Things to do in Tanzania

The Manor at Ngorongoro: farm-style chic on a coffee estate

Stay in a farm-style cottage on the 1,500-acre Shangri La coffee plantation in Tanzania’s fertile Ngorongoro region …

By Altus Do Toit

Manager of The Manor at Ngorongoro

Stay in a chic, farm-style cottage in Tanzania’s fertile Ngorongoro region. The Manor is a small farmhouse set on the 1,500-acre Shangri La coffee plantation, which is nestled between the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. The founder, Karim, wanted to echo the Cape Dutch architecture of South Africa’s wine estates, so the house is painted white and has towering gables, dark-wood furniture and log-burning fireplaces.

Aside from the manor house, our guest cottages are scattered around the gardens. Each one is beautifully-decorated with wooden furnishings and artwork, a fireplace and Victorian claw-foot bath. Meals feature our fresh produce and are served in the main manor house, with classic white table cloths, candlelight and a menu influenced by Indian and Tanzanian flavours. After dinner, you can spend some time playing snooker or watch a movie in our cellar theatre.

We’re perfectly positioned for exploring both Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Birding is a popular activity as we have about 500 different species in the area, including migratory birds like pelicans and yellow billed storks. Other trips include visiting the historic Olduvai Gorge or a nearby Maasai village. Guests say that what they like most about The Manor though is simply being able to relax and enjoy our wonderful service. It gives them a chance to reflect on their time in Tanzania after a hectic safari schedule.

Take some time to swim in our pool and have a treatment at the neighbouring spa. One of our staff can take you on a leisurely coffee tour around the estate to teach you about the production process, ending with a chance to roast and taste your own cup of coffee. You can also wander around our vegetable and herb gardens; we even have stables and offer guided riding trips around the estate with our tame horses.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Tanzania SkySafari
by Vicki Bramley

Length10 Days

Price range£10,650 - £12,550pp

Alfred & Altus Do Toit

Altus is one half of the management couple at The Manor at Ngorongoro. He hails from South Africa and has substantial experience working in luxury properites, including as executive chef of a lodge collection in the Sabi Sands. He studied at Silwood School of Cookery in Cape Town and also owned his own restaurant in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, for seven years. Altus's passions are food, wine and fishing.

Altus d Toit, Manager of The Manor at Ngorongoro

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Gemma, who's travelled extensively in Tanzania. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it on their own. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - the rangers who'll ensure you'll spot the best wildlife, the village chiefs who'll give you a genuine insight into local life and the camp managers who can recommend the very best spot to enjoy your sundowner.

Gemma Wilson-Dines

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Gemma has been a regular visitor to South Africa favouring the spectacular mountains and cinematic Winelands that draw her back time and time again. Her most recent trip to Tanzania offered a whole new perspective of the Great Migration from the romantic heights of a hot air balloon. On the other side of the world, in extraordinary India, Gemma holds vivid memories close to her heart; of cooking chapatis in Amritsar’s shimmering Golden Temple and the soft summer breeze in Shimla's alpine forest.
Joseph Awe

Cultural guide

Joseph Awe has been a cultural guide in the Lake Eyasi region for over 12 years. He grew up on his family's dairy and onion farm in the region and has close connections with the nearby Hadzabe and Datoga communities. Able to speak their native languages, Joseph has worked as a translator and interpreter for guests visiting the tribes around Lake Eyasi since he was a teenager.
Mary Milanzi

Lemala Tour Guide

Mary Milanzi is proud to be one of Tanzania’s first female guides. Born in Mto wa Mbu, she grew up with a deep love of wildlife and dreamed of getting a job that allowed her to stay close to nature. After completing her tour guide training with Lemala, Mary now leads tuk tuk tours of her home town. She often goes into colleges to give talks that inspire female students to seek out jobs in the tourism industry.
Charles Kisaka

Assistant Manager at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

Charles Kisaka is from the north-east of Tanzania and studied tourism at college. After graduating, he joined the Serena hotels group and has worked with them for over 15 years. Charles loves his current role as the manager of Lake Manyara Serena Lodge because it allows him to meet guests from different countries and introduce them to the wilds of Tanzania.
Hazel Gumpo

General Manager, Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge

Hazel Gumpo is a German-trained General Manager with over 25 years of experience in hospitality. She has worked all over Africa and in 2017, was named one of the top 100 most influential tourism personalities in West Africa by the Accra Weizo West African Travel Fair. Hazel is passionate about people development, interior design, creative cooking and hosting.
Philip Mbeke

Camp Manager, Roving Bushtops

Originally from Kenya, Philip Mbeke started his career with Bushtops over 10 years ago as a ranger in the Maasai Mara. Since then, he's worked his way up to become camp manager at Roving Bushtops. Philip loves working in the Serengeti and enjoys the thrill of moving camp around the savannah. He especially likes to see the sparkle in guests' eyes when they first arrive at the roving camp and enjoys spending evenings with them around the campfire.