Kia Lodge

Old and tired rooms need updating. The AC unit in our HOT room didn't work and the service folks couldn't do anything for us. We opted to stay here given it's location for an early morning flight out of JRO, but won't do that again. Not impressed unfortunately!

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere is the perfect way to start a safari. We spent 2 nights here and enjoyed the good food and Tanzanian hospitality. I would highly recommend a stay here at the beginning or end of your adventures. The food was great, a good selection of local beer, unfortunately no tonic water for a gin and tonic but the wine was a good substitute. We were picked up at the airport very early in the morning by the complimentary shuttle that then took us back to the airport a couple of days later to meet up with our tour. Thank you Kia Lodge.

One night stay before Safari begin, 3 minutes from airport, we were glad of the near proximity after a 9 hour flight. Room quite small, sparely furnished, hardly no space to place our luggage, practical rather than comfortable, bed was quite hard.

After a wonderful eight day safari (which included Ambesoli NP) we decided to spend the last night here and flyout thru JRO, to get a final glimpse of Killi. What a horrible mistake, DO NOT STAY AT THIS PLACE!!!! This happened on June 10, 2024. We found ants in the bed, called the receptionist and she moved us to another room, who turned out to have more ants and spiders (see attached photos) Call back the reception, and did not answer the phone, had to walk over there to asked for ant/bug spray, 15 minutes later a guy showed with an empty can of spray. We were trapped in this dump. The receptionist Jaqueline never call or answer my multiple calls, (She needs training in customer service) I wrote the manager Mr. Soshashy, he never got back to me. This reservation was made thru the Safari Tour company, Base Camp. Achmed the owner stated that the hotel offer us $38 for our nightmare. Take that and put it where the sun dont shine. What a disgrace!! SITAKI-ASANTE SANA-ADAI!

We had a 6-hour lay-over in Kilimanjaro on the way home which (yes, poor planning) we didn't really click to until the day before. It is not the sort of airport you need that long at... So we asked our lodge in the Serengeti where would be best to kill some time and they booked the Kia for us, As it happened the driver at the airport didn't have our names, not quite sure what happened but they took us anyway which was nice - about a 5 min drive to the hotel around the back of the airport. We were able to check in for a day room. Can't remember the rate, maybe 120USD but was worth it for two people to not have to sit in the airport! The room was nice, very clean, we didn't use it much though as we just immediately got changed and headed for the pool which was great, and hung out there for a few hours on lovely comfy lounges, looking out at what would be, if it wasn't so hazy, a view of the mountain! So we ate lunch, swam, looked around and it was a terrific way to end the trip - the staff were all nice enough and the bar and restaurant looked pretty good but didn't try them out. Very happy to recommend and would stay there again for sure for either a day room or overnight if our flight lobbed in late.