Karatu · Safari Lodge
Tloma Lodge by TWC
Garden cottages set among coffee plants and bougainvillea on the edge of Karatu town. Close to the Crater rim, out of the crowds.
About
Tloma Lodge sits on a working coffee estate on the edge of Karatu town. Garden cottages set among bougainvillea, paths that wind through flowering grounds, and a working-farm character throughout. The position keeps the lodge close to the Ngorongoro Crater rim (an hour up the escarpment) while staying out of the rim-cluster crowds, and the unhurried staff and kitchen-garden meals are what most guests come back to.
The Karatu highlands sit at 1,500 metres altitude — cool evenings, warm days, a comfortable climate throughout the year. Tloma's position on the town's edge gives it access to Karatu's small infrastructure (cafes, craft markets, a small hospital) without losing the garden-cottage quietness. The coffee estate it sits on is a small working farm; the kitchen pulls from its own garden for most of what hits the menu.
The accommodation runs in three categories: Garden Rooms (Single and Double) in the older garden cottage cluster, the larger Standard Rooms (Single, Double, Triple) for guests who want more space, and an Interconnected Family Room for families travelling together. Each room is stone-built or stone-finished with private verandas onto the flowering grounds.
Best for budget-conscious Northern Circuit travellers who want the Ngorongoro Crater in the itinerary without paying rim-lodge prices, families using the Interconnected Family Room, and slow-paced couples who want the working-farm character.
Access is by road from Arusha (3 hours), or by flight to Lake Manyara airstrip followed by an hour up to the Karatu highlands.
Signature experiences
Coffee plantation walk
Self-guided walks through the working estate, plus weekly tasting sessions.
Garden cottage stay
The Garden Rooms in the older cottage cluster are the property's distinctive accommodation, set among bougainvillea and flowering grounds.
Ngorongoro Crater day visit
Full-day game drive on the crater floor with a packed lunch. About 1hr from Tloma to the descent road.
Karatu town walks
The lodge sits on the town's edge. Easy walks into Karatu town for craft markets and a sense of working Tanzanian highland life.
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Garden
- Pool
- Wi Fi
- Coffee Plantation Walk
Best for
- Budget Northern Circuit
- Family
- Karatu Base
- Slow Pace
- Comfort
Wildlife you might see
- Ngorongoro Crater (1hr) — Big Five In A Single Day
- Lake Manyara National Park (1hr) — Tree-climbing Lions And Flamingos
- Resident Bird Life In The Lodge Gardens
- Easy Day-trip Access To Olduvai Gorge
Best time to visit
May
Location & access
Karatu
Fly-in: Approximately 3 hours total: 1hr JRO to Arusha Airport (ARK), then a 45-minute Cessna to Lake Manyara airstrip, then a 1hr drive up to the highlands.
Drive: Approximately 4 hours total: 1hr JRO to Arusha, then 2.5hr Arusha to Karatu, then 15min to the lodge on the town's edge.
Room types
Garden Room Single
Solo en-suite cottage room in the older garden cluster, set among bougainvillea and flowering grounds.
Garden Room Double
Twin or king-bed en-suite cottage room with a private veranda onto the gardens.
Standard Single Room
Solo en-suite room in the newer block with additional space over the Garden Rooms.
Standard Double Room
Twin or king-bed en-suite room with a private veranda.
Standard Triple Room
Three-bed configuration suited to friend or family groups.
Interconnected Family Room
Family configuration with two interconnecting rooms sharing a single front door.
What's included
Included
- Full Board (3 Meals Daily)
- Drinking Water, Tea, Coffee
Not included
- Park Fees
- Concession Fees
- Drinks Beyond Water, Tea, Coffee
- Game-drive Vehicle And Driver-guide
- Premium Drinks
- Flying Doctors / Medical Evacuation
- Travel Insurance
- Bush Flights
- Tips And Gratuities
- Items Of A Personal Nature
Reviews
Frequently asked
How many rooms does Tloma Lodge have?
Around forty rooms across Garden Rooms, Standard Rooms, and Interconnected Family Rooms.
When is the lodge open?
Year-round. Karatu's altitude keeps evenings cool throughout the year.
How do guests reach Tloma?
Either a 4-hour drive from Kilimanjaro International via Arusha and Karatu, or a 45-minute flight from Arusha Airport to Lake Manyara airstrip followed by a 1hr drive.
Are families with children welcome?
Yes. Interconnected Family Rooms handle parents plus children; the garden grounds give kids room to move.
What's included in the rate?
Full board, drinking water, tea, coffee. Excluded: park fees, concession fees, drinks beyond water/tea/coffee, the game-drive vehicle, premium drinks, flights, gratuities.
What is the best time to visit?
Year-round. June to October offers the driest weather; March to May brings the long rains.
What's nearby
- Ngorongoro Crater1hr drive. The world's largest intact volcanic caldera.
- Lake Manyara National Park1hr drive. Tree-climbing lions, large baboon troops, flamingo lake.
- Karatu town5min walk. Working highland town with craft markets and small cafes.
- Olduvai Gorge2hr drive. Paleontological site of the Leakey discoveries.
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