The Plantation Lodge · Karatu, Tanzania

Welcome

An owner-run lodge, furnished with great attention to detail

The individually furnished rooms and suites melt harmoniously into the flowering garden and offer comfort and relaxation. Everywhere you look, you can see and even feel the personal atmosphere of this owner-run lodge.

The Plantation Lodge's cordial service leaves no wish unfulfilled. And the location promises maximum safari enjoyment: close to Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara, and just a short journey from Tarangire and the Serengeti.

A brief history

The German proprietors, Renate and Udo Marahrens, acquired their first plot of land in Tanzania in 1997. On the grounds of the former farmstead they first built Plantation House. Over the years new rooms and suites were added and over a thousand trees were planted in the garden.

Thatched lodge buildings beneath tall trees on the garden lawn

Embroidered cushions on a bed beneath a mosquito net

Rooms & Suites

Individuality, comfort, an atmosphere of wellbeing

From the luxurious suite through the stylish standard room to the spacious Garden House with its four double bedrooms. Whether our guests check in as a couple, as a family or as a group of friends.

Jacaranda Suite

Also known as the Honeymoon Suite, it lies somewhat apart from the other rooms, with a quiet terrace right next to the entrance.

Enquire about this suite

Heliconia Suite

Double doors from both rooms open onto the terrace, which extends along two sides of the suite, affording complete seclusion.

Enquire about this room

Carved Zanzibar-style beds under white canopies

Zanzibar Suite

Zanzibar Style beds and accessories re-create the exotic atmosphere of the tropical island off the coast of Tanzania.

Enquire about this room

Garden House

Four double bedrooms on two floors, a spacious dining room with an impressive table, and a veranda with spectacular views of the hills.

Enquire about this room

Ask about all ten rooms & suites

Wine & Dine

‘Fresh variety’ is our kitchen’s motto

Every evening we pamper our guests with a fine multicourse meal in a stylish, comfortable atmosphere. At lunchtime, dishes are served al fresco, or coffee and cake at one of our garden tables.

We grow our own vegetables, salads and herbs, while other ingredients come from local suppliers. And for our service the rule applies: always a smile for the guests.

Kitchen team carrying dishes across the garden lawn

Smiling chef presenting a plate of pastries

Round stone wine cellar with tasting table — The wine cellar beneath the bar

The Bar

Stop by for a chat, relax, meet new people: our bar is a social hub. On balmy evenings, people gravitate towards the wooden veranda and its sunset-bathed view of the landscape.

The Wine Cellar

A wide range of South African wines, from Glen Carlou and Graham Beck to premium reds by Meerlust, Rupert Rothschild and Boekenhoutskloof, alongside international wines such as Cloudy Bay.

The Garden

The garden is our centre

Bougainvillea, frangipani, jacaranda: our garden will pamper all your senses, with the scent of tropical plants, colourful flowers and the song of exotic birds.

It is not merely a flowering backdrop. It provides an inexhaustible supply of flowers for the vases in the rooms, and fruit from the mango and avocado trees for our guests.

A birds’ paradise

Some 140 avian species are regular visitors: Fischer’s lovebird, Speke’s weaver, the lilac-breasted roller and the yellow-bellied sunbird.

Swimming pool with palm and parasol, looking towards the hills

The Pool

Read, swim, dream: time will just fly. And when the sun sinks blood red behind Mount Oldeani, this is the most beautiful place for a sundowner.

Nearby national parks

Tanzania is an eldorado for animal watchers

In close proximity to The Plantation Lodge, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater offer unique nature experiences.

Driving through the savanna in an open jeep, seeing the animals in their natural habitat, picnicking at a safe location: these are the unforgettable moments of an African vacation.

20 min Ngorongoro Conservation AreaA further half hour to the crater rim at 2,300 metres
30 min Lake Manyara National ParkElephants, blue monkeys, flamingos and the famous tree lions
1½ hrs Tarangire National ParkBaobabs, umbrella thorn acacias and some 3,000 elephants
2 hrs Serengeti, southern reachesFlights to the central and northern Serengeti from nearby Manyara Airport