Mount Meru Hotel

“My room had a leather couch, flat screen tv, glass coffee table, but no mosquito net. And I would have traded all that other crap for a net because the place was overrun. Bathroom dingy as hell, shower a barely functional pos.”

“The property looked quaint from the exterior, but decided to have lunch first before deciding on getting a room. Soooo very glad I did! The food, in one word, “terrible” and worse. I ordered pasta with Bolognese sauce. I got Chinese chopped noodles, and some reddish color sauce with chopped carrots, and maybe, must maybe some ground meat in it. The taste was nauseating and I almost heaved. There also was some kind of melted cheese on top the taste of which I could not identify. I asked for bread, only to be told that the breakfast guests “ate all of it.” I was told that more was being baked. A check around the kitchen after I paid the bill, but before I ran to my vehicle, showed that this was not the truth. There was no baker, no oven in which to bake bread, and the kitchen was empty. If the food and pseudo-service are this bad, I can’t imagine what the experience of staying overnight in a joint like this must be like. I ran to my vehicle and left quickly. I urge you to avoid this place, despite the somewhat inviting exterior “look” of the hotel from the street. Look can be, and in this case, ARE, deceiving. Be warned!”

Need a roof, a bed, and perimeter security? Mount Livingstone Hotels has them, in fact, there’s also cold beer at the bar. Your vehicle is kept safe till morning.

Carry your own water. Avoid the toilet, there’s no toilet flush or shower. The Internet is on holiday. Staff are underpaid, hence, they seem to hate you for coming to bother them. They are detached, more concerned with station than service.

There is no value for money, nor visible appreciation that you visited here. The Manager and the Receptionist are enthusiastic, but can they handle everything…

Recommendation: For want of lodging, sleep here! Check their contact details at Adios Directory, call the manager first.

“In the early nineties …. Mount Livingstone Hotel in Mbeya, Tanzania …. used to arguably be the best hotel to stay in …. I have stayed in this hotel during the early nineties …. many-many times ….. but during my last trip there in 2014 …. I was shocked ….. the hotel is completely run-down …. zero service …. food is terrible …. rooms are dirty and run down …. all in all …. perhaps it has declined to be one of the worst hotels in town …. wonder whether the owner is asleep !!!”

“If all you require is a roof, a bed, perimeter security, then this place will work. There was cold beer at the bar, and the truck was safe in the morning. But there was no water, hot or cold (so no toilet flush or shower) in the morning, Internet didn’t work. Staff is strangely detached, more concerned with station than service. The place must have been marvelous on its heyday, but is now just ghosts. Better options available

“Mount Livingstone Hotel is about as good as it will get in Mbeya Tanzania. As things go this area of Africa is pretty rough, so what was on offer was eagerly accepted. The doorman and manager are very helpful, some staff appeared to be in lala land eg waitress. The property presents very well, no pool but reasonable rooms, does not mean the shower or toilet will work. Food at their restaurant was very good but had to be ordered at 3pm for 7pm and don’t be surprised if it still arrives 1 and a half hours late – this is a Tanzanian thing. The Hotel is situated in a quiet area but you can walk to local sights eg shops and CBD

We stayed at the Livingstone for two separate nights as it is very handy for town but it is really disappointing to see how much it is going down hill since I first stayed there 4 years ago.
The staff are very sullen, it rare to see a smile or welcome greeting. The rooms are very gloomy and tired but they still charge a high price so have few guests.
The only good thing is the food, there is a big menu and good food however it does take a long time to arrive as cooked to order.
I won’t be staying there again sadly.

I stayed here as it was the only place available for mynight before we went to zambia. Another hotel actually arranged this room for a friend and I because there was no space at her hostel.

We got there and spent nearly an hour trying to explain that we booked a room for 2 at a certain price and they refused to believe it.. they called the place that booked our room and eventually we negotiated to a price 10,000tsh higher than promised and they wouldn’t turn on our hot water.

Staff mostly didn’t know English, and the lady at the front desk was rude. The manager was amazing though and he definitely was the reason I didn’t leave the place feeling extremely bitter.

We had meals at night, I had pizza and my friend had the wings and both were good. The breakfast on the other hand consisted of leftover corn, plain pasta noodles, green beans (I think) and some cut up bananas… for breakfast… no thanks.

The bed was as hard as a rock and my headboard had a bloody fingerprint on it… Needless to say I will not be staying here again.

