Rating: Modest
Country Lodge Karatu offers attractive cottage-style accommodation in pretty grounds on the edge of Karatu town. From here you can easily visit Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara which are both roughly 30 minutes drive away.
There are 22 guest rooms within 11 cottages, each with en-suite bathroom with shower, and a fireplace that can be lit on cooler days. Rooms have private verandas, where you can sit and watch birds in the garden. Whilst the lodge is not far off the road, it is away from the sound of traffic and the 5 acres of gardens are tranquil ad secluded. The main building houses the reception, dining room, bar and lounge, with a fireplace for chilly nights. One of the lodge owners, Reggie Bayo, is an experienced chef so you can expect good, fresh,local produce and simple but good meals.
Apart from day trips to the Crater and Lake Manyara, you can visit local coffee plantations, stroll into Karatu town, enjoy walks in the countryside around the lodge or simply relax at the lodge. The pool is a great place to cool off on a hot day and there are loungers for sun lovers.
Open: Country Lodge is open all year.
Location: Country Lodge is on the eastern outskirts of Karatu town about halfway between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara which are both about 30 minutes away.
Rooms: There are 11 double en-suite cottages (ie 22 rooms taking a maximum of 44 guests in total), arranged in the gardens. Each guest room has a bedroom, bathroom and a veranda with chairs and table. Beds have mosquito nets and there are bedside tables, lamps, a writing desk and a wardrobe. The open fire can be lit on a chilly evening. Bottled water is provided free of charge.
Activities: This is a good base for game viewing in Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National, and Tarangire National Park is under 2 hours away. Lake Eyasi where the Hadzabe Bushmen tribe lives, is a short drive from the lodge. Guests can walk into Karatu town for shopping, visit waterfalls near the lodge, tour a coffee plantation and enjoys walks in the countryside.
Facilities: The main building houses the reception area, bar, lounge and dining room. All rooms are light and spacious with high ceilings. On cool evenings a large fire is lit in the lounge. There is an outdoor seating area so guests can enjoy drinks in the garden. The lodge has 5 acres of grounds full of tropical plants and flowers, birds and butterflies. There is an outdoor swimming pool.
Dining: Meals are taken at individual tables. As the owner is an experienced chef, you can expect good cooking!
Children: Children of all ages are welcome.
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0"The one let down, pretty mediocre place, gruff staff and none of the romance of the first three nights."