Gibb's Farm
Ngorongoro Crater, Northern Tanzania
At a Glance
Huge rooms with outdoor decks
Beautiful location overlooking the surrounding countryside
Walk with the chef around the extensive vegetable garden
Perfect place to relax
Enjoy their home grown coffee and organic juices
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Tanzania is a large country, with a varied climate. Generally, the long rains run from March to May - the temperature is warm and the humidity is high. June to October is the long dry season, and the short rains are in November and December, much lighter than the long rains. January and February are again dry (the short dry season) so this is another good time to visit.
Insider's View
Take a lovely walk down to the waterfall through the coffee plantation.
Explore the most extensive vegetable garden I have ever seen and taste their utterly delicious farm grown coffee
Drift into dreams with firelight from the open wood fire dancing off the walls and let the silence of the surrounding hills and coffee plantation lull you to sleep
Join in with the farm activities from picking coffee to help milk the cows.
Feed the resident bush baby before dinner.
Have a look round the art gallery which rotates local Tanzanian artists.
Watch a demonstration of coffee roasting before enjoying some for breakfast
A tour round the vegetable garden is an absolute must. They grow everything from artichokes to asparagus to blackberries!
Call us on 858 345 1761 to start planning your vacation to Gibb's Farm or take a look at our itineraries to Tanzania
Description
Gibb's Farm is an old 1920s coffee plantation with terraced gardens on the outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Highlands and Rift Valley Escarpment. Gibb's Farm is a remarkable hideaway between the National Parks and conservation areas.
Established in the early 1920s as a coffee farm, Gibb's Farm has retained the charm of life in East Africa during that era. It is positioned 5 kilometers from the village of Karatu, at the entrance to the Ngorongoro Highlands, midway between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. Gibb's Farm commands spectacular views of the surrounding farmlands, and the forested slopes to the rear are home to an abundance of wildlife, including elephant and leopard.
Gibb's Farm has 17 farm cottages and one two bedroom cottage ideal for families, all set among the gardens. The main facilities including a sitting room, reading room, dining room, bar and gift shop, are situated in the old farmhouse. The old-colonial farmhouse still has the character of a well cared-for private house with roaring fires and friendly service, and guests wake up to fresh coffee, a multitude of flowers and breathtaking views.
The fruit, vegetable and flower gardens now cover 10 acres and everything is grown organically using only natural fertiliser from the farm. The farm provides the milk, coffee, eggs and meat which are served to guests, and the meals are truly superb. In the shadow of the forest, there is a tree nursery where hundreds of young saplings are grown to encourage the use of native tree species in the local villages.
Accommodation
There are 17 en-suite cottages available at Gibb's farm and one two bedroom cottage with private lounge area, ideal for a family or couples traveling together. Each cottage has its own theme and is furnished with eucalyptus floors, hand crafted furniture, two queen sized beds, indoor and outdoor showers, a fireplace and a private veranda.
Childcare
Children are welcome to come and stay at Gibb's farm, however there are no child specific facilities available for them.
Facilities
Bar, Restaurant, Internet facilities, Laundry service, Spa
Activities
Gibb's Farm offers a wide range of activities, from biking to great walks in the region, and of course you're not far away from the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park so it is easy to use Gibb's Farm as a base to explore Northern Tanzania.
There is also an African Spa and mountain bikes available to borrow to explore the area.
Reviews
Rose Gemmell (Staff)
Gibbs Farm is ideally located between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater so is the perfect place to spend a couple of nights and explore the surrounding areas. However, if you are simply looking to relax and re-energise before your safari, then Gibbs is the perfect sport to do this. The farm is basically self-sufficient and the gardens situated just below my room are breathtaking. We were treated to a garden tour and I was blow away by the amount of produce being grown here from artichokes and asparagus to blackberries and strawberries. Gibbs is ideal for families and children can get involved in all of the daily farm activities including milking the cows and picking vegetables for dinner.
Anna Hearn (Staff)
Set in lush, flowery gardens in the center of a large, working coffee plantation, Gibbs Farm feels special from the moment you arrive. Driving through rows and rows of red bean-dotted coffee bushes, you are met at reception with a cold towel and a refreshing drink before being shown through the gardens and past two ponds dotted with waterlilies to the main house which has a view across lush valleys and is shaded by towering trees. Inside is a warm welcome and a wonderful selection of African art, all available to buy. Activities from here are varied obviously visiting the Ngorongoro Crater is the big draw, but day safaris to both Lake Manyara and Tarangire are also possible. Our stay was magical from the warm welcome to the delicious food, to the demonstration of coffee roasting early the following morning for those who love the smell of coffee this was nectar! Gibbs has beautiful rooms, decorated in muted tones and each with individual artwork either a king size bed or two large doubles, and a bathroom with a huge bath and rain shower. Each room has great views over the plantation and a gift of coffee beans is waiting for every guest. Gibbs ticks all the boxes within easy reach of Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, superb hospitality, delicious food and exquisite rooms.
Experiences
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Empakai Crater Day Trip
While a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater is an incredible experience, it is hard sometimes to escape the crowds there. Instead, explore on foot and discover the Empakai Crater, walking down the forested slopes to the lake shore below a birder's paradise.
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Game drive in Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is a tiny gem of a national park in Northern Tanzania, famed in particular for its flamingos. Go on game drives here in search of tree-climbing lions, elephants, waterbuck and hippos.
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Game drive in the Serengeti
Explore the vast grasslands of the Serengeti with your safari guide on game drives in the early morning and late afternoon. This is one of the most famous national parks in Africa, and it's easy to see why.
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Ngorongoro Crater game drive
Explore the dormant volcanic caldera of the Ngorongoro Crater in a safari vehicle - this is a unique location for a game drive and the dramatic scenery really adds to the magic.
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Search for the migration herds
One of Africa's most iconic moments - the migration of two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles around the Serengeti-Maasai Mara ecosystem.
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Walk to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim
Head off on an adventurous walk to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim guided by a naturalist and rangers from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
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Wildlife in the Tarangire
Tarangire is second only to the Serengeti for the concentration of game. It's an area of big breeding herds of elephant and buffalo. Huge baobabs provide shade for sleeping lion and night drives give the opportunity to see elusive leopard on the prowl.
Location & directions
Ngorongoro Crater, Northern Tanzania
Gibb's Farm is located on the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Gibb’s Farm hugs nearly a mile of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, part of a 3,200 square mile reserve. Ideally located, the Farm lies half way between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, near the village of Karatu.
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