Gibb's Farm

Location
Karatu / Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Gibb’s Farm occupies a serene spot on the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, offering guests easy access to the wildlife enclaves of Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park, as well as an inside glimpse into rural Tanzanian life. Built in 1929, this working farm offers visitors a window on a bygone era of genteel country living defined by formal English gardens, sprawling verandas and atmospheric log fires to take the edge off the evening chill.

The traditional farmhouse and 17 guest cottages lie the heart of this working farm. The farmhouse has changed little since it was built in 1929 and retains the gracious charm of a well-cared-for private home, with cozy lounge spaces, reading nooks, dining room, bar and gift shop. Outside, a broad veranda and flower garden overlook a panorama of the valley below. Organic coffee is grown, processed and roasted on the farm, while a 10-acre fruit and vegetable garden provides organic produce for healthy, home-cooked meals. Individually themed guest cottages feature richly appointed interiors with gleaming eucalyptus floors, hand-crafted furniture, two queen-size beds, a fireplace and private veranda. En suite bathrooms have twin basins, luxurious soaking tubs, and indoor and outdoor showers. 

Activities at Gibb’s Farm include wildlife drives into nearby Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Guided walks are also offered along forest trails to waterfalls, coffee plantations and local villages, as well a "medicine walk" guided by a traditional Maasai healer. The farm offers outstanding birding, with more than 220 species recorded on the premises. A 2-hour walk around the nearby village of Tloma offers a close-up look at daily life in rural Tanzania. A visit to a local grade school supported by the farm can also be arranged. Garden tours, coffee-roasting demonstrations, spa treatments and a visit to the farm’s artist-in-residence program round out the diverse activities on offer at Gibb's Farm.