Location
Karatu / Ngorongoro Highlands, Tanzania

One of East Africa’s most treasured lodges, Gibb’s Farm is located on the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area above Tanzania’s Great Rift Valley. Just a 30-minute drive from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the lodge combines history and refined comfort with convenient access to epic wildlife viewing on the crater floor. Originally established as a coffee estate in the 1920s, Gibb’s Farm has evolved into an award-winning guest property featuring elegant cottages, organic farm-to-table cuisine, and a strong environmental ethos.

English founder James Gibb bought the coffee plantation from a German duke after World War II, after the British took over German property following the war, then later married his wife, Margaret, who helped turn it into a working farm with extensive vegetable and flower gardens in the 1960s. After the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established along the northern boundary of the farm, the Gibbs built guest cottages in 1972 to accommodate the influx of visitors attracted to the crater and surrounding national parks, making Gibb’s Farm one of the first guesthouses in northern Tanzania.

Since then, the original farmhouse and surrounding buildings have been carefully restored, blending historic character with modern features and amenities. Common areas showcase hand-carved furniture, locally made textiles, traditional Tanzanian artwork, and fireplaces to take the edge off the evening chill at altitude. Outside, terraced gardens brim with organic vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit trees. Coffee is still grown and roasted on site, and walking trails wind throughout the farm.

Spacious private guest cottages exude gracious luxury, built with polished eucalyptus floors, tall ceilings with exposed beams, and large timber-framed windows. Each cottage has a private veranda, a king-size bed or two queen-size beds with mosquito netting, kilim rugs, ceramic lamps and antique writing desks. Bathrooms have both indoor and outdoor showers and a deep soaking tub with garden views.

Meals are a cornerstone of the Gibb’s Farm experience. Nearly all ingredients are harvested daily from the farm: eggs, dairy, greens, root vegetables, herbs and fruit. Menus feature dishes like beetroot carpaccio, roasted guinea fowl, pumpkin soup with coriander, and lemongrass creme brulee. Meals are served fireside, in the garden, or on the veranda.

Sustainability is woven into daily operations: solar power provides electricity, greywater irrigates the gardens, and every guest stay supports local reforestation and community initiatives. Operation of the entire organic farm—consisting of 30 acres of coffee, 10 acres of vegetables and fruit, 5 acres of flowers and herbs, plus a working dairy and pig farm—is based upon sustainable farming methods. Everything is grown organically using only natural fertilizer and compost from the farm. Natural Habitat Adventures acquired Gibb’s Farm in 2025.