Around the village of Karatu there are a few budget accommodation options in the shape of camp-sites and hostels. Whilst we normally do not include these in our itineraries, since at times these places can be quite busy and loud, they offer a low-budget alternative for the private camps and lodges in and around Karatu.

Often used camp-sites are:

Kudu Campsite and bandas
Around the corner from Karatu’s colorful market, close to the village itself, Karatu Kudu Campsite and Bandas offers a secure place to put up your tent and a number of simple bandas with double beds and en-suite showers.

Set in 11 acres of farmland, the tropical gardens take you away from the dusty feeling of Karatu village. The camp-site offers 24hrs electricity and hot-water.

Moyo Hill Campsite
A quiet, no-frills place with a large enclosed lawn for camping, and three basic and somewhat chilly twin-bedded bandas with warm-water showers. Meals can be arranged. It’s about 1km off the main road, and signposted.

ELTC Karatu Lutheran Hostel
The Lutheran Hostel has simple, clean rooms with hot water, and good meals. It’s on the main road at the western end of town.

Karatu Korongo Tented Camp

Located 5 km out of Karatu town – only 6 km from the Ngorongoro gate offering views towards the crater rim itself and the Ngorongoro Forest reserve, making it an ideal location to rest up before heading or returning from the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National park.

The camp has been sculptured and designed around the natural land formation of the Korongo (erosion cut valley) each tent is perched on its own private view point protected and hidden by the natural gardens and soil formations.

Crater Forest Tented Lodge

Excellent location, if not somewhat difficult to get to in times of rain, the lodge is located in northern Tanzania, East Africa, set a ten kilometre scenic drive away from the main road leadin from the bustling commercial centre of Karatu town to the famous Ngorongoro Crater.

Established on a highland coffee plantation called Kirin Coffee Estate, altitude 1,800 metres above sea-level, the lodge occupies previously cultivated fields directly bordering Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area (NCAA).

The lodge is operated as an eco-friendly small scale lodge with 15 tented rooms, all on platforms with magnificent views over the Ngorongoro Forest. The rooms are spacious and all have ensuite bathrooms with hot showers and toilets. For those chilly upland nights enjoy the warmth of your own African-style firepot. Wake up to the sounds of the awakening forest as a night full of nocturnal wildlife activities gives away to mistily rising sunlight.

Endoro Lodge

Endoro is an eco-friendly lodge located along the boundary of the Ngorongoro Conservation Athority, 5.5 Km from the town of Karatu and 25 Km from the Manyara National Park.

Located on the edge of the Northern Highland Forest Reserve, the Forest boasts of over one hundred bird species, as well as resident elephants, buffalo, baboon troops, and the occasional lion, the main attractions for safari Tanzania.
Endoro Lodge features all private and detached chalets. Each chalet has its own immersion tub, outside shower, private veranda and fireplace.

Within a few minutes walk of Endoro Lodge there is possibility of  hiking, bird watching, animal viewing and plant identification.Visit the Elephant Caves where for centuries the elephants have dug into the hills for necessary minerals and vitamins for their daily diet.

Bougainvillea lodge

Opened its door to the public in June 2006 and is already climbing in popularity. Located on the outskirts of the bustling town of Karatu, Bougainvillea Safari Lodge is a calm garden oasis on the Northern safari circuit of Tanzania. A warm welcome awaits you here in the Crater Highlands.

The lodge features 18 fully furnished, self contained cottages with either two twin beds or one king bed, can accommodate triples. There are also family rooms – perfect for those traveling with children. Each cottage features a spacious verandah, fireplace. The Karatu and lodge are set in the green highlands which are home to the Iraqw tribe’s people.

Cultural visits to the town and local village can be booked with prior notice, along with guided walks showing some of the beautiful flowers as well as the coffee farms and other flora of the area.

Octagon lodge

Situated 30km half way between famous National Parks Ngorongoro and Manyara the Lodge is a convenient stop-over to and from these key destinations. The Octagon Safari Lodge is a small and intimate hotel a short drive from Tanzania’s world famous Ngorongoro Crater.

In harmony with the environment the architecture combines natural elements to give the lodge an authentic African feel. The rooms are well furnished with a wood and bamboo design, each with a veranda, bathroom and terrace. The rooms are set in a set in a well manicured natural African garden which attracts a great number of resident bird life.

Ngorongoro farm house

Ngorongoro Farm House a small exclusive lodge facing the Oldeani Volcano, in Ololdukan, a 500 acre coffee farm located only 30 minutes to the crater rim.

The rooms are exquisitely fitted out with local materials in a style of an old colonial farm. All rooms offer en-suite bathrooms.

The main building offers all the other creature comforts covered with an elegant thatched roof, enjoy the selection of readable material from the library and after a fine meal prepared from organic garden settle in front of a warming fireplace in the cool evenings of the Karatu highlands.

Plantation lodge

The Plantation Lodge is situated about 30 kms from the Ngorongoro Crater, neatly tucked away on a coffee farm in the foot hills of Karatu highlands.

This top-end lodge has a very personal feel about it, offering extensive gardens allowing time to be alone if you wish. There is a spectacular pool hidden away at the end of the garden which overlooks the valleys below.

One of the most impressive features of Plantation lodge is the main house which can accommodate groups or families; there are various other small private houses that accommodate guest set in the grounds of the gardens, including a very private honeymoon suite. This room boasts a walk in shower – jacuzzi bath arrangement, where one can enjoy a romantic night before heading into the heart of the Northern Circuit.

Gibbs farm

This long established Tanzanian accommodation offers 20 twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms set in mature African gardens which attracts a whole host of Tanzanian birdlife. In the last few years there has been some additional rooms added which now accommodate families with adjoining rooms.

The old-colonial farmhouse, built by German settlers in the early 20th century, still has the character of a well-looked-after-private house with roaring fires and friendly service. Enjoyable guided walks are arrange by the staff at the farm, these can be a short tour after a lunch stop around several acres of organic gardens which provide the lodge with fresh vegetables daily.

For a more extended tour of the property and surrounding forest reserve, spend a morning with a guide who will talk you through the steps coffee undergoes before it reaches the supermarket shelves. For the more energetic visit water falls and elephant caves.

Tloma Lodge

Tloma Lodge is an exclusive petite 34-cottage lodge situated within the Ngorongoro Highlands Area. The excellent location of Tloma Lodge on the raised shoulder of a valley, offers breathtaking views over a coffee-plantation and onto the Eastern wall of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater.

Tloma Lodge has been modeled on its “bigger brother”, the very successful Ngorongoro Farm House, only 15 minutes away. The garden is particularly attractive full of flowering plants and bushes. Guests can enjoy a swim in the heated outdoor pool.

Meals are normally served in the main building and sometimes a buffet luch is set-up around the pool. Guests have an ample choice of food prepared with home produced vegetables and served in buffets.