Set in farmlands just west of the market town of Karatu, Ngorongoro Farmhouse is a good base for day trips to the crater. It has 51 ochre, stone cottages scattered around the vast grounds, all very spacious and stylishly decorated with polished stone floors, en suite bathroom, big comfy cream chairs, some with an open fire and large veranda.
From some of the new cottages it is a bit of a walk through fields or the coffee plantation to the main lodge. Here you’ll find a lovely, recently refurbished open-plan area for dining and relaxing, together with a large deck overlooking the farm. There is also a small shop, a pool and outside bar. The lodge is set in 500 acres of very fertile land which comprises of coffee plantations, wheat fields, lush, well-kept gardens, acres of vegetable patches where they grow and cook all their own produce.
They also have a small number of farm animals such as pigs, goats and cows for the fresh milk. Other than visiting the Crater, you can spend your days taking a guided walk around the farm, doing a Maasai walk, and seeing the coffee being roasted in the afternoons. Massages are also available if you need a bit of pampering.