Reviews of Plantation Lodge
(94%) From 14 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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An oasis of comfort
Having bumped along dusty roads and spent the day game viewing at Lake Manyara, we were delighted to arrive at Plantation Lodge and find the beautiful gardens and lovely buildings. The dining areas and bar were very smart with log fires for the cool evenings. The food and service were very good, and the hotel was happy to serve us a very late lunch after a morning spent in the Ngorongoro Crater (for which they provided a picnic breakfast).
The Lodge was also well positioned for the Ngorongoro Crater, notwithstanding the early start required to beat the queues at the Park entrance and in the Crater itself.
Plantation Lodge - friendly and convenient
We stayed at Plantation lodge for two nights (our first and third nights of the trip) and found it excellent. Our first nights stay was in the main lodge area and the second night we were in the farmhouse which is a little further to walk. The bar was very nice and relaxed, food was fairly average and the dining room was a bit staid and quiet.
We used the pool on the first day when we arrived and it was very nice, but rather cold!
Our packed lunch was excellent, plenty of food and very tasty.
Plantation Lodge is a beautiful place
Plantation Lodge was the first port of call on our debut Safari.
A great guide called Njano met us and took us for a hot lunch which was fab after a long flight. We went on our first game drive straight away round Lake Manyara, which was impressive, saw lots of wildlife including elephants everywhere - brilliant!
Plantation Lodge was beautiful, the staff were lovely, very welcoming and the food was excellent.
Our second game drive to the Ngorogoro Crater was just as good as the first day, and I even spotted a cheetah and a serval!
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 - Good gentle safari introduction in this relatively small park.
Half day trip into Ngorongoro Crater - Excellent! Obviously you come prepared for lots of other vehicles but other than immediately you get down into the crater we felt the level of other vehicles was okay.
The natural environment both at the top & down in the crater is stunning - well worth our trip (we actually did a full day in the crater)
Take note - the road into the crater is truly dreadful - given the amount of fees that go to the park authority it really is a disgrace.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
