
Arusha airport transfers to Karatu
Arusha Airport transfers to Karatu – WhatsApp/Call: +255 759 694 668
We offer taxi, mini-bus and chauffeur driven executive transfers throughout Tanzania, neighboring countries, and Between Cities of Tanzania. For individuals, groups and companies looking for transfers to or from the all the airports in Tanzania; And for those looking for transfers between the all Tanzania cities; Arusha, Dar-es-salaam, Tanga, Mwanza, Mbeya, Dodoma and Kilimanjaro airport which serves Arusha and Moshi
All of our cars and mini-buses are comfortable and fully air-conditioned. When you travel with us you will be assured of a reliable and professional service and to arrive at your destination relaxed and on time.
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Please feel free to E-mail (info@bramwelsafaris.com) us for further details, proving and to discuss your taxi transfer requirements.
Map of Arusha Transfer to Karatu
Frequently Asked Questions
Road-based safaris use closed 4WD’s, typically Toyota Landcruisers with a pop-top roof. For fly-in safaris, a combination of light aircraft and open-sided 4WD’s with a sun canopy, are used. Open-sided 4WD’s vehicles offer greater visibility and provide unobstructed photography opportunities in all directions.
On average, a Tanzania safari costs $ 200 USD per person per day. Midrange Price: is from $ 350 USD per person per day. Tanzania Luxury Safari Price is: from $ 600 USD per person per day.
Ngorongoro Crater: Haven for the Big 5
It’s renowned for delivering the easiest and most reliable Big 5 sightings in East Africa, and is provides what is arguably the best safari in Tanzania.
When on safari in an open vehicle there is nothing between you and Africa’s wilderness and wildlife. Sounds are more easily heard, smells are easier to pick up, and most importantly it is far easier to take photos and follow animals as they move around.
YES! A self-drive safari through Tanzania offers the chance to discover the stunning sceneries, many animals and cultures of Tanzania on your own. Enjoy Tanzania at your own pace with a 4WD jeep provided by Explore Tanzania! Explore Tanzania offers a reliable 4WD car, so you can start your own carefree adventure.
Karatu is within the Arusha District. It is best reached by car or bus from Arusha. The 150 km on a decent road will take just over two hours. The international airport for Arusha is Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO), about 45 minutes away from the city.
A cheaper option is to take a bus or dala dala. This can take up to three hours and should be between 5000-7000 Tsh. These can often get crowded and for the cheap price you often miss out on comfort. It is generally advisable to take a bus that arrives before night falls for safety reasons.
If you are willing to splurge a bit more money, a small plane to the Lake Manyara airstrip is also recommendable. Coastal Aviation and Air Excel both fly from Arusha to Manyara for around 100 US$ as a stopover on their way to the Serengeti. Watch out because this flight is most likely leaving from Arusha Airport, a small local airport, rather than Kilimanjaro Airport, which you might have arrived from via an international flight. From the Manyara airstrip, it is about a 30 minute drive to Karatu, either by taxi or through a transfer arranged by us.
Karatu can be visited all year around, but as you will normally be visiting Karatu in combination or as as a base for safaris in the adjacent National Parks, it is best to stick to the dry season from June to October. Due to the Ngorongoro Crater’s special geography, animal sighting is good all year around but from June to October the grass is shorter, making it easier to spot animals. This is also true for Lake Manyara, although both parks become beautifully luscious and green in the wet season. Especially Ngorongoro Crater can get very crowded in the dry season, so you might find it a bit nicer in the wet season. Some roads can get too muddy and thus unpassable in the wet season but this should not overall take away from your safari experience.
The dominant tribe in Karatu are the Iraqw, a predominantly Christian people. Their language is linguistically specific as it has its origins in Ethiopia. They are agricultural people and benefit from selling cultural products such as pottery to tourists in the Ngorongoro area.
The Hadzabe Bushmen live around Lake Eyasi and are one of the last remaining hunting and gathering people in East Africa. Only around 1000 still live around the Lake, as the Tanzanian government is slowly encroaching on their terrain. A visit to the Hadzabe feels like a jump back in time. Their language is called Hadzane and relies on click sounds.
The Datoga also live close to Lake Eyasi and are agriculturalists and craftsmen. They have a warrior reputation and are most known for the circular tattoos on their faces. They are extremely isolated and only 5% speak Swahili, Tanzania’s national language. Literacy and education rates are extremely low. Their language has Ethiopian and South Sudanese roots and they are believed to have migrated south thousands of years ago.
All of our drivers speak very good English. And, being local, they can provide you with very useful tourist information about the city, depending on what you want to do.
Please feel free to ask them any question, as if you they were a personal tour guide. Most drivers will also be able to organize extra services like city tours, visits to local attractions or restaurant bookings.
The drivers are selected and trained in order for you to receive an excellent personalized experience, and they are continuously reviewed for their quality of service. Each of them has a unique personality, speaks good English, and they will be more than happy to welcome you to their city.
Yes, all bookings may be cancelled or changed up to 6 hours before the transfer time. In the case of cancellations, payment is fully refunded.
If you request a cancellation when the assigned driver is already on his or her way to the pickup location or has already arrived at the Meeting Point, your booking is non-refundable.
For all cancellations and changes, please contact the WelcomePickups support team at +255 759 694 668
Karatu is a small town in the Arusha District, perfectly located on the borders of Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, giving it the nickname ‘Safari Junction’. It is often used as a quick stop over in-between safari trips or as a cheaper accomodation option compared to staying on the rim of the Crater and within Lake Manyara National Park. If you only see it as a stop over though, you might miss out on some amazing cultural tourism and outdoor action! If you have a few more days, check out what Karatu itself has to offer, giving you a break in between safaris.
Other than as a stopover for the big national parks, Karatu is also perfect as a base for making day trips to local attractions. Ganako and Iraqw Karatu offer hikes to Mlima Nyoka (Snake Hill) for a wide reaching view of the surrounding landscape, the Rift Valley, as well as day trips to the old German settlement Oldean to learn about the country’s colonial past and the stunning Lake Eyasi. The latter is still unknown to most tourists and thus offers secluded enjoyment of the beautiful lake and flora and fauna. At Lake Eyasi, you can also visit the Hadzabe Bushmen, one of the last remaining hunting and gathering people of East Africa and even go hunting with them.

Where to Stay in Karatu?
Karatu is perfect for a few days to visit surrounding national parks, Lake Eyasi and learn more about the local cultures. Many tourists choose to stay in Karatu as it can be cheaper than staying within the National Parks. Accommodation in Karatu can be cheaper than in the national parks, and thus many people opt for staying in the town. If you are strapped for time, this means however that you will need to do more driving everyday, possibly being quite tiring for you. We recommend to consider whether the reduced driving and time this consumes is not worth staying in a lodge on the crater directly. Karatu has excellent accommodations for all budgets. These are some of our favorite recommendations:
High-end options: Plantation Lodge and the boutique hotel Oldeani Safari Lodge are definitely pricier but the beautiful ground and colonial style architecture is sure to make your stay worthwhile.
Medium-priced options: Karatu Simba Lodge and Octagon Lodge still offer comfortable lodgings as well as beautiful gardens around your cottages.
For a more unique experience, stay on a coffee farm: Gregg’s Farm and the Shangri La estate of Kifaru Coffee are two exceptional possibilities of staying on a coffee farm, experiencing the business first hand and enjoying beautiful views and the opportunity to relax in the tranquil lodges. Gregg’s Farm is a high-end option, offering luxury and a spa, while the Shangri La estate is much more budget friendly but only has a few rooms to offer. If you are interested in staying here, make sure to book ahead!