Welcome to Ngorongoro Farm House. Coffee has grown here in the shadow of the Oldeani Volcano since a German settler first planted the land in the late 19th century. After several changes of ownership, the farm passed to Tanganyika Wilderness Camps, which began restoring and reforesting it. Today the farm is a 500-acre working plantation just 5 km from the Loduare Gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Afternoons belong to the farm. A guide leads you through the coffee plantation and vegetable garden to show how an organic farm runs, and you can watch the beans being roasted or cycle the plantation paths. Further afield, there are walking safaris towards Oldeani, ranger-led hikes in the Conservation Area and trips to Lake Eyasi, where the Hadzabe still live.
Evenings are slower. The thatched main house opens onto a wide deck facing the volcano, and sunset is the main event. Meals are homemade with dairy and vegetables from the farm, and dinner moves out onto the terrace when the weather allows. Between excursions, there is a swimming pool, massages, croquet on the lawn and a curio shop.
ACCOMMODATION
The chalets are built in the style of an old colonial farm and decorated with rustic local materials. Each one sits at ground level with a private terrace or balcony overlooking the gardens or coffee plantation. Standard rooms have a double bed or twin beds, and there are also Suites, Quadruple rooms and Interconnected rooms sleeping up to five. All have an en-suite shower, mosquito nets, a fan, a tea and coffee tray and mineral water. With every room at ground level and wheelchair-friendly access, the lodge suits guests with limited mobility well.
Ngorongoro Farm House lies near Karatu in the Ngorongoro Highlands, beneath the slopes of the Oldeani Volcano. The Loduare Gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is just 5 km away, putting the crater within easy reach for early game drives. By road, the lodge is 150 km from Arusha along a tarmac route. Alternatively, a 25-minute scheduled or charter flight from Arusha lands at Lake Manyara Airstrip, about 32 km from the lodge, followed by a drive of around 45 minutes.
Speak to a specialist for availability and pricing.
