Ridge collection · Ngorongoro Crater
Tloma Lodge
A relaxed former coffee farm with a pool, garden terraces and thatch
- Collection
- Ridge · Mid-range to upper mid-range
- Destination
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Area
- Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
- Style
- Garden farm lodge
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
About Tloma Lodge
Tloma Lodge occupies a former coffee farm outside Karatu, and it keeps the unhurried feel of a working landscape. Garden terraces step down towards a swimming pool, and the main lodge building sits above it all, catching the highland sun under what the photographs show as a bright blue sky.
The mood is easy and unfussy. Rooms have canopy beds draped in mosquito netting, with blue striped linens and a thatched ceiling in the photographs, and the whole place suggests a laid-back garden retreat rather than a formal lodge. It is the kind of stay where you can put your feet up after a long day.
Food comes from an organic farm-to-table approach, which fits the setting well and keeps menus tied to the land around you. The lodge is within a short run of the road down into the crater, so it suits travellers who want a restful, green base before or after their descent into Ngorongoro.
- Former coffee farm setting outside Karatu
- Swimming pool with loungers overlooking the gardens
- Canopy beds with mosquito netting and thatched ceilings
- Organic farm-to-table dining served at the lodge
- Garden terraces and open lawns to wander
- Free Wi-Fi listed among the amenities
Setting
The lodge stands on what used to be a coffee farm, in the green highlands around Karatu. Terraced gardens lead down to the pool, and the buildings are low and grounded in the landscape. The setting is quiet and pastoral, a gentle contrast with the drama of the crater, which lies a short run away along the road.
Rooms and tents
Bedrooms in the photographs are simple and welcoming, with canopy beds under mosquito netting, blue striped linens and thatched ceilings. Some show twin beds and others a double, so ask us what is available for your party. The overall feel is cosy and country-like rather than ultra-luxurious, which suits the lodge's relaxed character and its garden surroundings.
Dining
Tloma describes its food as organic and farm-to-table, so expect meals shaped by what the surrounding land and local suppliers can provide. The restaurant is on site, and the garden setting makes for a pleasant place to eat. If you have dietary needs or allergies, let us know in advance and we will pass them to the lodge.
Things to do from here
- Crater descent for a full day of game viewing
- Garden strolls around the former farm
- Swimming and lounging beside the pool
- Village or farm visits in the Karatu area
- Birdwatching in the lodge gardens
When to stay
The Ngorongoro highlands are usually at their best in January to March and from June to October, when roads are drier and viewing on the crater floor is rewarding. Long rains usually arrive from March to May and the short rains in November and December, when the farm gardens are lush and green and the air is fresher, though some days can be wet and cloudy.
Good to know
- Evenings in the highlands can be cool, so bring a warm layer for dinner and early crater starts.
- Wi-Fi is listed, but speeds in rural Karatu can vary, so do not count on it for heavy use.
- Ask us to confirm child policies and room arrangements if you are travelling as a family.
- Crater visits and transfers are arranged by Lemala, with timings set around the park's entry schedule.
Gallery
Inside Tloma Lodge
On these itineraries
Trips that include Tloma Lodge
8 days
Bush Honeymoon for Two
Eight private days across Tarangire, the crater highlands and the Serengeti, planned around the two of you.
7 days
Four Parks in a Week: Tarangire to Ngorongoro
Elephants, climbing lions, open plains and a crater floor, stitched into one tight northern loop.
7 days
Ndutu Calving Season by Air: Serengeti and Crater
Timed for the newborn herds of the southern plains, with an aerial pass over the crater rim on the way in.
More partner stays
Other stays in Ngorongoro Crater
- Summit
Ngorongoro Crater · Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
Gibb's Farm
Farm estate lodge
- Spa
- Scenic views
- Organic farm-to-table dining
- Ridge
Ngorongoro Crater · Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
Kitela Lodge
Former coffee estate lodge
- Pool
- Scenic views
- Restaurant
- Summit
Ngorongoro Crater · Ngorongoro Conservation Area, eastern rim
Lemala Osonjoi
Crater-rim lodge
- 20 suites with wood stoves
- Heated indoor pool
- Spa suite
Stay at Tloma Lodge
Tell us your dates, group and budget, and we will build the trip around this stay.