Plantation Lodge is half-way between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park. Turning off the main road in Karatu, a bustling market town, the lodge is a ten-minute drive along a private, dusty road passing through coffee plantations and taking in great views over the surrounding farmland.
Most of the lodge's staff come from the local area – 50 of them live within the lodge grounds – and when we last visited we found the staff to be charming and helpful.
As its name suggests, Plantation Lodge is set in seven acres of land on a working farm and coffee plantation. The gardens are full of scents and colours – countless hibiscus, bougainvillea and blossoms attract an array of butterflies and birds. Offering shade are tall rubber, eucalyptus and banana trees. Lush, manicured lawns surround the sprawling, colonial-style farmhouse and its cottages.
Plantation Lodge's main house – where the lounge and dining rooms are – is fresh, light and airy. White walls act as the perfect backdrop for black and white photographs and African curios. Straw mats line the cool tiled floors and high, beamed ceilings ensure a bright and spacious feel to the lodge.
There is a cosy bar to enjoy a pre-dinner sun downer and two large, elegant dining rooms where guests are served farm-grown meals. If guests prefer to be out in the open, there is a terrace at the back of the house, a swimming pool and extensive gardens to relax in.
Stone paths lead from the main house to the rooms which are dotted around the garden. Some of Plantation's rooms are detached, others are adjacent to each other in small groups, like stable-blocks. There are three types of room here; all been decorated and finished to a high quality and all have garden views.
The 15 standard rooms are all slightly different, but they're all fairly spacious and well-decorated – most with double beds and colourful African bedspreads. Some have a veranda with sun-loungers; all have smart, sparkling en suite facilities. Several will inter-connect to form family rooms. (Read more here.)
The 2 suites here are equally smart, and rather larger, and feel much more private than the standard rooms.
There's also one honeymoon suite, which stands on its own and has clearly been built and designed with great care. (Read more here.)
Activities: the lodge organises free guided walks to explore the coffee plantation, the flower farm and the vegetable plots. Guides explain the coffee-making process and the lodge's history. As Plantation is half-way between Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, it's a good base for days spent on safari in either area.
Expert Africa's team have visited this lodge on three separate occasions in the last few years, and it's always been immaculately presented – clean and really well-kept.
Plantation Lodge is very spacious, elegant and relaxing. We think that it's a lovely base from which to explore the Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara areas – but if you do stay here, then try to make time to sit in the garden, in the shade of a eucalyptus, with a cup of fresh coffee, to admire the views over the plantations…
Ideal length of stay: 1 to 2 nights is often all our trips spend here – which seems a shame as the lodge would be a lovely place to just relax at for longer.
Central facilities: A winding path cuts through the manicured lawns to the main house of Plantation Lodge. An old-fashioned, red telephone box signals the entrance. Once inside, there is a narrow but bright reception area – straw mats lie on cool, tiled floors, African ornaments hang on white walls and wooden beams cross the high ceilings.
The reception area leads into a small sitting room/bar. The majority of the furniture in the rooms is wooden – cushioned, wooden chairs surround a low table and wooden, swivel chairs sit in front of the cosy bar. Black and white photos hang next to the bar area – this is the 'rogue's gallery' - photos of staff, old and new. There are thoughtful touches around the room – African curios, antique carafes and carved, wooden board games. Although this seating/bar area is quite small, heavy, deep-red curtains frame a glass wall which ensures it's light and bright.
From Plantation's bar area, two archways lead into two separate dining rooms. Both are similar in design and style. The only obvious difference is the size of the rooms – one can seat up to 25 guests, whilst the other can hold up to 40. They are both oblong shaped rooms with high, beamed ceilings, white walls and terracotta-coloured tiled floors. Décor has been kept simple and elegant – there are long wooden tables and white, canvas director's chairs. Stylish metal chandeliers hang over the tables and white curtains frame floor length windows and French doors. There are two exposed brick fire places at either end of the rooms - one of which is surrounded by white-cushioned chairs and a sofa. In keeping with the simplicity of the décor of the lodge, there are only a couple of large, black and white portrait photographs at one end of the dining rooms.
From the larger of the dining rooms, French doors lead out to the back of the house. There is a stone terrace with a few metal chairs and tables where guests can sit in the sun and enjoy a glass of wine and a snack lunch.
There is another seating area at the front of the house, which also makes a great, shady spot for a bite to eat. This area has wonderful views over the gardens and into the distance over the coffee plantations.
To the left of the seated area, Plantation has a good-sized, kidney-shaped swimming pool with lovely views over the plantations and gardens. This makes a peaceful spot for cooling down, for lying on the sun-loungers or for having a sun-downer.
Food quality:Breakfast at Plantation Lodge is served between 6am – 9am and guests can choose from a selection of cold foods, such as cereals and muffins, or have a cooked breakfast.
Lunch is served between 12 and 2pm. Guests can choose a hot or cold meal for lunch. It is possible to have lunch inside, on the lawn or by the poolside. For those visiting some of the nearby parks Plantation Lodge will make a packed lunch for guests.
Dinner is served between 7:30 – 9pm. This is a three-course sit down meal. Most of the ingredients are taken from the gardens of the plantation, are organically grown and full of flavour.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: Room service is available for guests staying in the suites.
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: Drinks are included for guests staying in the suites.
Children
Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at Plantation Lodge.
Age restrictions: There are no age restrictions at Plantation Lodge.
Activities: There are no special services for children.
Equipment: Plantation Lodge has baby cots and high chairs for small children.
Generally recommended for children: Yes – there are large grounds and a swimming pool that children can enjoy under parents supervision.
Notes: Children are encouraged to go on guided walks around the plantation with their parents.
Central communications
Communications: There is cell phone reception at Plantation Lodge for some networks.
There is internet connection which costs $US1 for 15 minutes.
TV & radio: There is no radio or television at Plantation Lodge.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: Plantation Lodge has a first aid kit the nearest clinic is in Karatu Town.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There are four guards on duty 24 hours a day.
Fire safety: Each bedroom has a fire extinguisher.
Extras
Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Laundry is included for guests staying in the suites.
For those staying in the standard rooms it is an extra cost.
Money: Plantation Lodge accepts traveller's cheques. They exchange them depending on the bank rate of the day.
Accepted payment: Guests can pay with US Dollars, Euros, Tanzanian Shillings or Pounds Sterling.
Really good base for Manyara & the Crater
Comfortable rooms, great food & service plus swimming pool make this a really good base - nice to stay in 1 place for 3 nights rather than moving around. Day trip into Lake Manyara National Park - Goo...
Useful links...
We want you to understand more about Plantation Lodge. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Lodge homepage Plantation Lodge's stylish website is worth a visit - although it's a shame the pictureson it aren't bigger as it's a very stylish lodge!
