Arusha & Kilimanjaro · Hakuna Matata Bookings
Giraffe Manor Tanzania
A new stone lodge on Dolly Estate, between Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airport, where a herd of semi-tame giraffes comes up to the lodge every day.
Plan a safari with this lodge- Area
- Dolly Estate, between Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airport
- Style
- Lodge
- Opened
- January 2026
- Giraffes
- Resident herd, feeding included
- Room types
- Platinum Room and Diamond Room
- Largest room
- Diamond Room, up to 4 guests
- Meals on our safaris
- Full board
- Facilities
- Infinity pool, waterhole hide, spa, bar, coffee bar, curio shop
- Run by
- Hakuna Matata Bookings
Giraffe Manor Tanzania is a lodge on Dolly Estate, in the countryside between Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport. It opened in January 2026 and is run by Hakuna Matata Bookings, the company behind Manyara Best View Lodge and Spa. The main building is made of stone, with arched windows looking west over acacia woodland towards Mount Meru, and a herd of semi-tame giraffes lives on the estate.
Please note that this lodge has no connection to the well-known Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya, which is a different property run by a different company. This page is about the Tanzanian lodge near Arusha, which we can include at the start or end of a northern Tanzania safari.
We suggest it for the first night after an international flight into Kilimanjaro, as the estate is closer to the airport than Arusha town, and for a quiet last night with a pool before the flight home.
What it's like
There are two room types. Platinum Rooms look out over the garden and sleep one or two guests. Diamond Rooms have a better view, a plunge pool on the veranda and a private butler, and they sleep up to four, so they work well for families or friends sharing. The rooms have tall glass doors that open onto the veranda and the lawn, with plastered walls, woven headboards and ceiling fans.
The resident giraffes come up to the reception terrace at check-in and walk past during breakfast, and the lodge arranges feeding sessions in the main areas, which are included in the stay. Impala, zebra and wildebeest also live on the estate, and there is an underground hide at the waterhole for watching them at eye level.
Because the lodge faces west, the lounge, the dining room and the upstairs deck all look towards the sunset over Mount Meru. Meals are served behind the stone arches facing the pool, and there is a large bar, a coffee bar, a spa and a curio shop. The infinity pool has round sunken lounges set into the water, and the lodge can prepare lunch boxes for guests leaving early for a game drive.
Getting there
Times are best estimates and can be longer in Arusha traffic. For Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the crater, the route passes through Arusha, so allow the drive into town on top of the times on our park pages.
Park fees
The lodge is outside the national parks, so no park fees apply for nights here. Arusha National Park is about 25 minutes away, so a game drive there can fit into an arrival or departure day. Park fees for that day go into our quote as a separate line, and current figures are on our park fees page. See Tanzania park fees.
Who it suits
A good fit for
- A first night after landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport
- Seeing giraffes up close before the safari begins
- Families or groups of up to four sharing a Diamond Room
- A last night with a pool before an afternoon or evening flight home
Look elsewhere for
- Guests who want to walk to restaurants and shops in Arusha town, which is about 50 minutes away by road.
- Travellers looking for the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, which is a separate property in Kenya.
When to go
The lodge is open all year. March to May is the long rains and the quietest time in northern Tanzania. July, August and December are the busiest months, so we suggest booking early for those dates.
Common questions
Is Giraffe Manor Tanzania the same as Giraffe Manor in Nairobi?
No. Giraffe Manor Tanzania is a separate lodge on Dolly Estate near Arusha, run by Hakuna Matata Bookings. It has no connection to Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya.
Where is Giraffe Manor Tanzania?
It is on Dolly Estate, in the countryside between Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport. The drive is about 45 minutes to the airport and about 50 minutes to Arusha town.
Are there giraffes at Giraffe Manor Tanzania?
Yes. A herd of semi-tame giraffes lives on Dolly Estate and comes up to the lodge, usually at the reception terrace and around breakfast. The lodge runs giraffe feeding in its main areas, and this is included in the stay.
When did Giraffe Manor Tanzania open?
The lodge opened in January 2026, so it is one of the newest places to stay around Arusha.
Can families stay at Giraffe Manor Tanzania?
Yes. Children are welcome, and the Diamond Rooms sleep up to four, so a family can share one room with its own plunge pool on the veranda.
How much does a stay at Giraffe Manor Tanzania cost?
It depends on your dates, the room type and the rest of the route. We can quote the stay on its own or as part of a full safari quote with the vehicle, guide and park fees included. Send us your dates and we will cost it properly.
Other places to stay in Arusha & Kilimanjaro
Arusha Serena Hotel, Gran Meliá Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge, Kibo Palace Hotel, Arusha Planet Lodge, Airport Planet Lodge.
See all lodges and campsSources and Maintenance
Where these figures come from
Fees, rules and official guidance can change at short notice. Every figure on this page is checked against a primary source on the date below and rechecked on a regular schedule.
- Giraffe Manor Tanzania, Hakuna Matata Bookings official website (opening date, giraffes, wildlife, hide, views, dining, photos) (checked 31 October 2026)
- Giraffe Manor Tanzania 2026 to 2027 fact sheet and photos, sent to tour operators by Hakuna Matata Bookings (room types, facilities, seasons, operator) (received 2026)
- Saleh Safaris route and drive-time notes for Dolly Estate (drive times are ranges, conditions vary)
Saleh Safaris is an independent safari operator based in Arusha. This is our own guide to Giraffe Manor Tanzania, not the lodge's official website.