Karatu

Covered on this page:

Gibbs Coffee Farm – Tour a working Tanzanian coffee farm and taste fresh-brewed coffee.
Elephant Caves – Hike to waterfalls and see the incredible “elephant caves” carved by elephants digging for mineral-rich soil.
Karatu Market – On the 7th and 25th of each month, the Iraqw market bursts into life. Browse stalls packed with spices, fruit, shukas, Maasai beadwork, and bright Tinga-Tinga paintings.
Visit Iraqw villages – Walk through local villages, visit homesteads, share a home-brew meal, and taste traditional banana beer.

Local eateries in town – Perfect for a taste of Tanzanian street food. Try nyama choma (roast meat), chipsi mayai (fries with eggs), grilled corn, samosas or mandazi (fried dough).
Bougainvillea Safari Lodge Restaurant – Welcomes non-guests and serves a mix of local and international dishes.
Ngorongoro Farm House Restaurant – For an upmarket option, dine on a large coffee plantation with a cosy, country-style feel.

Driving times

Karatu → Loduare Gate (Ngorongoro entrance): 15 km | 30 min
Loduare Gate → Ngorongoro Crater entrance: 15 km | 1 hr
Ngorongoro Crater entrance → Naabi Hill Gate (Serengeti entrance): 85 km | 2–3 hrs
Naabi Hill Gate → Seronera (central Serengeti): 60 km | 1 hr

Route

Leave Karatu and drive west on the B144. The road climbs 500 m into the Ngorongoro Highlands. It is steep and twisty — take it slow.
Enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area via Loduare Gate. After the permit check, stop at the viewpoint. If you’re lucky, you may already spot zebras or wildebeest.
Continue straight to the junction:

- Left → Naabi Hill Gate (Serengeti entrance)
- Right → descend into the Crater
The road from Naabi Hill to Seronera and beyond is rocky and badly corrugated. Drive slowly (<25 km/h) to protect your vehicle.

Practical notes

Peak season (Jul–Sep & Dec–Jan): queues at gates can take 30 minutes each.
The last fuel station before the Serengeti is in Karatu. There is an emergency station at Seronera (higher prices).
Watch out for baboons at parking lots near gates:) Always keep your vehicle locked.
For driving times from Seronera to your lodge, check the Serengeti section.

Distance & time

Route

Just after Karatu town, turn left at the junction towards Lake Eyasi.
The dirt road is narrow, bumpy, and rough in places.
Along the way, you’ll pass farmland (sunflower and teff fields) and Maasai herders with cattle.

Distance & time

Route

- Pass the main gate and continue on the paved road parallel to the park boundary for 30 km.
- After Mbuyu wa Mjeruman village, turn left onto a dirt road leading to Sangaiwe Gate.

Tip

Distances

Route

From Karatu, follow the B144 east to Mto wa Mbu.
Continue to Makuyuni (junction with petrol station) and turn left onto the A104 towards Arusha.
To continue to JRO: from Arusha, take the A23 east.

Practical notes

The roads are paved and in good condition.
Traffic around Arusha can be heavy, especially at rush hour. If you have a flight to catch or need to hand over your car, make sure to allow extra time.

Distance & time

Route 1 (mostly paved)

From Karatu, follow the B144 east to Mto wa Mbu.
Continue to Makuyuni (junction with petrol station) and turn left onto the A104 to Arusha (80 km).
From Arusha, head east on the A23 towards Moshi.
At Boma La Ngombe, turn left at Panone Petrol Station towards West Kilimanjaro.
After approximately 28 km, reach a junction:

Route 2 (scenic)

From Karatu, take the B144 and A104 to Arusha.
From Arusha, follow the A104 towards Nairobi.
Turn right at Oldonyosambu Sokoni Baptist Church (look for lodge signs).
The road changes from paved to gravel. Follow until you meet a paved road again.
Follow signs for Original Maasai Lodge or Simba Farm.

On the way