaxed and resort-style. An open-air restaurant and lounge with colourful cushioned seating looks onto the gardens, with glass from floor to ceiling letting in the light. Expect a broad menu suited to international guests and a calm setting for breakfast before your transfer. Ask us to flag dietary needs in advance so the team can prepare.
Things to do from here
- Swimming and sunbathing by the resort pool
- Spa treatments before or after safari
- Cultural visit to a Maasai boma, arranged by Lemala
- Day trip to Arusha National Park
- Short rest and recovery day after travel
When to stay
Arusha sits in the highlands and enjoys pleasant weather for much of the year. The driest, clearest months are June to October, with January to March also popular and often warm and bright. The long rains usually fall from March to May and the short rains in November and December. As a transit stop, the resort works well in any season, and clear mornings can reveal the surrounding mountains.
Good to know
- This is a city resort rather than a bush camp, so wildlife watching is not part of the stay itself.
- It is close to the airport, which makes it practical for late arrivals and early departures. Ask us to confirm timings.
- Wi-Fi is available, handy for catching up before heading to remote camps with limited connectivity.
- Transfers are arranged by Lemala as part of your itinerary.
Gallery
Inside Gran Melia, Arusha
On these itineraries
Trips that include Gran Melia, Arusha
7 days
Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in Seven Days
Baobab elephants, a pair of Serengeti days and a full morning-to-evening descent into the crater.
10 days
Bush to Beach: Northern Parks and Nungwi, Zanzibar
Six days of wildlife in the north, then three barefoot nights on Zanzibar's northern shore.
10 days
Ten-Day Family Safari Across Northern Tanzania
Giraffe on day two, a crater full of animals on day five, and a Serengeti pace that suits every age at the back of the vehicle.
12 days
Twelve Days: Kilimanjaro Hike, Maasai Villages and the Northern Parks
Boots on the Shira Plateau, conversations in Maasai communities, then four of Tanzania's great parks without a rushed overnight in sight.
8 days
Eight Days at the Mara River Crossings
Tarangire and Ngorongoro to warm up, then two full days at the river waiting for a million hooves to decide.
8 days
Mara River Crossings by Air: Serengeti and Ngorongoro
A morning flight puts you beside the northern crossing points, with two days to wait for the herds.
7 days
Calving Season Photographers' Safari
Baobabs, a crater floor and three unhurried days on the Ndutu plains, paced around light and behaviour.
10 days
10-Day Slow-Light Photographic Safari
Small groups, spare seats and long stops in elephant, crater and big-cat country.
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Stay at Gran Melia, Arusha
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