Gibb’s Farm

Gibb’s Farm is one of Northern Tanzania’s oldest guesthouses. Located half way between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater, it’s surrounded by tropical gardens and has great views over a coffee-plantation. On arrival, guests are led from the reception area, through the gardens, to the original farmhouse. Here, there are couple of separate lounges furnished with sofas, armchairs and coffee tables. Some boast a wood-burning stove and open fires to create cosy areas to unwind after a busy day on safari. The recently extended dining room is split over two levels and has green painted floors and high-beamed ceilings. Large windows make this area light and airy and offer fantastic views of the coffee plantations and hills beyond. Most of the fruit, vegetables and herbs provided at Gibbs Farm are freshly picked from their own ten acres of organic gardens. The outside areas at Gibb’s Farm are extensive. There are various well-tended gardens, including a herb garden, a cactus garden, a rose garden, a medicine garden and an enormous vegetable garden. Birdlife is abundant as a result and so expect to see (or hear) tropical boubous, African pygmy kingfishers and golden-winged sunbirdssStone pathways lead from the main house, through the gardens, to the 20 cottages. Although the rooms are fairly close together, careful planting ensures they’re completely private. The cottages are spacious and bright and fitted with high-quality furniture. They have been designed to reflect the history of the farm, with polished eucalyptus-wood floors, tongue-and-groove boarding painted a pale green, beamed ceilings and stone walls.Each cottage has an entrance lobby with a vase of freshly picked flowers, a lounge area with comfortable armchairs in front of a fireplace and two queen-size beds with blue-and-cream linen. French doors lead out onto a private balcony with views over the gardens. There is a central stone fireplace which is built into the wall separating the bathroom and the bedroom; this keeps the cottages really cosy.The bathroom has green polished cement floors, a large indoor shower, a separate bath, double basins and an enclosed toilet. A huge carved stone bath sits in front of a large window with lush planting outside. Double doors lead from the bathroom to a private outdoor shower.Gibb’s Farm makes a great base from which to take part in various activities.