Ngorongoro Crater Lodge; Safaris in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

The Crater Lodge is perched high on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, overlooking one of the most fascinating volcanic calderas in the world. An important part of Tanzania’s incredible Northern safari circuit, the Crater Lodge provides extraordinary accommodation in a spectacular situation.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge – The Facts

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge – The Detail

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is perched on the edge of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater at the eastern edge of the Serengeti in northern Tanzania. It lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers more than 8 000 square kilometres (3 100 square miles) of pristine African wilderness. Inspired in design by the Maasai mud-and-stick manyatta (homestead), Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is without doubt one of the most architecturally spectacular safari lodges in Africa.

Nearly three million years old, the ancient caldera of the once-volcanic Ngorongoro shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on earth, ringed with towering walls and sheltering forests, grasslands, fresh springs and a large soda lake. Nearby Olduvai Gorge – a famous early archaeological site – is situated to the west of the Crater in the eastern Serengeti Plains. In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, 42 000 Maasai live and herd their livestock in harmony with Africa’s wild animals.

The Crater Lodge can provide some of the best game viewing drives into the crater and Ngorongoro Conservation Area that East Africa can offer. Bush walks around the lodge are also available, as well as excursions to Olduvai Gorge. For those that want to take some "time out" from the rigors of a game drive you are invited to use the Library and indoor board games. Other facilities include a central dining area/lounge, a craft and curio shop and a kart for ferrying luggage/guests to the camps.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge – Our view

Voted year on year as one of the top ten hotels on the planet, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is quite rightly the flagship property for CCAfrica. The buildings themselves are bizarre, to say the least, due to the amalgamation of various different styles, but it all adds up to being a wonderful experience. The butler service and the views from anywhere in your room will make sure that you remember the crater for a long time afterwards. While the price tag is high, and while a lot of other hotels pretend they are, this really is one place you will only ever experience once!