E Unoto Retreat
This five-star lodge is just an hour and half’s drive from Arusha and in close proximity to famous national parks including Ngoro Ngoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, E Unoto Retreat is the ideal location for your next holiday, romantic getaway or safari.
From the moment you are greeted with refreshments on arrival to your final moments with us, our professional and courteous team is available to cater to your every need.
Your butler is on hand during your entire visit and will also serve you in the restaurant, escort you on your outings and assist with all enquiries.
Additionally, the senior management, front office personnel, porters, bar attendants, chefs and all the members of our E Unoto team work together to ensure all our guests have an enjoyable and unforgettable experience at our lodge.
The name ‘E Unoto’ actually refers to a joyous Maasai ceremony – where warriors chose their wives and enter into junior adulthood. This is a month-long celebration of singing and dancing – and a very apt name for the lodge, as staying at E Unoto Retreat certainly has a ‘feel good factor’ to it.
Rooms & Suites
This safari lodge features 25 private bungalows, four of which are handicap friendly, each with its own verandah. The spacious rooms, 28 ft. diameter are attractively appointed with locally-carved furnishings, the external surface of the rooms have a Maasai boma appearance, with a unique, exquisite, internal decorative Maasai theme.
Dining
The main restaurant and lounge area at E Unoto are centered around the lodge’s swimming pool. Two traditional Maasai manyattas (large huts) house a number of tables and chairs, where all of the meals are served.
In one is also the bar, where a friendly barman is always waiting to offer you a cool drink. Both are simply decorated, with polished stone floors, high thatch roofs and totally open sides so that you can enjoy the view.
For breakfast – E Untoto Retreat lay out a large spread of fruits, freshly baked bread, cereal and cakes. You can then order a cooked breakfast as well. There are also a number of juices on offer, as well as fresh coffee and tea.
Lunch can be in the form of a packed lunch that you take with you into Lake Manyara National Park. This will usually have some sandwiches, a cake or snack of some sort, a piece of barbequed chicken and a boiled egg. It always comes with a carton of fruit juice as well.
If you chose to have lunch back at the lodge, you can expect a Tanzanian-influenced meal of rice, meat stew, fresh salads and chipati.
For dinner you are offered three choices for each of the three courses. Starter is usually the choice of a couple of types of soup or a salad.
The main course is then a choice of different meat of vegetarian stews or curries, each of which can be served with rice, ugali or chipati. Desert is then fresh fruit, ice-cream or perhaps cake.
Special Interest
Traditional Cultures: E Unoto is run entirely by Maasai, and works hand in hand with its local community with the aim of providing support and education. This is a great base to experience an uncontrived interaction with one of East Africa’s most famous tribal cultures.
Wellbeing: Although not a ‘Spa’ destination at all, staying at E Unoto can really make you feel good as you are contributing to an excellent cause. The lodge is closely involved in local community projects, including education and health – for example 10% of the lodge’s profits are directed straight back into the community.
Activities
Many activities from E Unoto Retreat are centered round the local community, including a lovely waterfall walk from the lodge – this takes two hours and takes you through the communities fertile farming area.
You can also visit a local Maasai boma, use a bike to explore nearby villages, or embark on a 4-hour walk up onto the Rift Valley Escarpment.
