Karatu Tented Lodge

This place was a special place for us. The team at Karatu really were special who did out of their way to provide for us when there were issues, and when the first room seemed to have issues (shower drainage, bee hive on the roof, urine smell) they quickly changed the room to a better closer room, and always were helpful in arranging or finding different solutions for transportation issues etc. The place is located 2 hours from Arusha, and around 30 mins from the main gate for Ngorongoro crater. It's right by the main road, so it's not hard to be dropped off or be picked up. However it has no main signage outside so it can be missed when arriving at night. The staff were really welcoming even though we arrived past 2100 the first night. The assistant manager Nassary and staff Christina were really the stars of the show for us. From our entire 2 weeks Kenya-Tanzania-Zanzibar trip, Karatu stands out from a peaceful quiet place we still talk about. The food isn't stellar, and the quality isn't anything to write home about, but they provide basic necessities and do make sure that you get your lunch boxes (even providing for drivers etc). and breakfasts if you leave early for a tour etc. There are equipment issues, the tent window velcro is old so some rooms will have issues of completely seal, or the shower booth is placed on wooden planks, making drainage hard. However, for the price. The place is a steal. Safari beer and liquor is cheap here (USD 3) compared to other hotels!