Gibbs Farm; Safaris in The Serengeti, Tanzania

Gibbs Farm

Gibbs Farm – The Facts

Gibbs Farm – The Detail

Gibbs, built in the early 20th century by German settlers, was established as a coffee farm in the 1930s, and became property of the British Custodian of Enemy Property after the Second World War. In 1948 it was sold to British war veteran James Gibb, who restored the neglected coffee farm and settled here with his wife Margaret, who started a small vegetable and flower garden. The farm became a lodge in 1972, twelve years after the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established around it. The coffee plantation was sold after James Gibb died in 1977, leaving enough land for extensive flower and vegetable gardens and a dairy, which supply the lodge with fresh organic produce.

The lodge itself is a series of bungalow rooms and farm cottages under trailing flower-laden eaves set around the old colonial farmhouse. The surrounding gardens are pristine, awash with flowers that are especially good between October and January. Rooms 1 to 7 have the best views, but the larger rooms around the back are generally more comfortable, with some cosy fireplaces inside the newer rooms. Although Margaret Gibb no longer runs the Lodge, staff still ensure that the home fires blaze whist the comfortable sitting room and dining room keep the character of a private farmhouse.

Gibbs Farm is a good spot to stop for a wholesome buffet lunch of savoury pies and salads, although it must be booked in advance. Otherwise its views and gardens make it an elegant spot for morning or afternoon tea, and it is well-situated halfway between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The lodge has a bird list of 165 local species to date, and various alternatives for afternoon or day trips, including a guided walk through the Ngorongoro Montane Forest to the elephant caves where elephants have created a deep crevice in their ruthless foraging for minerals. Otherwise walk to the Rift edge for sundowners with a view, or to the small town of Karatu 4km from the farm, to see local women preparing fast food for travellers and selling a range of goods from their roadside stalls.

Gibbs Farm – Our View

Gibbs Farm is located in a beautiful area which is surrounded by rolling hills and the lodges own coffee plantation Although some may argue that the Lodge is located too far away from the Crater, in reality its location places it within a 30 minute drive from both the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara meaning that it is an excellent base for safaris to both regions. The new management are slowly revamping Gibbs Farm; a big improvement has already been noticed with the upgrade from the Old Bungalows to the new Farm Cottages and yet the Lodge still maintains its wonderfully relaxing English feel.