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bananas in Tanzania

ngorogoro farm house Tanzania

ngorogoro farm house

ngorogoro farm house

ngorogoro farm house

ngorogoro farm house  sunset

sundowners on safari

ngorogoro farm house

Sandwiched in between our wild stay at Maramboi Tented Camp and camping in the Serengeti was the lush mountain retreat of Ngorogoro Farm House. We arrived at Ngorogoro Farm House after our dusty, hot morning with the Maasai, and a green tropical garden area set with lunch and wine was a welcome site.  This lodge emanated relaxation, and we did well to enjoy pool time, a long nap, sundowner cocktails and snacks, and live entertainment by an open fire. Our cabins were spacious and simple, with comfy beds, located down a long walk surrounded by flowers and gorgeous views. The property contained an organic farm where much of the delicious food was sourced from. Made-to-order stir fries at dinner combined local flavors and ingredients to make healthy, filling fare.

Staff at the lodge was incredible, as was the staff everywhere we stayed in Tanzania. Everyone went out of their way to take excellent care of us and made us feel at home. We only had one night at the Ngorogoro Farm House, but I would love to return to spend several days, lie by the pool, take the garden tour, and spend more time in the schools in Karatu. If you couldn’t tell from my past posts, Tanzania has a special hold on my heart. Thank you for letting me share that with you.

Tags: Africa, hotels, lodging, luxury travel, safari, Tanzania, Travel, Travel Tuesday

From spending a morning in a Maasai village to camping in the Serengeti and seeking out elephants in Tarangire, our trip to Tanzania was full of adventure and nonstop learning. Our last game drive of the trip brought us down into Ngorogoro Crater. Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera (formed by the collapse of a volcano), is recognized by one private organization as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

When we left the Serengeti that morning, it was dry, dusty, and hot. We all had dust in our eyes and noses and all over our clothes, roads were bumpy, mouths were dry. That all changed when we descended into the crater. It was truly like being in a different world!

The Ngorogoro Crater was cool, lush, with soft air that felt a little misty. It was also incredibly peaceful. The feeling I had when there is hard to explain; it’s a very special place in nature that is not to be missed on a trip to Tanzania.

Impala

The crater was absolutely full of wildlife like impalas, zebras, wildebeests, ostriches, warthogs, and hyenas. The strange thing here was that the animals seemed much calmer than the animals in the Serengeti and Tarangire. They didn’t run away or exhibit fear. In fact, they played about, as though they were putting on a show for us. The animals in Ngorogoro get so close that we were warned not to try to pet them if they approached the jeep.

zebras in Ngorogoro

zebras on safari

zebras

ostrich

Ngorogoro Crater is known for its old tuskers, elderly elephants who, on their last set of teeth (They get six in a lifetime!) who come here to eat the lush, soft grass. It’s much easier on their teeth because it contains much more water than the vegetation in other areas.

Here in Ngorogoro we also saw an extremely rare rhino. It’s heartbreaking what poachers are doing in Africa. . .

elephant in Ngorogoro Crater

warthog

Everything about Ngorogoro Crater felt so relaxed and laid back, including our lunch alongside a beautiful lake that was filled with hippos. The sunshine and air felt amazing, everyone was in good spirits; it was one of my favorite moments of the trip.

Ngorogoro Crater

ngorogoro picnic

sleeping lionThe drive out of the crater brought more wildlife like this sleepy lion. It also brought amazing views and some steep roads with huge cliff drops. It was exhilarating to  stand on the safari jeep seats with the top open, looking at all of the beautiful greenery and admiring the gorgeous valley below.

Ngorogoro Crater

Ngorogoro Crater

Ngorogoro

Ngorogoro Crater was what I would picture the Garden of Eden to look and feel like. It was a magical place that I would love to visit again. The Crater Lodge might be out of my budget, what with its rooms that cost thousands per night, but it is most certainly on my luxury travel bucket list!

Tags: Africa, animals, Ngorogoro Crater, safari, Tanzania, Travel, travel posts, wildlife

We ate really well in Tanzania. Every lodge or camp we stayed in had local, delicious, fresh food aplenty, and though I ate a ton, I felt lighter when I got home. My pants even fit better! Really, aside from lots of wine and the Pringles we found at the Serengeti Gate, the eating was very clean. My plan was to replicate it when I got home, but it was snowing and I got sick for three weeks so. . . delivery pizza happened more often than it should have.

Now that it is beautiful out and I am feeling better, I am once again thinking of the food in Tanzania and our lunch on our last day in Arusha at Swahili Canteen. Located in a modern shopping area full of ex-pats, Swahili Canteen is a sweet little place for family-style dining, with a communal table as well as outdoor seating. Prior to lunch we had time to browse the shops, and then we all came back together for a feast made by the beautiful chef, Agnes.

 

Swahili Canteen

Swahili Canteen, Arusha

Lunch was served family style, and Agnes brought out plate after plate, coconut beef, chicken, fresh avocado.

avocado

Everything was simple and elegant and bright. I loved the plates we ate from.

metal plate

 

Tanzanian Salad

I also loved this cucumber, tomato, and onion salad, which was fresh, crunchy, and had a kick. I could easily eat it every night. The spinach salad was equally as delicious.

spinach salad

Beans and lentils were a common part of our meals in Tanzania, and I loved them every time, mixed in with some rice and salad. It’s really kind of the perfect meal.

beans

Piri Piri

And I can’t forget the Piri Piri, a spicy pepper sauce that was also often served with our meals. I love spice, and all of the separate dishes lent themselves to a dollop of this delicious condiment. I have already Googled the recipe and plan on making it to top grilled chicken and veggies.

lunch at Swahili Canteen

Look at this plate! Flatbread, lentils, cabbage, rice, spinach, avocado, Piri Piri. . .this might be one of the most delicious and beautiful plates of food I have ever eaten, no exaggerations. I just wanted to keep eating. Agnes was an incredible hostess and chef, and this last stop on our Tanzania journey was one of the highlights.

Don’t fret. . . there’s more Tanzania to come, including two gorgeous lodges and a game drive. It’s hard to condense the trip of a lifetime into just a few posts.

Happy Friday!

Tags: Africa, Arusha, Food, safari, Tanzania, Travel, travel blog

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