Itinerary
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.
The proximity of Gibb’s Farm to Ngorongoro Crater offers us coveted early-morning access, before crowds arrive. We rise early to be sure we are the gate when it opens, allowing us to be among the first to arrive on the crater floor as the animals are most active in the cooler morning temperatures. Our timing ensures a full day inside the crater, with a multitude of wildlife encounters in store. At 12 miles across and 2,000 feet deep, the crater is the center of a huge ancient volcano that scientists think may have been even larger than Mount Kilimanjaro. Some 30,000 animals live within its walls—the largest unbroken caldera on Earth. Its permanent sources of fresh water sustain them year-round, so wildlife viewing is always exciting, no matter the season. Here in this veritable Eden, a wide variety of wildlife thrives within an ecosystem of abundant resources. Along with many mammals, flocks of pink flamingos cover the soda lakes, while large land birds like ostrich and kory bustard roam the grassy plain. Because of the crater's ever-flowing water, it sustains the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa. Common sightings include elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, eland, gazelle and waterbuck, while lion and hyena are abundant predators. A glimpse of the rare black rhinoceros is a special prize. Late this afternoon, we exit the crater and return to the comforts of Gibb’s Farm, with the evening at leisure to relax as you wish.
After a last lavish breakfast at the farm this morning, we make the easy drive back from Karatu to Arusha on a tarmac road, passing farms, villages and lively roadside markets en route. Continue through the bustling city of Arusha, arrive at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge at the base of Mount Meru, where a farewell lunch is served on arrival. Day rooms await in this peaceful setting, offering a chance to relax and refresh before your transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for international departures this evening.
