David Crater Homestay

We had three wonderful days in David's lodge. the rooms are very nice and you always have the smell of eucalyptus-wood (floor, bed, doors). His Family and the stuff is very friendly an helpfull. Evening dinner costs $10 per person, but the food tastes wonderful and is worth the money. David picked us up from the bus station when we arrived and organized our onward journey by bus and ferry to Zanzibar. everything worked perfectly! With our guide Richard, we went on a guided hike to waterfalls and viewpoints through hidden hiking trails over two days and learned a lot about the healing effects of plants. Thanks a lot for everything. Flo, Katrin, Sophia and Luis

PROS: Rooms are very clean and cozy with nice bathroom, equipped in a "european" style. The overall compound is very nice and relaxing, with lots of vegetation. We spotted monkeys, chameleons and some birds in the garden. There is a common patio with a fireplace where every evening the staff made a fire. They offer great homemade meals. The breakfast was included in the price and contained a good variety of food (eggs, pancakes, homed jams, fruits...) You can also buy lunch or dinner - for $8 you get the whole menu including soup, salad, fruits. Very big portions. Ideal after a whole-day hike. Also the staff was very friendly. We met David only few times as he was busy working out of town, but we had a great chat with him and got some good tips for our hikes. There were also David's nephews, who were always present and were very friendly and helpful. CONS: If you arrive in Lushoto town and want to get there by foot, you have to walk a steep hill. It's quite a journey, but it is walkable. You can hire a motorbike to get you there, if you are brave enough. If the weather outside is cold (which in these mountains usually is), the rooms are cold as well as there is no heating. Also in our room, the air was very humid and had a bit of a "moldy" smell (there actually was no mold at all, I guess its just from the moisture in the walls). As the homestay is located up on the hill, we were hoping for a nice view in the valley, which unfortunately is not the case due to the high trees surrounding the place.

Davids homestay is a little paradise hidden near Lushoto. It is a lovely place, where you can hear nothing but the sound of all the surrounding animals, hidden in the forrest. We found more chameleons and monkeys on davods ground, than while we were hiking The rooms are very comfortable and clean and the food is very tasty. Every one of emoyees is very kindly and helpful. We did a hiking trip and our safari near Arusha with David and he made it to an amazing trip for us. He is well connected, and combines everything as you wish for your safari.