DW, DD8, & I really loved our AKL stay 11/25 - 12/3! We've stayed at CR, WL, FW Cabins, Beach Club, Carribbean Beach, and ASMo. AKL really was everything they said it would be, and more. DD8 said AKL was her favorite part of the entire vacation! Oh, where do I start? I guess at the very beginning!
We arrived late Friday afternoon. Bell Service quickly met us at our car, and took our bags. We booked a pool view room, and faxed a request for a non-smoking room, and bunk beds(which we received). Checkin was quick, and easy. CM Brittany was pleasant, and told us our assigned room was 2460. She showed us on the map it was on Zebra Trail. For our family this room was great! It was close to the pool, hot tubs, laundry, The Mara, as well as a GREAT viewing area of Arusha Savannah. Right down the hall from us was an open deck with binoculars where you could watch Giraffes, Zebras, Wildebeasts, etc. From our balcony you could see the pool through the thick foliage. Overall, nice. Much better than a noisy parking lot view. DW, and DD8 sleep in, while I'm an early riser - 6 a.m. It was great to walk around the Lodge and check out the different savannahs and animals.
The Pool area was amazing. The main pool is quite large. We really liked the zero entry. One day during family game time we ended up wading in the shallow end of the pool. We tried to stay dry since we weren't in swimsuits, but DD8 splashed me so I HAD to dunk her! DW often says she has two kids
...but I digress. The slide seemed to be ok, but nothing very special. There are two spas that are just heavenly. Each morning I could relax in the warm bubbly water, read the newspaper (delivered each morning to your room), and drink coffee from my refillable mug. Ahhhhhh....AKL take me away! The pool area is lush with foliage. Wow! As you follow the pathways around the pool you are surrounded by palms, shrubs, etc. It is a very relaxing, and tropical feeling around the African watering hole!
Activities...There is a lot to do at AKL! First of all there are "children's activities" where they receive a "bead" for attending. The beads look like ladybugs, giraffes, pink flamingo balls, etc. After completing all 5 events (various times of the day) they receive a special totem bead. It makes a nice souvenier. Quite frankly, as an adult I enjoyed watching the kids during the activities i.e. Flamingo feeding, Track the Animals, Garden Safari, Music of the Savanna, Wildlife Games. Non-Bead activities included "Night vision goggles"-a must do!, T-shirt painting, African doll making, cookie decorating, arts & crafts, Zawadi Marketplace Primal Parade, Storytelling by the Fire Pit, and so much more! The African CM's were a part of most activities,and would offer a special card showing where there are from. They were wonderful!
Culinary Tour...Daily there is a culinary tour of Jiko & Boma. Since nobody else showed up, we received a private tour! At the Chef's table, Chef David explained to us all about Jiko. Best of all we got to sample various flatbreads, and dipping sauces. Oh my - delicious! Then we went to Boma. Another chef explained all about this place, and once again we sampled soups, sauces, (dd8) special PBJ, and of course...ZEBRA DOMES!!!! Ahhhhhh...A little piece of heaven! Even if you don't go to Boma, you can purchase Zebra Domes at The Mara. Quick impression of The Mara...ok for a quick bite, or for filling your refillable mug. Unfortunately, I found the CM's taking food orders quite disorganized. The food was slow in coming, and often cold. On more than one occasion I saw people refusing their food. As for Boma & Jiko...high marks!
The staff...I found all CM's to be friendly, and very helpful! As I would pass in the halls they all would say "Good Morning", or Hello. The African CM's were wonderful with the children, and never seemed tired of answering the same questions over, and over again! The housekeeping staff was GREAT!!!!! Alicia kept our room clean (no small task!), and provided towel animals everyday - elephants, shirts with ties, birds, etc. She also arranged DD8's stuffed animals each day. Although we weren't concierge, we requested "turndown service" each evening. We take afternoon breaks, mess up the room, and return to a park in the evening. When we returned to our room we had clean towels, new soap, trash emptied, and beds turned down...with a chocolate on the pillow! That chocolate is one of those little things I love! What can I say? They also left a card each evening with an African proverb. A nice touch to end the day.
Hmmm... What else can I say? Oh yeah, how about the ANIMALS! In northcentral Pennsylvania I'm use to seeing deer, rabbits, squirrels, pheasant, and an occasional bear...but this is AMAZING! Watching giraffes, zebras, kudu, ostriches, ankole cattle, gazelles, of course the flamingos, and more was quite the sight. It was so funny, when you would come to a window area in the hallways, everyone's head would turn to look outside, and people would bump into each other!
The Lobby... The Christmas decorations, and tree were beautiful. The lobby is quite the work of art. I'm not much into "African decor", but this lobby is really something to see.
In Conclusion...AKL was a great resort for our family. It was friendly, peaceful, and very entertaining. As we were leaving DD8 asked, "Can we stay here again?" Oh yeah, my little buddy. I'm sure we'll be back.
found me the recipe for zebra domes........... ahhhhhaaaa ha ha ha 
there is NO way I could EVER make them!!!!!!!!!! He must be nuts!!! Sweet, but nuts! I think I'll just stick to buying them -- much safer that way!!
aw: 
(Hey, I totally know EXACTLY what you mean about that lo-o-o-o-ong walk! 
