The Lodge

Location: Karatu, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Number of Rooms: 24

Plantation Lodge sits amid rolling green plantations where coffee, flowers and cattle are raised. Its 24 rooms, suites and family units are individually furnished, each uniquely decorated with the owners’ collection of antiques and Tanzanian arts and crafts. Some rooms have private verandas that overlook the flowering gardens where bougainvillea, frangipani and jacaranda perfume the air. Enjoy cake and coffee in the gardens, and fine meals in the restaurant featuring herbs, vegetables and fruits grown on the premises. The small size of this owner-run inn, combined with its colonial-style charm, create an atmosphere where personal attention and a concern for detail are evident at every turn. Plantation Lodge's location promises maximum safari enjoyment, as it is just a stone’s throw from the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a short hop to Lake Manyara and Tarangire national parks, and an easy journey to the Serengeti.

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Facilities & Amenities

• En suite bathroom with shower
• Shampoo, conditioner and soap
• Hair dryer
• Tea/coffee in room
• 220v charging outlets in room
• In-room safe
• Central pool
• Massage treatments (extra cost)
• Restaurant and bar
• Wi-Fi available
• Laundry (extra cost)
• Visa, MasterCard, American Express accepted
• No air conditioning (not needed)

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Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Ngorongoro Crater is rightly regarded one of the premier wonders of the natural world. Here within the world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera is one of the densest concentrations of game in all of Africa. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area boundary is just 20 minutes' drive from Plantation Lodge. When the morning mists part to unveil the crater floor, safari-goers discover a "Noah's Ark" of wildlife: 25,000 large animals live here including zebra, buffalo, antelope, lion, black rhino, hippo and elephant. The pink flamingos of Lake Manyara and Tarangire's famous elephants are also close-by safari highlights. Back at the lodge, enjoy excellent bird watching in the gardens, with Fischer’s lovebirds and yellow-bellied sunbirds visiting regularly. Optional activities include a tour of a coffee plantation to learn how coffee is grown and roasted, and a visit to a local farm.

The below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the Ngorongoro Crater. Seasonally, flamingos may be seen on the lake, and there is always a high concentration of antelopes and predators. Other typical sightings may include gazelles, warthog, ostrich and a number of other mammals, birds and reptiles. Exact sightings will depend on seasonality and wildlife movements.

Climate