Kia Airport Lodge

We as do many people, had early morning flight (eg Turkish Air is 2 am, Precision air is 6:50 am). KIA lodge is on the grounds of the airport so you avoid the long line to get into the airport, and KIA has beautiful grounds, a wonderful pool with view of Mnt Kilamanjaro and the food and service is great. Finally, through booking. Com, our cost at KIA was $US 130. Complementary breakfast and 3 min shuttle to airport.

Basic Rooms. Nothing special considering the very high price for a double room. Surroundings seemed pretty dry although there could be a lush green around the premises. Water is costly though, so no worries here. Food / Buffet was really good. Staff was friendly, but lacked a bit of happiness. Tough job maybe. Wouldn't go there again if I didn't have to due to the high prices next to the runway of the KIA.

Do not go to this hotel. At first it seems very convenient as it is very close to Kilimanjaro airport and we had a transfer the next day. Rooms are very expensive, but we chose to do it anyways. Value for money is about the worst I have ever experienced. Food is ok but nothing special and very expensive for Tanzania prices. But this was not the worst: we agreed on a price for an extended check out on the last day of 45 USD per room. When we had to leave for the airport they charged us 152 USD per room. After a long debate they charged 102 PER ROOM. We had to pay because they didn't allow us to leave and held us hostage in the gate. It is a total scam!

Unfortunately, the reception experience on the evening of January 24 was disappointing, particularly during the check-in process. We also had to follow up several times for drinking water that was not initially provided in the room, which took over two hours to arrive.
On a positive note, other staff members were friendly and professional, and the restaurant service was excellent.
While the hotel is relatively old, it is well maintained. The swimming pool area is a highlight, offering a beautiful view of the sunrise and surrounding landscape.

While this lodge is convenient in that is very close to JRO airport, it has a very Bates Motel kinda feel. We booked a room for a night since we had a late night KLM flight, we did not plan to spend the night, but use the pool, restaurant, and have a shower before our flight. On checking in, the rude front desk lady (who was already arguing with other guests), told us we only booked for 2 people (we are a family of 4). We said that since we weren’t even spending the night this should be fine, we were only there for about 3 hours. She wanted to charge us extra for the water for showers for 4 people, and then she asked how much we paid ($200USD, which is a total rip off), and then she said her manager said it’s ok but we just leave promptly at 9pm. The restarted had one other table of 3 in it, yet our food took over an hour to arrive. Once we got back to our room to shower and get ready, we found the bathroom had an incredible stench of sewage. We all showered as quickly as possible and then shut the bathroom door. Overall it was a terrible experience and I feel sorry for anyone who actually has to spend the night there. $200+/night, this place is an absolute rip off.

Just 5 minutes from Kilimanjaro Airport with a free shuttle, Kia Lodge is perfect for travelers in transit. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, the pool is inviting, and breakfast is plentiful and delicious. A great mix of convenience and relaxation at the foot of Kilimanjaro.

The location can’t be beat if you need a place before or after a flight out of the airport. The hotel provides a shuttle, and it’s less than a 10 minute drive. One big warning — be careful booking a room through “Hotel Online”, which is what Kia Lodge uses for online bookings. We booked and received confirmation on a Thursday for a Saturday check in. We got to the hotel and were told they were fully booked and didn’t have rooms for us. Hotel Online didn’t provide Kia our details until Saturday morning and were told no rooms were available but didn’t inform us. Luckily, once we explained we only needed a room for a few hours before our 2am flight, Kia was able to provide one room. It could have been a huge disaster, no thanks to Hotel Online. They provide a what’s app number which doesn’t work. Kudos to Kia Lodge — great service and nice facilities, but the 3rd party they contract with for online bookings is not to be trusted.

An excellent choice for a one-night stopover. The best part is how incredibly close it is to the airport. They offer a complimentary airport shuttle, which makes arriving and departing so seamless and stress-free. The service is top-notch—truly a 5-star experience by African standards. The staff is attentive and genuinely committed to making your stay comfortable. I highly recommend Kia Lodge for anyone needing a seamless and relaxing layover.

Great location as it is 5 mins from the airport. All staff is outstanding. From the pool you have a great view on mt Kilimanjaro. The rooms are comfortable huts in a natural surrounding. Food is great too. A great start for our Tanzanian adventure.

