Guest User
October 26, 2021
The nice pictures of the Korona villa and its swimming pool as well as the very reasonable price made us choose it as a one night stay on our first trip to Tanzania. We had stayed in a few other hotels during this trip but nowhere did we experience anything similar to Korona Villa. With opening of the gates to the compound we felt as if they have opened their hearts to us. We had learned previously that Tanzanians are particularly friendly and welcoming. We very well understand that any good host would demonstrate that the well-being and the priorities of the guests are of prime importance and hence everything has to be seamlessly organized. True. However, the atmosphere at Korona Villa went beyond that. A team of excellent staff that Charles has, could not do their work better. They were omnipresent but at the same time not intrusive. They were in the background. We did not even need to look for them. With a turn of the head and an expression of question on our face, looking for help or an answer, they would emerge and listen with utmost respect and do their best to fulfill almost whatever we asked for. They were always on time. Unobtrusively they located us to ask at what time would we like to have every meal served and there it then was - in the beautifully decorated, high ceiling dining room with impressive furniture. Even when we had to leave early and had forgotten that we would need to warn the host and staff about opening the gates at 5pm, they were there for us. They patiently assisted with our unrelated difficulties with car rental companies. Each time we passed Charles and the staff we saw a genuine smile in their faces and there were greetings and readiness to help at every instance. The swimming pool was fantastic - it appeared very private - hidden behind beautifully trimmed bushes, with garden of herbs by its side ( chilli pepper, rosemary, basil etc), very clean and good depth and length so that after some adjustment of my swimming style I could do my daily 1km distance there without a problem. Rooms were very cosy, beds - large enough. Bathrooms - very adequate and no problems with the flow or temperature of water. Having experienced all that, unsurprisingly, we felt attracted to the Villa. Instead of spending one night there, we spent six. By the end of the stay it felt as if we would have become members of this very friendly family. Charles treated us to a free trip to the Duluti park ( he took us in his van and gave to us wealth of useful and interesting information) without charging any fees, even not for the gasoline or his time. We also had a local Duluti park guide there who showed us around. Yet, we were aware of which direction Charles would point his camera to, and he would tell us of the birds and plants that we saw on our way along the bank of the lake. In a slow stroll of 4km we saw and learned so much. Charles made it appear to be fascinating for him as well - a nature photographer himself, he might have v