Marera Valley Lodge

Marera Valley Lodge is set on the edge of Karatu, close to the village of Rhotia, among rolling green hills in Tanzania’s northern highlands. Its position makes it a practical base for the Ngorongoro Crater, roughly half an hour from the Ngorongoro gate, and for Lake Manyara National Park, a similar drive to the park gate. Because the lodge is not inside a wildlife area, it is a calm, green stopover rather than a place for game viewing on the doorstep, so you head out each day to the parks and come back to gardens and quiet. Accommodation is in cottages with twin, double, triple and family options, each with a private veranda overlooking the organic vegetable garden and hills, plus a fireplace for cool highland evenings. There is an outdoor pool, a spa, a bar and lounge, and evening campfires, and meals make use of produce from the lodge garden and nearby farms. With family rooms and activities for children, it suits families, first time safari travellers and anyone wanting a comfortable night between the crater and Manyara.