The Babylon Lodge is among the oldest lodges in the Marangu area, on the southeastern slopes of Kilimanjaro. Built in the early 1980s by Stephen Eric and his wife, it retains the family spirit of the first guesthouses opened to welcome trekkers attempting the Roof of Africa.

Why choose the Babylon Lodge

The property ticks three useful boxes for a stay around Kilimanjaro: a convenient starting or return point for the main climbing routes, a tropical garden setting at the mountain's base, and a long-standing presence that translates into genuine local expertise. The lodge serves the Rongai, Machame and Marangu routes, the three most popular paths to the summit.

It's a stop designed for walkers: you arrive the day before your climb to ease into the rhythm, and you return here afterward to recover, take a hot shower and toast your achievement with a local beer.

Atmosphere

The Babylon is a mid-mountain lodge—simple and functional, rooted in its verdant garden. The altitude of around 1,400 meters brings a pleasant coolness, especially in the evening. The balconies face the massif when skies clear, and Chagga vegetation—banana plants, avocado and guava trees—surrounds the buildings. The atmosphere remains that of a long-established guesthouse rather than a grand resort.

The rooms

The lodge has 21 rooms scattered around the garden. Each is equipped with:

• large beds with mosquito nets;
• private bathroom with hot shower;
• Wi-Fi connection;
• room service on request.

The rooms follow trekker-friendly logic: no ostentatious luxury, but everything essential to recover properly before or after several days at altitude.

Dining and services

Bar-restaurant

The lodge's restaurant sources fresh produce and serves Tanzanian and international cuisine. For drinks, local beers Kilimanjaro and Serengeti are at the bar—a tradition for celebrating your return from the summit.

Spa and wellness

A wellness space offers massages and treatments, particularly welcome after several days of trekking. It's one of the few lodges in the area to offer this service on-site.

Location

The Babylon Lodge is located in Marangu, a Chagga village on the southeastern slopes of Kilimanjaro, in the Kilimanjaro region (not to be confused with Arusha, further west). The lodge is about 1.6 km from Kinukamori Falls, and Kilimanjaro International Airport is roughly fifty kilometers away—allowing about an hour's drive.

Nearby

Marangu is a historic gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park and offers, even without attempting the climb, several short excursions:

• Kinukamori Falls, on foot from the lodge;
• Ndoro and Monjo waterfalls, accessible as a half-day trip;
• the Chagga caves, remnants of shelters used during inter-tribal conflicts;
• coffee plantations and banana groves of Chagga country.

To extend your journey, several Nomadays properties complement a Tanzania itinerary: Bashay Rift Lodge near Lake Manyara to continue north, and on Zanzibar's side, Breezes Beach Club & Spa or Dhow Palace Hotel in Stone Town for a beach finale.

Preparing your stay

The Babylon Lodge fits naturally into an itinerary combining a Kilimanjaro climb, northern Tanzanie safaris and an extension to Zanzibar. To build your bespoke route, explore our Tanzanie journeys.