About the Lodge
Staying at The Plantation Lodge
The Plantation Lodge is an owner-run lodge set in ten hectares of flowering gardens on the red-brown hills near Karatu, at 1,600 metres. It lies about 12 km (7.5 mi) from the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and 35 km (22 mi) from Lake Manyara National Park, so it is an ideal base for the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and onward journeys to Tarangire and the Serengeti. The lodge was founded in 1997 by its German owners, Renate and Udo Marahrens, on the grounds of an old farmstead, and has grown into one of the best-loved lodges in northern Tanzania.
No two rooms are alike. There are 15 standard rooms spread through the garden, most with a veranda; the Bamboo family unit with two bedrooms for families with children up to 15; the Farm House family suite with two bedrooms and a fireplace lounge; and the Garden House, with four double bedrooms, a fireplace room and a grand dining room for families or friends travelling together. Seven suites, including the Jacaranda honeymoon suite, the Coffee House suites, and the Heliconia, Oldupai, Eucalyptus and Zanzibar suites, add fireplace lounges, private terraces and deep baths.
Every evening the restaurant serves a four-course dinner made with vegetables, salads and herbs from the lodge's own garden, paired with wines from a cellar of South African and international labels beneath the bar. Between safaris, guests relax by the pool with views towards Mount Oldeani, book a massage, manicure or pedicure, enjoy afternoon tea and cake in the garden, or look out for some of the 140 bird species that visit it.
Facilities & Experiences
- Swimming pool
- Massage
- Manicure and pedicure
- Four-course dinners
- Wine cellar
- Family units
- Fireplace suites
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry service
- Souvenir shop
- Birdwatching
Signature Journeys
Safaris to Ngorongoro Crater
Also in Ngorongoro Crater
More Places to Stay
Stay at The Plantation Lodge
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