The top 3 lodges in the Lake Manyara area are Plantation Lodge, Bougainvillea Lodge and Gibbs Farm. The Tree Lodge is certainly the most luxurious lodge in the area but is not recommended due to the long (3-hours each way) access road. We recommend including 1 night in the Lake Manyara area on every safari itinerary. A 1 night stay at one of the lodges in the Karatu area makes for a convenient stop over between the Crater and Tarangire or the Crater and Arusha. Additionally, it allows for a rewarding game drive through the main natural attractions of Manyara including the Ground Water Forest and Floodplains.