27.12.2022: Arrival in the Original Maasai Lodge.
After a 20 hours´ journey from Vienna via Adis Abeba to Kilimandscharo Airport with a two hour´s drive I arrive in the Original Maasai Lodge.
The staff knows, that someone is going to arrive and the car passes a neighbouring hill, so it is seen 2 minutes in advance. So, they exactly know when to gather at the car park to greet the new guest with a Maasai song.
While mya lugage is carried to my room, Lesse Laizer, the manager of the lodge, welcomes me and accompanies me to the restaurant, where we have a chat and drink tea.
All the rroms of the lodge are modern equiped Maasai huts, built from natural materials, covered with lemon grass, with a concrete floor, windows, toilet and washroom as well as wonderful comfortable beds. On the hill top is the spa area with pool, sauna and massage rooms, below in front is my hut, where I occupy the right half.
From the small patio, looking left you see Mount Meru (4.460 m).
Opposite is a steep, cone-shaped hillwhere I took the picture above.
This is the hill (picture from 29.12.). Behind is the steppe, with the border to Kenia at the horizon.
The whole lodge is comprising separate huts in a landscape with steep hills where you have a stunning view around - actually 360 degrees from the highest hill.
However, Kilimandscharo is wrapped in clouds most of the day, only early in the morning and sometimes in the evening the summit can be seen.
+
Mount Meru is visible much more frequently, it is not that high and dont attract so many clouds.
The huts are standing around scattered in the landscape, most of them with view to Kilimandscharo.
Today its only arriving, watching and marvelling at this stunning landscape - and of course then enjoying the excellent dinner.