Country Lodge

Published on 2 May 2026·Updated on 7 July 2026

24-room lodge in Karatu, a convenient base for exploring Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire and Lake Eyasi on Tanzania's northern circuit.

Country Lodge is located on the outskirts of Karatu, between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater, in northern Tanzanie. With its 24 rooms arranged around a pool, it serves as a comfortable base for exploring the main parks on the northern circuit: Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire and Lake Eyasi.

Why stay at Country Lodge

Location is the main selling point. Karatu sits on the paved road connecting Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater, making it a logical stopping point for structuring a multi-day safari without lengthy transfers. The lodge benefits from an environment very different from that of bush camps: rolling hills, tropical gardens, Oldeani coffee plantations and the edge of Ngorongoro Forest.

The property is particularly suited to travellers who want to explore multiple parks with daily returns to a cultivated, shaded setting, rather than sleeping within protected areas.

The lodge atmosphere

The spirit remains that of a Tanzanian countryside stopover. Buildings are arranged around gardens and the pool, with architecture inspired by African style and the use of local materials, notably stone, throughout the bathrooms. Karatu's altitude brings welcome cool nights after days spent in the dust of safari tracks.

The rooms

The lodge has 24 rooms designed in African style, equipped in a sober and functional manner:

mosquito nets on beds
bedside tables and soft lighting
bathroom adorned with local stone
private balcony or veranda overlooking the garden

Double cottages are located around the pool, convenient for travellers who appreciate returning to their room quickly after a swim. Other units are scattered throughout the gardens, somewhat more secluded.

Room types

Chambre Simple

Chambre Double

Chambre Triple

Services and amenities

Facilities are deliberately simple but cover the essentials for recovery between two days of safari:

Outdoor pool in the central garden, around which the double cottages are organised
Massage room, helpful after long days in 4x4s on crater tracks
Bar-restaurant which serves safari circuit meals and acts as an evening gathering point

How to get there and where it is located

Country Lodge is accessible by paved road from Arusha, the main entry point for northern safaris. Karatu is the last major town before the southern entrance to Ngorongoro Park, which explains the concentration of lodges in the area. Allow half a day's drive from Arusha, longer if arriving directly from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

What to do from the lodge

Country Lodge's position allows you to organise several day trips:

Ngorongoro Crater: descent into the caldera to observe major wildlife (lions, elephants, black rhinos) concentrated in a small space
Lake Manyara National Park: famous for its waterbirds and tree-climbing lions
Lake Eyasi: encounters with Hadzabe and Datoga communities
Tarangire National Park: known for elephant concentrations in the dry season and its baobabs

For general context about the region, you can consult our Karatu guide, or compare with other properties in the area such as Bashay Rift Lodge.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Its location in Karatu, between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater entrance, makes it a logical base for exploring Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire and Lake Eyasi without changing accommodation each night.

The lodge has 24 African-style rooms, including double cottages located around the pool, all with private balconies or verandas overlooking the garden.

The lodge is accessible by the paved road connecting Arusha to Ngorongoro. Karatu is the last major town before the southern entrance to the park.

To include Country Lodge in a complete itinerary on the northern circuit, consult our Tanzanie safaris.