As mentioned in my post on Monday this week, during our recent safari we spent a day at a uniquely built lodge close to Lake Manyara's shores & overlooking the Great Rift Valley. The name of the lodge is the "Lake Manyara Serena Lodge" and it was opened in 1996. (The Serena group was established in the mid '70's by the Aga Khan Fund for Development, & it's East African portfolio includes lodges throughout both Tanzania and Kenya.) 
The entrance to the lodge is pictured above. The style of the lodge (in particular the thatched rooves throughout the lodge along with the circular 'hut' style design of the bedrooms and main areas) is said to resemble that of a traditional Maasai boma (enclosure or village) - the Maasai being one of the local Tanzanian tribes who live in this area.
The ceilings in the main areas of the lodge (dining room, lounges, bar) are incredible & I have not seen this design anywhere else in Tanzania. They are covered with woven layers of thick grass coiled into a circular pattern, with dark brown dyed sections of grass in between. Clusters of lamps made from natural materials hang in a dramatic 'chandelier style' from the centre of each ceiling.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a swimming pool like this elsewhere, with such a stunning view ! The edge of the pool seems like it 'disappears' into Lake Manyara's waters ... although the lake is not as full as she usually is, the dramatic effect still takes your breath away when you see it for the first time.
Part of the outside dining veranda. We had a magnificent buffet lunch here which consisted of a huge selection of salads, soups, stuffed eggs, pickles, curries (meat or pulse varieties were available), pasta dishes, vegetarian dishes, roast meats aswell as casserole type dishes containing either chicken, beef, fish or mutton, vegetables, potatoes, cheese, biscuits, fruit and dessert. The food was all freshly prepared and beautifully presented. (I should have taken some photo's of the 'feast' but as the dining room was very full & busy at the time, I thought I'd better not !)
