Plantation Lodge

Plantation Lodge is set on 7 acres of land, surrounded by coffee plantations and the “green hills” of Africa that Hemingway found so inspiring. It lies on the slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater, to the south and east of the Serengeti, near the bustling market town of Karatu in Northern Tanzania and is the perfect location for those of you looking to avoid large impersonal lodges.

Beyond the emerald carpet of manicured lawn lies the sprawling colonial farmhouse replete with the charm and comfort one would expect from a boutique hotel. The atmosphere is intimate with 16 light and breezy en-suite rooms that have been elegantly decorated with African antiques and Tanzanian arts and crafts. Some of the rooms are detached with private verandas and inter leading rooms, making it the ideal location for families and groups. The gardens are well attended, filled with the scents and colours of hibiscus, bougainvillea and blossoms that attract an array of butterflies and birdlife, and the source of inspiration for the chef’s beautifully presented seasonal dishes.

The lodge is only a short distance away from two of the most infamous parks in the Tanzanian Northern Circuit - the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a place where pastoralists, conservation and tourism co-exist in carefully managed harmony. The Ngorongoro Crater with its dramatic range of volcanic mountains that straddle the Rift River Valley is home to an abundance of animals, birds, reptiles and the semi - nomadic indigenous Masaai people with their distinctive customs and colourful dress. There are a population of approximately 25000 large animals, mainly ungulates and reputedly the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa including the black rhinoceros, wildebeest, zebra, eland, grant and Thomson’s gazelles. On the crater rim you may see elephants, mountain reedbuck and buffalo and in the summer months enormous herds of Serengeti migrants pass through the plains of the reserve.

Lake Manyara is a fresh water lake that is home to a diverse set of landscapes and wildlife which includes hippopotamus, impalas, elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, warthogs and giraffes. It is also home to a large number of lion and leopard populations but due to their elusive natures, they are very rarely seen. If you are a keen bird watcher you will be able to observe over 300 species of migratory birds which include flamingos, the long crested eagle and the grey headed kingfisher. The Manyara Park has excellent night game viewing with porcupines, civets and bush babies amongst the large variety of nocturnal creatures you may come across as your highly knowledgeable guides recount to you their tales of the wilderness.

There are good walking opportunities in the gardens of the lodge and along the edge of the surrounding forest. If you are on active hiker you could take a 1 to 3 hike through the Empakaai Crater, taking in the spectacular views of the lake, teeming with flamingos and pelicans or stroll at your leisure through the local market in the morning followed by a guided tour to a neighbouring coffee plantation. If you are a keen bird watcher you will be able to view the beautiful Fischer’s lovebirds and yellow bellied sunbirds from your private veranda or a quiet spot in the garden. Perhaps you may just prefer to relax at the pool and then treat yourself to a relaxing massage with the Lodge’s masseuse.

Read more about a luxury Tanzania Safari