Not such an early start this morning & really starting to feel the fizz of exitement now as today is the day that we start our journey proper. Once the group has been assembled at ACL we set off and hit the countryside almost immediately as the lodge is on the far side of town only 5 minutes from the airstrip. A brief stop for a delicious lunch & quick look around at Manyara Ranch...this picture simply could not have been taken anywhere else except East Africa...
A short but surprisingly productive game drive through the conservancy back to the tar road & then on to a look out point to view lake Manyara - so many places we would like to stop but I suppose we have to leave something for next time...
I love driving through a new country as you see so much more of the local customs & population than you do when flying.....in the middle of Karatu village at a rough hand painted sign for the lodge we turn right & make our way up what looks like a farm road....all of us are wondering what we have let ourselves in for as the sign is basic to say the least & the road doesn't inspire confidence either.....but it just goes to show that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover....Plantation Lodge turns out to be one of my favourite places on this trip. Owned & run by a German couple who have lived & farmed in Tanzania for many years it is delightful - everything is perfect. They have upgraded us to Garden House so that we each have our own room - this touch is the mark of a true hospitality professional. We are all in love with the gardens, our house for the night, the friendly staff & owners.....it is quite difficult to please four jaded & highly critical travellers but Plantation Lodge have come up trumps!!
It doesn't look like much from the outside although the immaculate subtropical gardens do give a slight clue what to expect. This area reminds me so much of the area around Tzaneen in Limpopo province in South Africa - the same plants in the garden - jacaranda, bougainvilla, frangipani etc as well as the cool misty conditions as this is the tail end of the long rainy season in East Africa.
The lodge is beautifully but simply furnished using lots of local materials which really gives you a sense of place when you walk around. The innovative flower arrangements are all done by the staff using flowers & foliage from the gardens - no mass produced hot house roses here....I love all of them & take far too many photo's.
You could just sit forever with views like this...very happy!!
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