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One of Tanzania's Most Distinctive Properties
Gibbs Farm is one of Tanzania's most distinctive luxury properties. It sits at 1,800 metres in the Ngorongoro Highlands, on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by 250 acres of rolling farmland, forest, and coffee plantation. The property has been in the Gibbs family since the 1920s — what began as a colonial coffee and pyrethrum farm has become one of Tanzania's most celebrated small lodges.
The farm has eight cottage suites, each individually decorated with antique furniture sourced from across East Africa. The setting is extraordinary: misty mornings over the rift valley, the sound of birds in the surrounding forest, the smell of fresh coffee roasting in the courtyard. The pace is deliberately slow. This is a place to be rather than to do — though there is plenty to do if you want it.
The Accommodation
The Farm Cottages
Farm Cottages
Sleeps: 2 adults
Eight freestanding cottages scattered across the hillside, each with a private garden and views over the rift valley. The original farm buildings, converted with antique furniture and hand-woven textiles.
Highlight: Hand-carved four-poster beds, roll-top baths, rift valley views
The Garden Cottage
Sleeps: 2 adults
The most private of the eight, set in its own garden with a separate sitting area and the largest private terrace on the property.
Highlight: Private garden, outdoor shower, most secluded location
What to Do
Activities at Gibbs Farm
Coffee Tour & Tasting
45 minutesGibbs Farm grows and roasts its own coffee — a process you can experience on a guided farm tour. The arabica coffee from this farm has won awards in international competitions. The tour ends with a tasting session and an explanation of why the Ngorongoro Highlands produce exceptional coffee.
Forest Walks
1–2 hoursGuided walks through the indigenous highland forest that surrounds the property. The forest is alive with birdlife — turaco, sunbirds, and in the early morning, the sounds are extraordinary. Your guide will explain the medicinal uses of the plants and point out tracks and signs of the forest animals.
Crater Excursion
Full dayA full day game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, departing after an early breakfast and returning in time for dinner. Gibbs Farm organises this for all guests — you have a private vehicle and guide, and the timing is matched to the best wildlife hours rather than tourist schedules.
Lake Ndutu (Seasonal)
Full day (seasonal)Between December and March, Gibbs Farm can arrange a day trip to Lake Ndutu in the southern Serengeti — one of the most extraordinary wildlife displays on earth during the wildebeest calving season. This is a long day but entirely worth it for those who want to combine farm tranquility with theMigration spectacle.
Village Walk
2–3 hoursA guided walk to the neighbouring village of Karatu — a genuine insight into Tanzanian rural life. Not a tourist performance, but a walk through the local market, past the primary school, and into the homes of local families who have known the Gibbs family for generations.
Birdwatching
FlexibleOver 300 bird species have been recorded on the Gibbs Farm property and surrounding area. The Rift Valley escarpment creates diverse habitats — forest, farmland, wetland, and grassland — within a small area. Early morning is the best time.
What to Expect
The Gibbs Farm Experience
The Pace
Gibbs Farm is deliberately unhurried. There are no scheduled activities beyond meals. You choose what you want to do, and the staff accommodate it. Many guests spend their mornings on the terrace with coffee, watching the rift valley emerge from the morning mist, and their afternoons on guided walks or visits to the crater. The evening means a log fire in the sitting room, dinner by candlelight, and early sleep in the crisp highland air.
The Food
The farm-to-table philosophy here predates the term. Most of what you eat is grown or raised on the farm or within 20 kilometres of it. The gardens supply vegetables and herbs; the dairy herd provides fresh milk, cream, and cheese; the coffee is roasted on-site. Dinner is a five-course affair served at a communal table — the sort of food that makes you understand why people write letters home about a place.
The History
The Gibbs family arrived in Tanzania in the 1920s and established the farm in the Ngorongoro Highlands. The original colonial farmhouse has been preserved and expanded over the decades, but the character — the battered leather chairs, the shelves of East African natural history books, the log fires — remains. This is a working farm with genuine history, not a purpose-built lodge with a manufactured backstory.
Who It Suits
Gibbs Farm suits travellers who want to experience Tanzania at a thoughtful, unhurried pace — people who want to understand a place rather than tick boxes. It is particularly well-suited to repeat Tanzania visitors who have done the northern circuit and want a different, more reflective kind of experience. It is not suited to travellers who need constant activity, loud nightlife, or contemporary entertainment.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gibbs Farm suitable for families with children?
How does Gibbs Farm compare to Ngorongoro Crater lodges?
What is the best time to stay at Gibbs Farm?
How far is Gibbs Farm from the Ngorongoro Crater?
Do I need to book well in advance?
Can Gibbs Farm be combined with a Kilimanjaro climb?
Want to Include Gibbs Farm in Your Trip?
We can advise on the best way to include Gibbs Farm in your Tanzania itinerary — whether as part of a northern circuit, a post-climb recovery, or a standalone country stay. Planning is free.