Maweni Farm is a new lodge in the Usambara Mountains, in a valley near Soni. The renovated old colonial farmhouse from the 19th century is set under a vertical cliff among giant rocks with a lush, park-like garden, surrounding a pond. In the midst o an old colonial farmhouse
recently renovated, .Around the house are small farms, growing vegetables, fruit and coffee, and there is a patch of rainforest trees, with monkeys and sunbirds, leading up to the cliffs, where eagles and bussards nest.

Restaurant

Serving fresh Mediterranean, Indian and local Sambaa dishes, making
use of the variety of ecological vegetables, salads, fruits and pulses
available from own and neighbours’ farming. Extra pleasant for
vegetarians and health-conscious guests. Homemade rye bread, jams,
cheese and yoghurt. Real coffee from smallholder farmers in the
neighbourhood with fresh, homemade cake, wine and Macademia nuts
from the old monastery in Sakkarani.
The bar serves fresh juice, softdrinks, local and international beers,
South-African wine and common spirits. Sundowner cocktails and
snacks are served on “Maweni Beach”, a small island in the pond or by
the fireplace.

Accommodation

In self-contained double rooms (with simple and practical scandinavian style furniture, duvets, tiled bathrooms), family room (three beds, parket floor, garden view, large bathroom) or family flat (four rooms sharing one large bathroom and extra toilet), or in safari tents (with comfortable beds, duvets, private bathrooms with hot showers) with view over the pond.

15 rooms in total: Four twin rooms and one double room with tiled
bathroom attached, four safari tents with safari style bathrooms under
Makuti roof attached, three double and three twin rooms and one
single room with shared bathroom.

Facilities

• Conference room with cedar floor for groups of 30 people. But most
groups prefer to have their meetings under the big mango tree.
• Wireless satellite internet connection (which means that guests can
do you mail on the verandah or wherever they want), computer &
printer, secretarial services, video projector for hire.
• Maweni organizes study tours for Universities and frequently hosts
researchers studying environment, culture and language of the
Usambara Mountains.
• Big lounge with open fireplace.
• Sauna with wood stove.
• Own play school/kindergarten for staff and guests’ children,
babysitting can be arranged if booked in advance.
• Cooperation with hotels in Arusha, Pangani and Saadani, so that an
attractive package trip can be arranged.
• Pickup service for guest arriving by bus in Mombo or Soni, car hire.
• Guided tours and trekking can be arranged if booked in advance.

Activities

Trekking & Nature Walks: Maweni is proud to have the most famous
guide of the Usambara Mountains, Juma Kahema, as tourism manager
and some of the most interesting treks and walks start from the farm.
Early morning bird walks, half day to 3 day walks taking the guests to
find Colobus monkeys in the rain forest or introducing them to Sambaa agriculture (coffee, tea, cardamom, Kweme nuts, vegetables), village life and traditional medicinal plants. On the way they can meet and discuss with the farmers, the potters, the new village chairwoman or the traditional healer.

Yoga & Well-being Retreats: the first yoga retreat in early April was a
success, and consecutive events are being planned.

Environmentally & socially responsible

The owners of Maweni Farm have worked with development and media
projects in Tanzania for 20 years. Since the start, the lodge has had a
policy of hiring and training staff from the surrounding villages and
buying local, organic produce wherever possible. Maweni Farm is
supporting community infrastructure projects, tree planting events,
organizing a school partnership for the local village school, training
youth in video production, making documentary films about HIV and
promoting local musicians.

The lodge is located only 20 minutes from Mombo on the Daressalaam – Arusha main road. We can organise Transfer from either Dar or Arusha, and can combine a stay there with a Safari in the northern parks (Serengeti, Ngorongoro...), and a beach holiday in Tanga or Zanzibar.