Ruaha Rondavels
Large bungalows with a big bedroom, office corner, lounge with fireplace and a large en-suite bathroom.
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Karatu · Northern Tanzania
Kudu Lodge & Campsite
Outstanding hospitality, comfortable accommodation and pleasant surroundings, in the heart of the northern Tanzania safari circuit.
on Tripadvisor284 reviews
- 11 acresof gardens & mature trees
- 40 kmto the Ngorongoro Crater
- 25 kmto Lake Manyara
- 1,400 mabove sea level
- Openall year round
The lodge
A tranquil, shady oasis and the perfect base for wildlife safaris
Kudu Lodge nestles in eleven acres of rolling countryside at Karatu, amidst mature trees and gardens that are home to myriad birds. It is the epitome of spaciousness, friendliness and African hospitality.
At around 1,400 m above sea level, days are not too hot and evenings cool to around 12 °C. Karatu is a two-hour drive from Arusha, with the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Lake Eyasi and Lake Natron all within reach.
“After the exhilarating day out on safari, you can be assured of a friendly welcome home, to the comfort of the lodge, your luxurious bed, a hot steaming shower, and an evening spent across the polished mahogany dining table or by the fragrant wood fireplaces, recounting your day’s stories and adventures.”
Accommodation
Three kinds of bungalow, set among tropical gardens
Comfortable, well-appointed en-suite bungalows, all free-standing and tastefully furnished. The lodge can host up to 60 guests at a time.
Serengeti Suites
Extra-spacious bungalows, exquisitely furnished with extra-wide beds, upholstered armchairs with footstools, a fireplace, an office corner and an en-suite bathroom.
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Tembo Family Houses
Two- and three-bedroom family houses with larger bathrooms and a larger lounge with fireplace, each in its own garden.
Ask about a Family House →In every bungalow
- En-suite bathroom with shower, vanity and toilet
- Private veranda overlooking the gardens
- Mosquito nets on all beds
- Free Wi-Fi
- Tea & coffee making
- Safe box
- Desk / writing area & seating area
- In-house telephone
- 24-hour electricity
Facilities
Pool, fireside bar, kitchen & spa
The swimming pool
19 × 8 m filled with pure water from the lodge’s own well
The same water spouts from the trunk of what may be the largest elephant statue on earth, the work of its creator, Mzee Tembo. There is a separate children’s pool, changing rooms and showers below deck, and a pool bar stocked with cool drinks and cocktails.
Bar & lounge
A large but cosy, well-stocked and lively bar with a huge fireplace for cooler evenings. On warmer days, take a garden chair or the veranda and watch the sun go down over the Ngorongoro hills.
Darts, pool and satellite TV are inside, and on occasion local dancers and acrobats perform in the gardens, just for guests.
Dining & kitchen
African and continental cuisine, with fresh vegetables, salads and fruit every day, plus a selection of pizzas for a more casual meal. The chef will gladly try to accommodate special dietary needs.
Stopover buffet lunches are served for individuals or groups of up to 60, in the dining room or out in the gardens.
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Mrembo Spa
Relax and be pampered with an African massage from our professional, friendly spa team.
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Gardens & birdlife
Eleven acres of mature trees and tropical gardens, home to myriad birds.
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Wi-Fi & internet café
Wi-Fi throughout the grounds, and a small internet café with five high-speed workstations.
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Conference centre
A modern centre for conferences, meetings, workshops, team building, product launches, weddings and parties.
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Gift shop
A large variety of locally hand-crafted products.
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Celebrations
Retreats, small gatherings, reunions or simply getting away from it all. Special requests are catered for with advance notice.
Activities & excursions
From the lodge to the crater, the lakes and the villages
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Ngorongoro Crater 40 km
Game drives into the largest unbroken caldera in the world, the best place to see the Big Five (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo), often all in one day.
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Lake Manyara National Park 25 km
A shimmering, flamingo-filled alkaline lake, famous for its tree-climbing lions.
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Tarangire National Park
Famous for its elephants, baobab-studded landscape and over 550 bird species. In the dry season, the Tarangire River draws herds of elephant, wildebeest and zebra.
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Serengeti National Park 2 days, 1 night
An excursion through Ngorongoro and Olduvai to the “endless plains” and the great migration of more than 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra.
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Lake Eyasi & the Hadza
Daily tailor-made trips to Lake Eyasi, for those with memories to build and an adventurous spirit.
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Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai
A soda lake beneath the active “Mountain of God”. The overnight climb reaches the summit for sunrise over the Rift Valley escarpment.
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Ngorongoro walking safaris
For those after real African adventure: the unpredictability of nature and wildness at close quarters.
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Village walking
Guided walks through the countryside, villages, coffee farms and to a waterfall, with visits to the local market, the village school or traditional Iraqw houses.
Gallery
A look around Kudu
Location
Karatu, two hours from Arusha
Kudu Lodge is on the edge of Karatu town, between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From Arusha, turn off at the Total station in Karatu towards Mbulu; the lodge is about 1.5 km from the main road (see the sketch below).
- Check-in
- from 11:00
- Check-out
- by 10:00
- Children
- All ages welcome
- Cards
- Visa & Mastercard
- Evenings
- around 12 °C
- Open
- All year round
Check availability
Tell us your dates, and we’ll reply on WhatsApp
Pick your dates and room, then tap the button. WhatsApp opens with your message ready to send to our reservations team. Prefer email? Use the second button.
- Reservations & sales
- +255 767 329 537
- Reception
- +255 753 390 910
- Office
- +255 27 253 4055
- Post
- Kudu Lodge, P.O. Box 60, Karatu, Arusha, Tanzania