This lodge is located just outside the small village of Karatu. It’s about half way between the Crater and Lake Manyara making it the perfect spot for those looking for a safari day in each and a lovely, peaceful place to go back to afterwards. It’s about a two and a half hour drive from Arusha. The lodge itself is situated amongst the lush sloping valleys of the coffee plantations.

The lodge has the feeling of an old colonial farm house that has had a fantastic renovation to turn it into the place that it is today. It’s a series of white buildings spread out amongst a beautifully kept grass lawn. The gardens and vegetable patches are all rich, verdant and plentiful.

The rooms are spacious and luxurious offering a host of home comforts and nice relaxing touches to make you feel at ease after a day on safari. As well as this, the swimming pool gives a valid option to relax and watch the world go by.

Tuck into a range of European specialties or try something new with the many exotic dishes at Plantation Lodge. Meals are prepared using fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden, and are accompanied by your choice of exquisite South African wines. The group house has a large dining room, offering a wonderful social atmosphere in which to enjoy your dinners. Alternatively, choose to enjoy a romantic, private dinner by candle light.

Each of the 16 double rooms at the Plantation Lodge has its own unique style. African safari antiques and Tanzanian arts and crafts decorate the rooms, while modern amenities ensure that you’ll have a comfortable stay. Six rooms can be converted into triple rooms as these rooms offer more than enough space for an extra bed.

The rooms are distributed throughout the flowering garden, some with verandas and direct access to the garden, and others purely boasting a spacious and tranquil place in which to relax and unwind.

The Honeymoon Suite at Plantation Lodge is situated apart from the other rooms, offering romantics even more privacy. The rooms feature a cosy fireplace, terrace and special shower & Jacuzzi bath - highly recommended for a romantic night.

The group house lies further down the garden and offers an ideal place for a family or a group of friends. It features four double suites, all of which are en suite, as well as a large dining room. Facilities are also available for younger children.

The main house – incorporating the lounge, dining rooms and bar – is fresh, light and airy. White walls act as the perfect backdrop for black-and-white photographs and African curios. Straw mats cover the cool tiled floors, and high-beamed ceilings ensure a bright and spacious feel.

Meals are served either outside – perhaps in the cool courtyard, a covered veranda or in the extensive gardens – or in one of two large and elegant dining rooms. One of these caters for up to 25 guests, the other up to 40, with guests seated either in large groups or at individual tables, depending on their preferences and the composition of the groups staying. Stylish metal chandeliers hang from high vaulted ceilings over tables lined with white-canvas directors' chairs, and white curtains frame floor-length windows and french doors. At each end of the rooms are exposed brick fireplaces, one of which is surrounded by cushioned chairs and a sofa.

In Plantation Lodge's impressive bar, wire chandeliers, polished concrete floors and white-washed walls lend a cool and stylish feel. In one section, a glass floor looks into the wine cellar below: a popular spot for drinks on special occasions or wine-tasting sessions – although the lodge doesn't have a dedicated sommelier.

• Visit the Ngorongoro Crater:The Unesco-listed Ngorongoro Crater (20-30 mins drive) has over 25,000 animals living in its crater: keep your eyes peeled for zebra, buffalo, antelope, lions, black rhinos, hippos and elephants, as well as the Maasai who graze their cattle here. Two daily game drives are included in our safari packages - normally 1 in the morning and 1 in the late afternoon.
• Visit Lake Manyara: Lake Manyara park (20-30 mins drive) is great at night with porcupines, civets, bushbabies and perhaps leopards.
• Coffee Plantation Guided Tour: coffee plantations - guided tours will teach you about the lifecycle of a coffee bean - or visit the local market for a less closeted take on Tanzania
• Birdwatching: Birdwatch from the privacy of your terrace or from a corner of the gardens: Fischer’s lovebirds and yellow-bellied sunbirds are regular visitors, or the staff can give you a tour of the gardens and point out birds en route
• Empakai Crater Hike: Take a hike through the Empakaai Crater and take in spectacular lake views, teeming with flamingoes and pelicans. Other hikes lasting from 1 - 3 hours follow the edge of the Great African Rift Valley
• Maasai Village Visit: Visit a Maasai village, or the hunter-gathering Hadza (Hadzabe) tribe on the shores of Lake Eyasi - you may need to add an extra day for these