Elewana The Manor Ngorongoro stands in the Shangri-La Estate on Ngorongoro Road in Karatu, a farm and coffee-growing area on the way to the crater. It is a luxury hotel with a small number of cottages rather than a block of rooms. The Luxury Cottage covers about 624 square feet and sleeps four, while the Stable Cottage is larger, at around 1,249 square feet, and sleeps up to six. Cottages have fireplaces, furnished patios, separate sitting areas, air conditioning, refrigerators and bathrooms with hydromassage showers and deep tubs.
Facilities and dining
A cooked-to-order breakfast is included, and the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a calm dining room. There is an outdoor pool, a steam room, a terrace and garden, and free parking and Wi-Fi in rooms. On-site game drives and safari arrangements are available, and staff help with tours and tickets. A twenty-four hour front desk, laundry and dry cleaning, and a meeting room complete the offer.
Location
The lodge is on the Karatu road, about half an hour from Lake Manyara National Park by car and a little under an hour from the lake shore. Karatu town, with several cafes and restaurants, is a few minutes away. Lake Manyara Airport is around twenty minutes by car, and an airport shuttle can be arranged for a per-person surcharge. It is a natural stopover before the crater, and its farmland setting gives a feeling of countryside rather than a lodge compound.
Who it suits
Couples, small families and groups of friends who want a refined, quiet stay with privacy and space will love it. The cottages are roomy enough for a family, and the fireplaces make evenings warm and cosy in the cool highlands. Honeymooners will appreciate the soaking tubs and the sense of seclusion.
Good to know
Check-in is in the afternoon and check-out is before ten, so plan your crater timing carefully. Pets are not allowed. Free cancellation applies to selected rates, so check your terms. Because the property is small, book early for the dry season, and tell the staff if you have an early crater departure so that breakfast can be arranged. For the most comfortable night near the crater, in a hotel that feels like a private home, The Manor is hard to beat.
A few more tips
Ask the staff about the fireplace service in the evening, since a lit fire is one of the pleasures of a highland night. If you plan an early crater departure, arrange breakfast the evening before, and bring a warm jacket for the drive. The estate is a pleasant place to walk in the late afternoon, so build in a little time to enjoy the grounds before dinner.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Steam room
- ✓Restaurant
- ✓Free cooked-to-order breakfast
- ✓Fireplaces in cottages
- ✓On-site game drives
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Free self parking
Good questions
Are there family-sized rooms?+
Yes. The Luxury Cottage sleeps four and the Stable Cottage sleeps up to six.
Is breakfast included?+
A free cooked-to-order breakfast is included.
How far is Lake Manyara airport?+
About twenty minutes by car. A shuttle can be arranged for a surcharge.
