Looking for a place to chill and have some delicious food after having an adventurous and fun-filled day at Lake Manyara National Park? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s a list of the best cafes and restaurants nearby Lake Manyara where you can go and satisfy your rumbling tummy:
Café Kabisa
Café Kabisa is located in Mto wa Mbu, near Twiga Campsite. It is a locally-owned café, but the staff has been trained by BeantoMelbourne – a mobile coffee cart franchise in Melbourne. They use organic Arabica coffee, taken from the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. What better way to have an authentic Tanzanian experience than to drink coffee taken fresh from their farms?
They serve almost all of the common hot beverages including Lattes, Macchiatos, Ristrettos, and Cappuccinos.
Mosquito Creek Café
Mosquito Creek Café has just opened recently and is situated on the main road of Mto wa Mbu, near the Tanzip Zipline office. It offers an outdoor seating arrangement, where you may enjoy the cool atmosphere, eating some delicious barbeque, and sipping on some refreshing drinks. They also provide free Wi-Fi!
Lilac Café
Lilac Café is on the main road of Karatu (next to Exim Bank). The café provides a comfortable environment, which is ideal for casual business meetings or a friendly meet-up. Like Café Kabisa, Lilac Café also uses coffee beans grown locally in Karatu. They are also popular for their delicious variety of sandwiches.
Jambo Café
Jambo Café is a specialty coffee shop, located near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) headquarters in Karatu. Other than their delicious handmade coffee and a spacious environment, they also offer ice-creams! What better way to cool off on a tiring day than to indulge in a few scoops of ice cream?
While you’re there, make sure to check out their fresh juices!
Mambo Café
Mambo Café is located in Njia Panda, a small town approximately 7 kilometers away from Ngorongoro Crater Gate. They have been serving tourists from several years and have made quite a name for themselves. Other than the warm coffee and fresh bakery items, you can choose tasty African, Indian, and continental dishes from their menu!
Gibbs Farm
Located near the Ngorongoro Crater just outside Karatu, Gibbs Farm gives you a wonderful view over coffee plantations. It is one of the oldest guesthouses in Tanzania and lets you walk through acres of farmland and coffee plantations. What better way to freshen up than sipping on a cup of fresh handmade coffee in Gibbs Farm?
Lake Manyara Plantation Lodge
The Lake Manyara Plantation lodge comes midway between the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Spanning over 45 acres, the lodge sits on a working coffee plantation. Their menu offers many exotic dishes made mostly from local vegetables and livestock.
Country Lodge Karatu
Country Lodge Karatu, located just outside Karatu, offers a comfortable resting place before you start your safari adventures in the nearby areas. Here, you can enjoy a pristine landscape, eat exotic local dishes, and even visit the coffee plantations nearby. Watch the entire process of picking, cleaning, drying and roasting the coffee beans!
So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy dining at these wonderful cafes and restaurant to satisfy your taste buds!
While you’re in Tanzania, you might also want to check out our Expert Guide on the Selous Game Reserve!