Frequently Asked
Questions

Contact our reservations team directly by email at bookings@njiapandatentedlodge.com or by phone on +255 749 494 499. We will confirm availability, discuss your preferences, and guide you through the booking process. We do not currently offer online booking — we prefer to speak with every guest personally to ensure your stay is tailored to your needs.

Cancellations made more than 30 days before arrival receive a full refund less a 10% administration fee. Cancellations within 14–30 days forfeit 50% of the booking value. Cancellations within 14 days forfeit the full booking value. We strongly recommend travel insurance. Please contact us directly in cases of emergency — we will always do our best to be flexible.

Yes — a 30% deposit is required to confirm your booking. The balance is due 30 days before arrival. For bookings made within 30 days of arrival, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Subject to availability, last-minute bookings are welcome. Please call us directly on +255 749 494 499 for same-day requests.

The lodge is located in Karatu, approximately 2.5 hours from Arusha by road. We can arrange private transfers from Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport, or any Northern Tanzania location. Charter flights to Manyara Airstrip (45 minutes from the lodge) are also available. Detailed directions and GPS coordinates are sent upon booking confirmation.

Yes — secure parking is available on the lodge grounds for guests arriving by private vehicle or rental car.

Yes. We work with trusted transfer operators and can arrange comfortable road transfers from Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport, or Arusha town. Please let us know your arrival details when booking.

We offer six room types: Single Room, Double Room, Twin Room, Triple Room, Family Tent, and Family House. Each option has been designed to offer a different experience of the lodge — from intimate solo rooms to spacious standalone structures for families. Visit our Accommodation page for full details and photographs.

Yes — all rooms have their own private en-suite bathroom facilities. The Family Tent additionally offers a private outdoor shower enclosure open to the sky.

Yes — the Family House is a standalone stone-and-timber structure set slightly apart from the main lodge, offering complete privacy with its own living room, two bedrooms, full bathroom, and private garden terrace.

Extra beds or cots can be added to the Family Tent and Family House subject to availability. Please discuss your requirements with us at the time of booking.

Yes — daily breakfast is included in all room rates and is served at the restaurant each morning.

The lodge restaurant serves a daily-changing menu of local and international cuisine, prepared using fresh ingredients sourced from the Karatu market and our own kitchen garden. Lunch and dinner are available and can be reserved in advance. Bush dinners and private sundowner setups can be arranged for special occasions.

Yes — we cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and most other dietary needs with advance notice. Please inform us of any requirements at the time of booking.

We offer game drives to the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire; guided forest walks; cultural village visits; coffee farm tours; birding walks; spa treatments; and bush dinners. A full list is available on our Experiences page.

We recommend booking game drives and cultural visits in advance, particularly during peak season. Spa treatments require advance appointment. Forest walks and birding can usually be arranged on the day.

Absolutely. The lodge welcomes families with children of all ages. The Family Tent and Family House are both well-suited to families. Activities such as the coffee farm tour, nature trail, and cultural visit are suitable for children and often become highlights of their trip.

Very much so. Many of our guests travel solo — particularly birders, writers, and professionals on working retreats. The Single Room was designed with the solo traveller in mind, and our team ensures every solo guest feels genuinely welcomed.

Karatu is beautiful year-round. The best time for game drives is June–October (dry season). The green season (March–May) offers lush landscapes, excellent birding, and lower rates. December–February offers warm, dry weather and good wildlife viewing. See our Rates page for seasonal information.

Yes — complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the lodge. Signal strength is good in the main lodge areas and most rooms.

Tanzania uses the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). US Dollars are widely accepted for lodge payments. We recommend bringing some local currency for small purchases in Karatu town.

Karatu is one of the safest areas in Tanzania for international visitors. The lodge grounds are secure, and our team is available 24 hours a day. We ask guests to follow standard safety guidance — particularly during game drives and village visits.

Yes. Conservation and sustainability are central to everything we do at Njia Panda. The lodge runs on solar power, practices rainwater harvesting, has a zero single-use-plastic policy, and directs a percentage of revenue to local community programmes. Please visit our Conservation page for full details.