Karatu

The small town of Karatu, nestling among the lush green hills of the Ngorongoro Conservation area, is a popular stopping point for visitors on their way to and from the Ngorongoro Crater or Lake Manyara National Park. Shadowed by the peak of Ol Deani, Karatu is a pleasant, bustling place that once served as an agriculture centre for the German colonialists, who preferred to base themselves here for the cool climate and fertile soils. Even today you will see the dark green, orderly ranks of coffee plantations covering the slopes and valleys that surround the town. A stay in Karatu provides a relaxing few days to recover from long hours in a safari vehicle, eat home-made produce and sip on an excellent cup of coffee in front of a roaring fire.