Our Stay At Chele Chele
Where to begin, there are so many wonderful words that describe Chele Chele Villa – stunning, refreshing, elegantly comfortable, the perfect place for some R & R and as a base for exploring Tanzania. Whether you want to reflect on the adventures that you have had or contemplate the exciting experiences to come while on safari or just take in the beauty of one of the loveliest places in East Africa, your stay here will be a highlight of your travels.
Driving through the gates of the property is like entering a lush botanical garden with bougainvillea, orchids and an abundance of African flowers and plants. There is also a beautiful in-ground swimming pool. A check of the tree tops reveals many colorful birds as well as a variety of monkeys. There is a walking trail around the perimeter of the property that provides wonderful views of the slopes of Mount Meru and the surrounding countryside.
The villa itself as well as the three cottages on the property are tastefully decorated with an African flair by the owner. Each piece of artwork has been carefully chosen for its uniqueness and authenticity. Every piece of furniture has a fascinating story. You can lounge on the verandah with a steaming cup of coffee in the morning or a cool drink in the afternoon, in awe of the sight of majestic snow-covered Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. There is good WiFi and a substantial library with books of various subjects relating to wildlife, as well as the history and the culture of Tanzania and its people. As the night air cools down, you can curl up with a good book by the large open fireplace in the living room.
The staff at Chele Chele is so welcoming and friendly. They look after your every need and make sure that you are comfortable and feel at home. They keep everything immaculately clean. If you choose to have your meals provided, the food is amazing and so delicious – wonderful curries, soups, fresh fish, delicious baked items and so much more.
Chele Chele is the perfect place for individuals, for families with children and for groups of friends travelling together. It is conveniently close to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) and to Arusha National Park, a smaller, more intimate park and one of my favorite places for wildlife viewing. You are close enough to go Arusha for some shopping or dining, yet out of the noise and hustle and bustle of the city. If you want to go to some of the other national parks and reserves further afield, I highly recommend using the local company, Tandala Expeditions. I have had them book my travels throughout Tanzania for many years. They are EXCELLENT in every way!
You won’t regret choosing Chele Chele Villa for your holiday. I have been there numerous times and can’t wait to be back there in 2020!
Chele Chele is an amazing place for anybody who loves Africa. Surrounded by lush gardens where you can see monkeys and bush bucks, the spacious house is impeccably maintained and decorated with wonderful African art objects. However, it is the staff that made my stay really special. Mwanaidi the cook prepares the best ugali in town and was very welcoming. Richard is hugely competent and assisted with all my logistics. He also successfully arranged a Safari with less than 24 hrs notice in the high season for me. So no worries if you decide to come at the last minute like myself. The guide he chose, Joseph from Tandala Expeditions, was extremely knowledgable and professional with a real love for his country and the wild. Last but not least: Chuma and Joey, the two German shepherds are lovely. I cannot praise the place more and highly recommend the stay
This is a dream house! There was so much space for the whole family, great for all ages. The swimming pool was nice and refreshing and surrounded by a the beautiful garden. The staff were all really nice and extremely accommodating. I can’t wait to go back!
This is by far our favourite home from home in Tanzania. Whether you choose to stay on the property, or venture out of the gates to walk further up the mountain and take in the beautiful views, a stay at Chele Chele is guaranteed to be rejuvenating, peaceful and fun. I can't recommend this place enough. A getaway you'll want to get away to again and again!
This house, with its grounds and lovely staff, is my favorite place in Tanzania. This was our third time at the house... we have come every year around Easter time and it is the perfect house for family and relaxation and evenings by the fire and cricket games on the lawn and dips in the pool and huge Easter egg hunts. It is truly a wonderful place for people of all ages and generations. Its the place to come with your friends and family to enjoy each others' company in a beautiful setting. The staff are really responsive and friendly and helpful. The host is efficient and thoughtful - they even surprised us with a cake for my son's birthday this time! The host also has a safari company and vehicles so it is very easy to arrange day trips to Arusha National Park and into Arusha town to have lunch or go to the Cultural Center and poke around. But it's also just as easy to stay on the property and never leave! Everything you need/want is there... It is truly heavenly! Thank you so much Aziz and the staff at Chele Chele Villa: Mwanaidi, Lomitu, Adele, and Peter... and Richard (Tandala Expeditions) for making our stays at this house such wonderful experiences.
Wow - amazing property with beautiful house and garden. Great views of Kili; perfect for families and a great place for a little R&R! Aziz made sure we had everything we needed and his staff were excellent. We stayed for the Kili marathon and are already planning to go back next year if not sooner.
My family thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Chele Chele Villa. It is situated in a tranquil paradise, conveniently located for safari trips with all the amenities one could want. The staff including Richard, Lomitu, Mwanaidi and Hidaya treated us with kindness and immediate attention to every detail. If we needed anything, it was taken care of right away. The grounds are spectacular and the interiors are beautifully designed. Waking up in the main bedroom is unbelievable with the sounds of many birds, monkeys playing, and the view of Mt. Kilimajaro! The pool below that window is the perfect size and immaculately groomed for swimming all day. Everyone had a wonderful room and perfect baths with good water and pressure! Good internet service, plenty of space for everyone to spread out for privacy but also lots of meeting rooms for fun gatherings. The art on the walls made us feel like we were at home. When asked, we all replied we would want to stay longer and will definitely return to this this special place of beauty. Our host was attentive and helpful with all the arrangements. We even had a tree to decorate for the holidays! Thank you so much for a most memorable family time. The children loved the trampoline, pool and playing on the veranda with their entire family together.
Once again, we had a lovely stay in our favourite spot in Tanzania. Every time we stay at this beautiful house, we leave feeling relaxed and ready to face the heat of Dar again. We have brought many different friends and family members to stay at Chele Chele and it never disappoints. Mwanaidi, Lomitu and the rest of the team ensure that we do not want for anything and Richard is a very attentive manager, always on hand if needed (though he rarely is as everything runs like clockwork!) Looking forward to staying again. And again!
I stayed at this "amazing house" (nickname given among friends) for a second time, this time with my visiting family. The house and the garden are just amazing. Rooms, living room with fire place, terraces, every piece of equipment is high standard, comfortable, and arranged with taste. Staff is friendly and extremely helpful. You can stroll for hours through the immense garden just looking at the diversity of trees and wildlife. I watched birds, my parents monkeys. Beginning of October, jacarandas were blooming: an amazing (again) spectacle. A highly recommended place to relax on Mt Meru slopes.
The house and gardens are beautiful, everything is as pictured, even better. The sound system is excellent; you can play music in the living room/outdoors and upstairs in the master bedroom. The staff were extremely helpful; I highly recommend requesting a cook as the meals were delicious! Aziz was a great host and responded to my queries quickly. He arranged for someone to direct us to the house from Usa River, which was very helpful. We would definitely stay here again!
