Africa Safari Karatu

High on a hill, ten kilometres short of the Lodoare Gate, the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stands Africa Safari Karatu. From there the view stretches across the northern highlands to Lake Eyasi, and every bungalow, whether Comfort or Luxury, has its own balcony with a 180-degree view. After sunset, the pool on the hillside becomes a front-row seat for the starry sky (by then, the swimming is rather beside the point). The restaurant and bar on the hilltop serve international cuisine, the fruit and vegetables are home-grown, and electricity and hot water, by the way, come courtesy of the sun. During the day, the surrounding hills and coffee farms are there to be explored. For a night between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater, the lodge is exactly where it needs to be.