Snuggling up beside a blazing fire in the cool Rift Valley evenings.
Just outside Karatu village, between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
Guests at Plantation Lodge stay in the main farmhouse and cottages scattered amongst the pretty gardens. No two rooms are the same, but a cool, colonial feel is continued throughout. There are creamy white-washed walls, beds swathed in mosquito nets, and polished stone floors.
Fresh is the name of the game here. Veggies, herbs and fruit are all from the lodge’s gardens, and cosy dinners are served by candlelight. Tea and coffee are grown across the highlands of Tanzania, so an early morning cuppa as the mist rises off the gardens is a must. At the end of a day’s activities, there’s a pool for a late afternoon dip. It’s also the perfect setting for a sundowner (make ours a gin and tonic).
Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater are nearby and merit a visit of a day each. The birds flitting amongst the gardens are irresistible, and caffeine addicts should be sure to visit one of the nearby coffee plantations. For the more sedately inclined, there are also massages on offer at the lodge- bliss if you’ve already spent a few days on bumpy bush roads!
Visit in October to see the jacaranda trees in bloom- beautiful!