We booked a "day room" at KIA at the end of our private safari with Soul of Tanzania, as we had extra time before our very late (12:45am) flight from JRO to Paris.
When booking I missed two things I should have realized — a "day room" expires at 6:30pm, too soon for our needs, and the Wi-Fi does NOT reach all of the rooms. We asked the front desk on check in if we could please stay later, and were even willing to pay extra, but they said no (unless we paid a full overnight room rate on top of the day rate which wasn't worth it for a couple of extra hours).
So that was too bad, but it all worked out. The grounds of the place are gorgeous. The rooms are in cute little bungalows spread out across the grounds. Inside they are pretty basic, but they are clean and the AC worked well.
We kept the room until 6:30 and used it to shower/rest up, then went to the restaurant and had a leisurely meal (food was great) before heading to JRO. The pool area was beautiful but we didn't use it as we didn't want to deal with wet swimsuits. My young adult sons hung out at the bar so they could get drinks and use the Wi-Fi.
When it was time to go to the airport, we hopped in a fun open-air free shuttle for the quick trip to JRO. So KIA was a great experience overall, just be aware you won't have Internet in most of the rooms (unless you happen to be close to the bar or front desk).

We really enjoyed our stay here. The atmosphere was wonderful. The service was great and the view of Mount Kilimanjaro was fantastic. I would highly recommend this lodge to stay in before your flight. The grounds were very unique and we enjoyed sitting by the fire pit.

If you’re reading this, be warned: the phone number listed for Kia Lodge on Google is NOT connected to the actual hotel, and the number on their website doesn’t work either. When I finally spoke with staff, they acted like it was my fault for not magically knowing the correct number—despite the fact that it’s the only one listed online.
Because of this mess, I had no way to arrange the shuttle they supposedly offer. I was stranded at the airport for two hours trying to get in touch with them. Even the agency I booked through couldn’t reach them. Eventually, I was rescued by a kind Tanzania Airlines driver who gave me a ride.
It only got worse from there.
When I finally arrived, the power was completely out and stayed that way all night—no lights, no charging devices, nothing. I’ve spent the last six weeks traveling across Africa, including some very underdeveloped areas, and this was by far my worst stay.
The bed was rock hard, the furnishings are ancient, and the entire place is run-down. In the morning, they still charged me full price—no apology, no discount for stranding me at the airport or for the total power outage.
The only thing going for this place is that it’s near the airport. But unless you’re up for a long, dusty walk down a dirt road (because you won’t reach the shuttle), it’s not worth it.
Do yourself a favor and stay literally anywhere else.

Location is very close to the Kilimanjaro International AirPort.
Nice peaceful environment in the Lodge. Nice view of Kilimanjaro Mountain.
Liked it.

The lodge is 5min away from Kilimandjaro airport, really convenient. The atmosphere is really calm and relaxing, we stayed here for a night and the service, the welcome were perfect. Dinner and breakfast are fresh, good quality and tasty. A little bonus is the view of the Kilimandjaro mountain when you go to the swimming pool, sweet! (unfortunately it was cloudy when we were there). I highly recommend!

Minutes to the airport and complimentary private pickups are so helpful at all hours of the day. In fact, the property is located within airport grounds so you won’t even need to technically exit the airport. Outdoor pool and bar always a plus. Complimentary breakfast including buffet and made-to-order delicacies like omelettes and waffles has wide selections.
Dinner is a three-course prix-fixe affair with drinks à la carte. There’s also a gift shop and massage room onsite.
We stayed here on our way in and out of Tanzania. It doesn’t need to be just a rushed pitstop, though. I could see myself spending a whole day here just relaxing and enjoying the amenities.

I stayed here for 2 nights when I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Fantastic food. Beautiful location amongst the trees with a view point of Kilimanjaro. Rooms, toilets and restaurant is kept superbly clean. 10/10 would recommend for a shot stay. 5 minute max from airport.

Rooms outdated but clean, lacked sufficient water pressure in shower. Loved the 2 minute shuttle to airport. Evening meal underwhelming but fantastic breakfast. Mixed bag, but if you just need one night to wait for a flight it is fine.