Lake Manyara National Park accommodation from NZ$280

An unforgettable start to my safari adventure — highly recommended! I had the pleasure of spending my first night at Escarpment, Lake Manyara, and it was truly the perfect introduction to the beauty of Tanzania. The lodge is perched above Lake Manyara National Park, offering endless, breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding park — a true feast for the eyes. The suite was exceptionally spacious, beautifully appointed, and designed to immerse you in nature without sacrificing comfort. What truly stood out, however, was the service: the entire team was warm, attentive, and made me feel genuinely cared for throughout my stay. One of the most memorable touches was being escorted around the grounds by the Maasai security guards, who ensure guest safety due to the possibility of encountering wildlife roaming freely. In particular, one of the Maasai guides kindly offered to take me on a morning walk to watch the sunrise over Lake Manyara. It was an incredibly authentic and peaceful experience — we were even fortunate enough to spot an elephant wandering nearby, and the three of us stood together, quietly witnessing this magical moment as nature unfolded before us. Special thanks to the wonderful staff: Vais (who handled my check-in with such warmth), Frank at reception who was incredibly helpful, and the gentleman who served dinner with such attentiveness. Every member of the team contributed to making my stay feel personal and memorable.

This place was a special place for us. The team at Karatu really were special who did out of their way to provide for us when there were issues, and when the first room seemed to have issues (shower drainage, bee hive on the roof, urine smell) they quickly changed the room to a better closer room, and always were helpful in arranging or finding different solutions for transportation issues etc. The place is located 2 hours from Arusha, and around 30 mins from the main gate for Ngorongoro crater. It's right by the main road, so it's not hard to be dropped off or be picked up. However it has no main signage outside so it can be missed when arriving at night. The staff were really welcoming even though we arrived past 2100 the first night. The assistant manager Nassary and staff Christina were really the stars of the show for us. From our entire 2 weeks Kenya-Tanzania-Zanzibar trip, Karatu stands out from a peaceful quiet place we still talk about. The food isn't stellar, and the quality isn't anything to write home about, but they provide basic necessities and do make sure that you get your lunch boxes (even providing for drivers etc). and breakfasts if you leave early for a tour etc. There are equipment issues, the tent window velcro is old so some rooms will have issues of completely seal, or the shower booth is placed on wooden planks, making drainage hard. However, for the price. The place is a steal. Safari beer and liquor is cheap here (USD 3) compared to other hotels!

Beautiful views of lake manyara park