Guest Terms and Conditions

For individual guests and direct bookings • Effective for stays from 1 January 2026

Welcome & Acceptance

These Guest Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to every reservation and stay at Maasai ecoLodge in Karatu, Tanzania. By confirming a booking (or allowing someone to book on your behalf), you agree to these Terms.

Maasai ecoLodge is a social enterprise. 100% of profits support the Maasai Girls Rescue Center. Your stay helps create lasting change for at-risk Maasai girls while you enjoy authentic luxury and cultural immersion.

Rates & What Is Included

Rates

All published rates are in US Dollars (USD) and are per villa per night on a Full Board basis. Rates may change if government taxes or levies are adjusted. Once your booking is confirmed and the deposit received, the rate is locked for the dates of your stay.

Included in your rate

  • Accommodation in the villa category you reserved
  • All meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner – featuring produce from our on-site ecoFarm whenever
    available
  • House drinks (soft drinks, local beers, house wines and selected spirits during meals and at the
    bar)
  • Maasai Culture Center Experience (scheduled cultural activities)
  • Wi-Fi and standard villa amenities

Not included

  • Premium or imported beverages, champagne and special wines
  • Park entry fees, crater service fees and other government levies
  • Transfers, game drives, private guides and extra activities
  • Gratuities, laundry, spa treatments and personal expenses
  • Travel insurance

Booking, Deposit & Payment

Reservations can be made through our website, by email ([email protected]) or through authorized travel partners. We need full guest names, arrival and departure dates, villa type, number of adults and children, and any special requests (dietary needs, celebrations, accessibility).

How your booking is confirmed

  • Deposit: A 30% deposit is required to confirm your reservation. This deposit is non-refundable
    and will be applied toward any cancellation fees that may arise.
  • Final payment: The remaining balance is due 45 days before your arrival date.
  • Late bookings: If you book within 45 days of arrival, full payment is required at the time of
    confirmation.

We accept bank transfers (preferred) and major credit cards. All bank charges are the responsibility of the payer. You will not be able to check in until the reservation is fully paid.

Cancellation & Changes

All cancellations, date changes or reductions in the length of stay must be requested in writing (email). The date we receive your written notice determines the fee that applies.

Cancellation fees

  • More than 90 days before arrival: 15% of the total booking value (or the deposit, whichever is greater) is charged.
  • 61–90 days before arrival: 25% of the total booking value is charged.
  • 31–60 days before arrival: 50% of the total booking value is charged.
  • 30 days or less, or no-show: 100% of the total booking value is charged.

Seasonal notes

During High Season (June–October) and festive periods the scale above applies in full. During Low and Shoulder seasons we may, at our discretion, charge only the non-refundable deposit for cancellations received more than 45 days before arrival.

Postponing your stay

You may request to move your confirmed dates to another period within 12 months of the original arrival, subject to availability. New season rates may apply. Please contact us at least 15 days before the original arrival date. Choosing to postpone rather than cancel helps support our ecoFarm, local staff and the Maasai Girls Rescue Center programs.

Check-In & Check-Out

  • Check-in: from 14:00 (2:00 pm). Early check-in is possible when a villa is ready.
  • Check-out: by 11:00 (11:00 am). Late check-out may be available for a fee if the villa is free.
  • Please bring a valid passport or government-issued photo ID. We are required to record passport details for Tanzanian tourism authorities.
  • On arrival you will receive a short welcome briefing covering facilities, safety, activity schedules and how your stay supports the Maasai Girls Rescue Center.

Children & Special Requests

  • Children under 6 years stay free when sharing a villa with parents (subject to maximum occupancy of the villa).
  • Children aged 6–15 are charged the published child rate for the season.
  • Please tell us about any children travelling with you at the time of booking – some cultural activities or vehicle configurations have age guidelines.
  • Dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies), accessibility requirements and celebration requests should be shared when you book so our team can prepare properly.

Liability & Travel Insurance

Maasai ecoLodge and its team are not liable for loss of or damage to personal property, or for personal injury or illness, except where caused by our proven negligence and only to the extent required by Tanzanian law.

We strongly recommend that every guest travels with comprehensive travel insurance covering medical expenses, emergency evacuation, personal accident, loss of belongings, and trip cancellation or curtailment. Insurance is the sole responsibility of the guest.

Neither we nor you are responsible for failure to perform obligations caused by events beyond reasonable control (natural disasters, epidemic, civil unrest, government actions, infrastructure failure, etc.). In such cases we have no obligation to provide alternative accommodation, transport or refunds beyond what is stated in the cancellation policy.

Guest Conduct

We reserve the right to refuse accommodation or to ask a guest to leave if behavior is considered inappropriate, illegal, or harmful to other guests, staff or the surrounding community. In such circumstances no refund will be given.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. Any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Tanzania.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version in force on the date your booking is confirmed applies to that reservation. The current version is always available on our website.

Contact Us

Maasai ecoLodge
Karatu District, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +255 664 625 506
Website: maasaiecolodge.com

Thank you for choosing Maasai ecoLodge. Every stay directly supports the Maasai Girls Rescue Center and helps create a self-sustaining future for at-risk Maasai girls.