Onsea House, subdued luxury with a personal touch

Machweo, boutique hotel to indulge all your senses

Your most relaxing home from home

Since 2006, Onsea House has been a synonym for charming comfort in a picturesque setting, which is unique in Arusha. With more personal approach than in a hotel and more privacy than a lodge resort, we aim to be your preferred luxury Bed & Breakfast.

Discover the original Onsea House

Just next doors and yet almost worlds apart, Machweo offers larger and more luxurious rooms in a tranquil Boutique Hotel environment, while maintaining the same personal approach. Machweo is a refuge for those who enjoy the finer things in life since 2011.

Discover the indulging comfort at Machweo

Our other signature features

Relax

The Machweo Wellness Retreat offers the finest spa & wellness facilities including steam bath, sauna and separate swimming pool. Feel better, Look better, Sleep better with our spa & yoga programs.

Get fully relaxed

Fine Dining

Enjoy an amazing meal by our star chef Axel and his team in our critically acclaimed restaurant. Mixing local influences with classic French cuisine and only working with the best and freshest products, every bite and every sip will be an experience for your senses.

Book your table

Explore Arusha

Arusha can be your home base for a Safari or a Hike & Climb. An ideal location for excursions and expert advice. There are many unique activities in the immediate area. Enjoy bird watching, mountain biking or golfing. Meet local people on a Cultural Walk or while in Arusha.

Discover all activities

Highly recommended by travel guides

Since 2010 we have been consistently nominated and have received many finalist positions in the Safari Awards

Included in safari itineraries by experts

Even with the increased number of rooms, the standards of service remain high, the atmosphere friendly and the food some of the best in Arusha.

Expert Africa, advise from an experienced travel company

Their brief was to create a boutique hotel providing top-notch accommodation and first-class food. They’ve succeeded brilliantly on both counts.

i-escape, boutique hotels and hip hideaways, about the creation of Machweo

Offering an intimate and friendly atmosphere, along with excellent food, we think this is easily one of the best options in the Arusha area

Audley, tailor-made journeys for the discerning traveller

The open-air terrace dining room at Machweo is the stage for the culinary art. It looks magical at night when oil lamps are lit and tables are dressed in crisp white linen.

i-escape, boutique hotels and hip hideaways, about Machweo

Machweo Wellness Retreat & Fine Dining awaits weary adventurers with a steam bath, sauna, massages and mani/pedis … a great last stop for recharging your battery before the plane ride back home.

American Express – Centurion magazine

You get extremely good value for money here and a very good service and standard. The facilities are fantastic and the quiet location on the outskirts of Arusha is a lovely setting to begin or end a safari.

Africa Odyssey, Personalised itineraries to Africa

Lovely location, very eclectic décor and stylish in that African chic way. Axel is an extremely talented chef who hails from Belgium. A little gem and with only 9 lovely rooms a find in Arusha.

Jules Maury, Loyalty Travel Planner at Scott Dunn, specialist in luxury tailor-made holidays and honeymoons

The food was as good as I have tasted anywhere in the world. Your hotel is the perfect place for anyone to relax in pre or post safari. I had an amazing trip visiting much of Tanzania and this was one of the highlights.

Edward Burke, Product Manager Africa, Indian Ocean, North America and Arabia at Bailey Robinson “travel without compromise

The very best start to a honeymoon in Tanzania.

Tanzania Odyssey, The Tanzania honeymoon experts

Arguably the number one guesthouse in Arusha. Machweo has the kind of attentive service that makes guests feel right at home. It is one of our favorites.

Planet Africa Safaris, tailor made safaris in East Africa

I was so impressed with the quality of service, accommodation, and cuisine at Machweo. We too look forward to sending more Deeper Africa guests your way.

Lauren Elder, Deeper Africa, named the No. 1 Safari Outfitter in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2016.

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What our distinguished guests are saying

Birthday Evening

Treated like royalty. Fantastic food, wine selection and service! Awesome concept of wine paired with dinner and Chef Axel’s recommendation. 4 Stunning courses each paired with a different wine. And washed down with a fantastic whisky from an amazing collection. Rooms are very comfortable and spacious. Wait staff were extremely knowledgeable and professional. (TripAdvisor)

Hospitality oasis

I came here last year, and decided to come back as start and endpoint for safari. The place became more quiet, road access is improving with the new highway. At this moment the best place to stay near Arusha when you have an international flight to take, as traffic jam can hold you up for three hours, when you stay in a Arusha center hotel. Onsea House continues to give that home feeling, rooms are large and confortable. Go for room 6 or 7. Dinner is still an event at Onsea House with that mixed Belgian-African cuisine, but when not hungry you can also go for a simple but excellent vol-au-vent with French fries or smashed potatoes, or a light snack.

Room Tip: room 6 or 7 when you want to be very quiet (TripAdvisor)

A warmly welcome and a great stay

We were 4 friends staying before and after our safari at the Onsea House and really enjoyed our stay. The reception welcomed us warmly with different juices both of the days and took care of us so well. The beautiful gardens and lovely designed rooms and the very friendly and helpful staff make you feel you are visiting your family. Besides that, the food was awesome and we had two wonderful evenings on the restaurant terrace overlooking the pool and nature. Stayed September 2016, traveled with friends (TripAdvisor)

Perfect oasis with fantastic service

Stayed here for one night at the end of a business trip. Booked at the last minute by email – after being greeted with juice I was in Machweo room 8, a small bungalow type room with kitchen and shower overlooking the valley. The finishing and detail is of a great standard, after a light lunch and a swim in the pool, I got to sit out on the terrace and watch the sunset. For dinner I went for the full menu and it was good, highlights were the kingfish and the carpaccio. All the time, service is attentive. The next morning the hotel arranged a day trip for me and allowed me late checkout before flight home. Highly recommend this hotel, great alternative to the big hotels in Arusha. Stayed September 2016, traveled solo. (TripAdvisor)

Onsea & Machweo

Stayed in Onsea prior to my safari and Machweo after. Lovely comfortable rooms, and great service (Pauline in reception was fantastic). Highlight was definitely the AMAZING food – breakfast is plentiful with great choices, dinner is 3 course with recommended wines accompanying. Would highly recommend staying here when in Arusha!

Room Tip: Rooms at lower levels will be quieter. Stayed August 2016, traveled solo (TripAdvisor)

We share

In Tanzania not everyone gets the opportunities most of us are fortunate enough to get. That’s why we have always tried to help the local community where we can. We especially believe in supporting development through education. Read all about the Baraa Primary school project, offering free education for over 2000 children and other programs you can help us with

News

Restyled Onsea House rooms and restaurant

Nov 22, 2020

Extensive renovations and paint works have been finalised at the original Onsea House Country Inn & Guest Cottage buildings exactly 2 years after our last revamp, ready for the 2021 season. Back to the roots. Restyled and reopened Onsea House restaurant at the...

‘A Taste of Tanzania’ available at our reception desk

Feb 16, 2020

'A Taste of Tanzania' tells the story of Belgian Chef Axel Janssens, who has been living and working in Tanzania for a decade. Over the years, he traveled to all corners of the country, discovering incredible tastes and meeting many people sharing his passions. In...

Pure Tanzania

Feb 16, 2020

'Flying Chef' Axel Janssens and photographer Wim Demessemaekers made an epic journey through Tanzania and created a high-end book that makes you want to pack your bags for Tanzania straight away. KLM iFly Magazine takes you on a Tanzanian journey through 6 images from...