“On a recent trip through Africa we referred to trip advisor for a place to stay overnight in Mbeya (the first large town after leaving Malawi for Tanzania) First of all the Hotel is difficult to find and on a bad road. We were two couples travelling through Eastern Africa and although we camped often when we were just passing through (1 night) we looked for lodge or hotel accommodation. We were the only guests in the hotel and because we arrived a little late decided to eat there as well. Certainly not worth the money we paid!! The rooms were not too bad although the sheets and towels were worn and threadbare. The bathroom was a disgrace. Black mould growing in the grouting between the tiles and every time the toilet was flushed the bathroom was flooded. Initially no hot water. Breakfast was a shocker. I, like Vikingsven feel very sorry for the staff because they were friendly and tried their best. Obviously the owner/s have no interest in upgrading or improving the hotel at all. Its a pity because there are’nt many accommodation options in Mbeya!”

“I loved my time here, he staff were super friendly and so helpful. They walked me to the bus station to arrange tickets and when it was dark, the manager sent someone to buy me phone credit so I would not be walking alone. The room was clean and nice, hot showers and even a television! I booked the cheapest room there at 40,000 shillings and I was very impressed. I must admit though I am not high maintenance and the previous place I looked at had squat toilets and not internet – it was half the price though…”

We stayed one night in this Hotel and I almost feel sorry for the people working there since the place has got a feel of resignment to it.

At first, the road down to the hotel is in such state I thought we’d wreck the car. The car made it, but that was just luck. The hotel itself looks ok from the outside and we were only staying for one night so I guess we were both thinking, how bad can it be ?

I think we were the only ones staying in the hotel that night, maybe someone else, but there were noone to be seen in the bar or the restaurant so we chose to go to town and eat. The hotel has no gate which in Africa is pretty normal considering the theft risk. They have an askari (guard), but it didn’t feel safe.

The room was totally worn down and the curtains must have been peaking around 1970 (see photo), That’s rather amusing though, but what’s not so amusing is stained sheets and dirty bathroom with broken tiles and of course no hot water.

Breakfast with untoasted toastbread, no butter, no jam, banana, water melon and scrambled eggs. Coffee and Tea,. I’m really not fuzzy, but it just wasn’t good enough, sorry guys.

Having complained about this I also want to give credit to the receptionist and the guys working there since you were all very friendly and did your job perfectly. Had our car windows washed in the morning too !!!! I just think you’re caught in a vicious circle now of less and less clients coming making it harder to get the money in needed to make this the place it should be.

With money and initiative this could be turned into a really good place in Mbeya.

While I’m at it, I used to live in Mbeya 30 years ago and I’m very disappointed to see what a dump it has become considering what a lovely place it used to be. By allowing this city more or less to move down to the main highway it has killed the good old town of Mbeya and now the whole place unfortunately looks abandoned.

Sorry Mbeya, pole sana.

I have returned to this hotel three times now over the last two years for over night stops before catching or arriving by bus.I was traveling with my guide (and friend) Jordan http://www.africanlifetours.com
The staff are great and even remember me!
It’s very much a business type hotel but it is clean and safe. The food is good too but you have to wait ages, a better place to eat is out of the gates and turn left up the dirt track and eat at the cafe at the top of the hill, good cheap Tanzanian food and beer!
The hotel is not far from the bus station, just walk up the hill to where there is a fork in the road (there is some sort of monument in the middle of the road), take the right fork and go down the dirt road hill, hotel is at the bottom.
Jordan says he never books as there is always plenty of empty rooms, something that will change I’m sure when the airport eventually gets finished and people discover the joys of the southern highlands.

“This place is very old fashioned – I think they believe the heavy décor makes it “posh” but really it just looks old, dark & dated. We had a deluxe double and the rooms are nice enough with a couch, table, dressing table & desk. The bathrooms are the worst part, very old & the bath/shower flooded the floor every time. The room was clean & there was hot water – our first in 4 days! Garden a bit over grown & the tables & chairs too dirty to use. The staff were helpful, the menus were disgustingly filthy but quite extensive. The meals were average, they have a strange set up of bringing it out on a metal plate & then transferring it to your plate in front of you. This didn’t help with the temperature of the food. It is in a very good position with an easy walk to town with plenty of banks, mobile phone shops & convenience stores.”