Eddie, Helen, Joseph, Ali and the rest of the team are not just employees at the Researchers Rest, they are owners of the business, sharing the responsibility of the decision making, management, and profits of the business through an innovative business model based on the social enterprise concept, empowering the local community. The team takes great pleasure in ensuring that you have a wonderful stay.

The Researchers Rest was built in 1991 to house the various researchers when they would come in from the Bush. At the time we were surrounded by a beautiful coffee farm, but over the years the city has grown around the property, which still maintains a beautifully garden with a handful of coffee trees. The five bedroom property has three en-suite rooms and two rooms that have private (but not en-suite) facilities. The sitting room provides an extensive library and the walls are decorated with photographs taken by the many world renowned photographers and researchers that stay at the Researchers Rest. But one can’t argue that the most memorable aspect of a stay is the incredible fresh dishes prepared by Eddie, with vegetables from our organic garden.

The Researchers Rest is located in a safe residential area know as Kiranyi where we enjoy a quiet and relaxing environment away from the hustle and bustle of the busy urban area of Arusha, which has a population of about one million people. The rural environment around us allows you to get a glimpse of the relaxed Tanzanian way of life, but still be within good proximity to town as we are only 4.2 km (2.6 miles) from the central market and city centre. It is a nice walk to the city, but can be a bit long on a hot day. However, a shuttle to town is easily organised at any time. As the government has had various plans over the past 20 years to tarmac the 1.1 Km of the dirt road which takes you to the neighbourhood, it means they have largely abandoned maintaining the road. We work closely with community leaders to maintain the road in good condition. While many first time visitors find the road intimidating, overall the road is at the same standard of most roads in Arusha and Tanzania, and is driven daily by hundreds of normal cars without any 4x4. This is the real Africa and the Authentic Spirit of Tanzania.