A family-friendly lodge of thatched suites in Karatu’s green farmland, about 30 minutes from the Ngorongoro gate — outdoor pool, spa and themed dinner nights.
Farm of Dreams Lodge sits in Karatu, on the green slopes below the Ngorongoro highlands, about 30 minutes’ drive from the Lodoare gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Karatu is a farming town of coffee, wheat and vegetable fields, and the lodge reflects its setting: banana-thatched suites in farm-style grounds, with flower-lined pathways, jacaranda trees and birdsong all around.
After the dust and bumps of a game drive, the contrast is welcome. The highlands are cooler than the parks below, the gardens are green for much of the year, and the pace is calm — a good place to rest before a day in the Ngorongoro Crater or after a drive from Lake Manyara or Tarangire.
The lodge has 48 suites: forty standard suites and eight family suites. Standard suites come in single, twin, double and triple layouts, each with an en-suite bathroom, a private balcony, a seating area and a work desk. Family suites give more space for parents travelling with children.
Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness centre, a restaurant and bar, a conference hall, laundry service and a 24-hour front desk. Wi-Fi is available. Meals are served buffet or à la carte, and themed dinner nights through the week — including barbecue and Swahili evenings — add variety to a stay of more than one night.
For families and for travellers who want comfortable, good-value accommodation within easy reach of the crater gate, Farm of Dreams is a practical and friendly choice.
Forty banana-thatched suites set in the farm-style grounds, each with an en-suite bathroom, a seating area, a work desk and a private balcony looking over the gardens. Flexible bed layouts make them suitable for couples, friends and small groups.
Eight larger suites designed for families, giving parents and children room to spread out after a day in the vehicle. We confirm the exact bed configuration with the lodge to match your family when we book.
A swimming pool in the gardens — a refreshing way to relax after a day in the crater or on the road from Tarangire.
Spa treatments and wellness activities to ease the aches of safari roads.
Buffet and à la carte meals, with themed dinner nights through the week.
Eight family suites and children’s activities make it easy to travel with kids.
Guided nature walks along flower-lined paths, with birds and plants all around.
Available at the lodge; strongest in the main lobby.
Meals are served buffet or à la carte in the lodge restaurant, using local, seasonal ingredients from the farming country around Karatu. Themed nights through the week — including barbecue and Swahili menus — add variety, especially if you stay more than one night.
The bar is a relaxed place for a drink before dinner, and the cooler highland evenings make a warm meal particularly welcome. For crater days, the lodge can prepare packed breakfasts and lunches so you can descend early and picnic on the crater floor. Bush breakfasts or lunches out in the countryside can also be arranged. Let us know about any dietary needs and we will pass them on in advance.
The lodge is in Karatu, about 30 minutes from the Lodoare gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and around 17 km from Lake Manyara airstrip. Karatu lies on the main road between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, about three hours’ drive from Arusha.
The final stretch of road to the lodge is unpaved and can be bumpy, but it is no problem in a safari vehicle. You travel with your private guide, and we time the crater day so you can descend early in the morning, when the light is best and the crater floor is quietest.
Karatu is green and pleasant all year, thanks to its highland altitude. Days are mild and nights are cool — sometimes cold from June to August — so pack a warm layer for evenings.
The Ngorongoro Crater is excellent in every month, because its wildlife is largely resident. The dry season from June to October offers easier game viewing and clear skies; the green season from November to May brings lush scenery, newborn animals and fewer vehicles on the crater floor. Rain usually falls as afternoon showers.
Open: All year
About 30 minutes from the conservation area gate, so crater days can start early.
Eight family suites, children’s activities and a pool make it easy for families.
Thatched suites among flower-lined paths and jacaranda trees in Karatu’s green farmland.
Barbecue and Swahili nights add variety to a longer stay.
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Details are provided by the property and can change. We confirm everything in writing before you book.
Have another question about this property? Our team in Moshi can help.
About 30 minutes to the Lodoare gate of the conservation area, then around 30–45 minutes to the crater rim and the descent road.
Forty-eight suites: forty standard suites in single, twin, double or triple layouts, and eight family suites.
Yes, an outdoor swimming pool and a spa and wellness centre.
Yes — eight family suites, children’s activities and a pool make it a popular family choice.
Yes, Wi-Fi is available, with the strongest signal in the main lobby.
A green farming town in the highlands between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, with cool evenings and a relaxed pace — an ideal base for crater days.
Tell us your dates and we will check availability and build a personalised Tanzania itinerary around your stay.
