Gateway town · Ngorongoro Highlands
Karatu
The lush, vibrant gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater, set amidst rolling hills and historic coffee plantations.
3 Hours
1 night
Year-round
Drive access only
About
About Karatu.
The lush, vibrant gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater, set amidst rolling hills and historic coffee plantations. While not a wildlife park itself, Karatu is the premier strategic stopover for Northern Circuit safaris. Staying in this highland town offers vastly superior boutique lodge quality, incredibly scenic views, and better financial value compared to the aging lodges inside the park gates.
Government fees
No park entry fees apply — this is a town, not a national park. Accommodation in town still carries the standard Tourism Development Levy (TDL) at 1% of net room rate.
Getting there
Drive times to other destinations.
Approximate dry-season drive times in a private 4×4. Legs marked as productive game viewing are themselves part of the safari experience. Long legs that need an overnight midway, or transfers we always fly, are flagged in the note column.
| Destination | Drive time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ngorongoro Crater | 1 hr | Game-viewing drive |
| Lake Manyara National Park | 1 hr | Transit drive |
| Ndutu Ngorongoro Conservation | 2 hr 30 min | Game-viewing drive |
| Tarangire National Park | 2 hr 30 min | Transit drive |
| Arusha City | 3 hr 30 min | Transit drive |
| Seronera Central Serengeti | 4 hr 30 min | Game-viewing drive |
| Grumeti Western Serengeti | 7 hrs | Game-viewing drive |
| Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River) | 9 hrs | Game-viewing drive |
| Lamai Northern Serengeti | 9 hr 30 min | Game-viewing drive |
Keep reading
Related to your trip.
Pricing
How safari pricing works.
Park fees, lodge tiers, transport ranges. Everything line-itemised.
Seasons
When to visit.
Month-by-month calendar. Where the migration is each month.
Lodges
Browse all partners.
Lodges and camps across every destination.
Common questions
Tanzania safari FAQ.
Planning, lodges, park fees, transport — answered.