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Lodges & partnersKaratu

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.

01 / 06
Tier
Comfort
Location
Karatu
Reviews
4.6 ★ on TripAdvisor
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About

About Tloma Lodge by TWC.

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 the character of a working farm throughout. The position keeps the lodge close to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, an hour up the escarpment, while staying out of the crowds that gather in the cluster on the rim, and the unhurried staff and the meals out of the kitchen garden are what most guests come back to.

The Karatu highlands sit at 1,500 metres altitude, so evenings are cool and days are warm, a comfortable climate through the year. The position of Tloma on the town edge gives it access to the small infrastructure of Karatu, its cafes, craft markets and a small hospital, without losing the quietness of the garden cottages. The coffee estate it sits on is a small working farm, and the kitchen pulls from its own garden for most of what reaches the menu.

The accommodation runs in three categories: Garden Rooms in Single and Double, in the older cottage cluster; the larger Standard Rooms in Single, Double and Triple, for guests who want more space; and an Interconnected Family Room for families travelling together. Each room is built or finished in stone, with a private veranda onto the flowering grounds.

Best for Northern Circuit travellers watching the budget who want the Ngorongoro Crater in the itinerary without paying the prices charged on the rim, families using the Interconnected Family Room, and couples at a slow pace who want the character of a working farm.

Access is by road from Arusha, about 3 hours, or by flight to Lake Manyara airstrip followed by an hour up to the Karatu highlands.

Signature experiences

Why guests choose it.

  1. Coffee plantation walk

    Walks through the working estate at your own pace, plus weekly tasting sessions.

  2. Garden cottage stay

    The Garden Rooms in the older cottage cluster are the distinctive accommodation at the property, set among bougainvillea and flowering grounds.

  3. Ngorongoro Crater day visit

    A full day game drive on the crater floor with a packed lunch. About an hour from Tloma to the descent road.

  4. Karatu town walks

    The lodge sits on the edge of town. Easy walks into Karatu for craft markets and a sense of working Tanzanian highland life.

Room types

Where you will sleep.

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.

At a glance

The essentials, in brief.

Amenities

  • Restaurant
  • Garden
  • Pool
  • Wi Fi
  • Coffee Plantation Walk

Best for

  • Budget Northern Circuit
  • Family
  • Karatu Base
  • Slow Pace
  • Comfort

Wildlife and nature

  • Ngorongoro Crater, one hour away: Big Five in a single day
  • Lake Manyara National Park, one hour away: tree climbing lions and flamingos
  • Resident bird life in the lodge gardens
  • Easy day trip access to Olduvai Gorge

Best time to visit

When to go.

  • January: best
  • February: best
  • March: best
  • April: best
  • May: best
  • June: best
  • July: best
  • August: best
  • September: best
  • October: best
  • November: best
  • December: best
Best months

Best months: All year.

Location & access

Getting there.

Location

Karatu

Arriving by air

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.

By road

Approximately 4 hours total: 1hr JRO to Arusha, then 2.5hr Arusha to Karatu, then 15min to the lodge on the town's edge.

On the map

Where it sits.

3.309° S, 35.664° E

What's included

What the rate covers.

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
  • Flying Doctors / Medical Evacuation
  • Travel Insurance
  • Bush Flights
  • Tips And Gratuities
  • Items Of A Personal Nature
  • Tanzania inbound travel insurance, 44 USD per adult (children 3 to 17 half price, under 3 free), compulsory from 1 October 2026 and bought online before travel

Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

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, soft 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.

Is there wireless internet?

Yes, wireless internet is available at the lodge. Karatu is one of the easier places on a Northern Circuit trip to stay reachable, because the town sits on the main road rather than deep inside a park.

How many rooms are there, and what are they like?

Thirty six in total: 24 cottages set through the gardens and 12 garden rooms closer to the main building. Interconnecting family rooms are available for parents travelling with children.

How far is the lodge from the crater gate?

Eighteen kilometres to the Lolduare gate, and then the descent road into the crater from there. Most guests set off after an early breakfast for a full day on the crater floor.

What is the lodge like out of season?

January, February, November and December are the green months in these highlands, and the gardens here are the reason to come then. March through May the long rains make for heavier going on the tracks and the lodge is quieter. The contract carries no closed months, so it stays open all year.

Do I need travel insurance to visit?

Yes. From 1 October 2026 visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold the government inbound travel insurance, 44 USD per adult and valid for up to 92 days, covering emergency medical care, evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage. Children aged 3 to 17 pay half and infants under 3 are free. It is bought online before you fly or on arrival, and residents of Tanzania and of East African and SADC countries are exempt. If you land in Zanzibar first, the Zanzibar policy covers you instead. It is paid by you directly and is not part of your trip price.

What's nearby

Worth the short trip.

  • Ngorongoro Crater

    1hr drive. The world's largest intact volcanic caldera.

  • Lake Manyara National Park

    1hr drive. Tree climbing lions, large baboon troops, flamingo lake.

  • Karatu town

    5min walk. Working highland town with craft markets and small cafes.

  • Olduvai Gorge

    2hr drive. Paleontological site of the Leakey discoveries.

Nearby

Other places to stay nearby.

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