Lake Chala Safari Lodge & Campsite Tanzania

Lake Chala Safari Lodge & Campsite Tanzania is a luxury lodge situated in Rombo, between the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and the plains of Tsavo West National Park in Tanzania (next to Lake Chala). Lake Chala Safari Lodge and Campsite lie 135 km from Arush, 94 km From Kilimanjaro Airport, and 55 km from Moshi Town. The lodge is loaded on the South Eastern flank of Mount Kilimanjaro near the Holili/ Taveta border post to Kenya and is only an hour’s drive from Moshi and 30 minutes from Taveta Border. 

Chala tented lodge lies in 800 acres of privately owned Savannah, set among the stunning volcanic backdrop of the lake on one side and Kilimanjaro on the other. Lake Chala Safari Lodge and Campsite comprise 6 spacious luxury self-contained rooms, 4 tents with queen-size beds, and 2 tent twin beds built in an “Out of Africa” style with en-suite facilities all with a Lake view. There is a dining area and lounge, a well-stocked open bar with assorted drinks, wines, and beers, and a modern kitchen that prepares delicious meals. The lodge has reliable Tanesco power and backup generator electricity supply, safety deposit facilities for guests’ valuables, board games, a guest library, a guest shop, and an in-tent service for teas and coffees.  Also, the camp offers camping facilities, with four spacious campsites to choose from. The campsites have hot water showers, Barbeque, and running water.

Lake Chala Safari Lodge activities include escorted day tours, photographic safaris, walking safaris, biking, cycling, hiking, bird watching, Lakeshore walking, Riverbank trails, Jogging trails, and wildlife nature walks. Other activities include bush breakfasts, bush lunches, bush dinners, and sundowners.

Lake Chala Safari Lodge & Campsite Tanzania has 5 luxury camps and 6 campsites. The Luxury Tented Camp has large, spacious tents, with great en-suite bathrooms, soft lights, and imported bedding provided for comfort. The luxury tented camp has stunning views; fine dining at the Caldera Restaurant overlooking crater lake, Kilimanjaro, and the Chala savanna.

Relax with a drink from your minibar, or sip your tea or coffee, while enjoying the fabulous views from your veranda. The tent, from the soft lighting to the spacious and refreshing shower, all make for a soothing atmosphere.

Rooms are twin (two single beds), double (one queen-size bed), or triple (one queen-size double bed, one single bed). Wake to the morning song of savanna birds and sunrise over bush and lake, absorb the peace and tranquility of this unique and romantic part of the African bush.

The Campsites have three separate campsites, three near the main camp ablution blocks, and two slightly further out in the bush for the more adventurous. We provide European-style clean tiled ablution blocks with hot water showers, flushing toilets, and electricity.

Campsites Facilities: Bar, restaurant, electricity, clean tiled ablution blocks with hot water showers, flushing toilets, BBQ grills to cook your own food, and running water at each campsite. For those wishing to self-catering, all sites have BBQ grills, running water on-site, and good access for vehicles.

Tent Hire: Tents come complete with a mattress, pillow, sheets, and light blankets. The lodge facilities include; A Bar, Restaurant, Camping, and Swimming.

Activities available from Lake Chala Safari Lodge include; the Lake Chala day trip, walking safari, camping, swimming, birding, kayaking, and learning about the plants and trees of Chala.

2024 Lake Chala Safari Lodge & Campsite Tanzania Accommodation Rates Per Night Include;

All rates include government taxes and Value Added Tax + an accompanied walk & for guests in Luxury Tents free one-hour Kayaking per day

Notes

* Camping rates available on request
* Children 3 – 12 years 50% of the single tent rate
* Children under 3 years in the bed of their parent’s free

Accommodation Rates Exclude;

* Kayaking for Camping guests
* No meals are included in the rate for camping/tent hire and day visitors 
* WMA (Wildlife Management Association) Rates (no camping) – Adult pay 29.50 US Dollars per day & Children 5-17 years pay 23.60 US Dollars per day

Lake Chala Day Visiting:

A crater lake in a caldera at the border between Tanzania and Kenya and 52 km from Moshi town, Lake Chala was measured at a depth of 95 meters, which makes it deeper than the famous Lake Victoria. Filled and drained by underground waters, the lake ranges in color from deep blue to turquoise and green.

Take a walk down the 100m deep crater rim to the lake shore and cool your feet at the water’s edge among the rocks as you watch the water ripple peacefully through the lake in shimmering delight.

Climate: Chala has a temperate but varied climate. It can be very hot in the daytime, especially from December to March, but evenings and mornings are cool and nights can be chilly. From May to September it can be quite cold, warm clothes are needed in the early morning and evening.

What to bring: We do advise good walking shoes, and maybe a stick to go down to the lake. It is a steep ascent. Bring binoculars for birding, sunscreen, a hat, and appropriate clothes for temperature changes, check ‘Taveta weather reports’. If you want to have a cold refreshing shower after the hike, please bring a towel.

Walking Excursions

Chala is a wonderful area in which to walk. All walks have to be accompanied by a staff member of Lake Chala Safari Lodge.

Bird Watching

The Chala bird survey is ongoing. Birds are plentiful and raptors in particular are many and spectacular in the area. Chala is thought to be an important migration corridor on the eastern flank of Kilimanjaro, and unexpected birds can be found here during migration time. We appreciate reports of birds seen by visitors to increase our bird survey.

Fish

The lake is home to the Lake Chala Tilapia, a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. This fish is endemic to Chala but is now a threatened species due to overfishing, a concern that needs to be addressed. That’s why fishing is not allowed at Lake Chala.

Crocodiles

Crocodiles were introduced to Lake Chala in the 1930s. According to legend they were brought in by E.S. Grogan, a British explorer who became famous for walking from Cape Town to Cairo in 1898. The terrain is totally unsuitable for crocodiles to breed, there are no beaches or sandy areas to make their nests.

In the early 1990s fishermen, angry that their nets were continually being destroyed, began a program to eradicate them. Since 2002 there are no longer any crocodiles left in Lake Chala.

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: info@africanspicesafaris.com
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com