Gibb's Farm

Gibb's Farm sits near Karatu on the forested outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater, overlooking the Rift Valley. The farmhouse dates to 1929, when the land was part of a coffee estate, and the farm still grows and roasts its own coffee. Guests stay in garden cottages with verandas and fireplaces, set among flower and vegetable gardens. There is a pool and the Tulia Spa.

Most of what you eat is grown on the farm, and you can join in with farm life, from coffee roasting to milking. Guided walks lead into the Ngorongoro forest to the elephant caves, where elephants dig for mineral-rich soil, and to a waterfall. The Crater is about forty minutes away, and the lodge is roughly halfway between Lake Manyara and the Crater, two hours by road from Arusha.

Gibb's Farm suits families, couples and anyone who wants a softer, homely stop with excellent food in the middle of a safari. It is unfenced, so staff walk guests to their cottages after dark. Because it is off the rim, Crater days start with a drive to the gate and you will not be first onto the floor.