Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Northern Tanzania

Introduction

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is perched on the lip of the famous Ngorongoro Crater a designated World Heritage Site.  It lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers more than 8 000 square kilometres (3 100 square miles) of pristine African wilderness.

At the eastern edge of the Serengeti, and nearly three million years old, Ngorongoro is one of the most perfectly formed and certainly the most spectacular calderas on the planet.  With over 40 000 predominantly Maasai pastoralists inhabiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area it is a prime example of mankind living in harmony with wildlife.

Camp Description

Set in classic crescents and inspired in design by the Maasai mud-and-stick manyatta, there are three separate camps North and South Camp each with 12 suites and Tree Camp with six suites. Each stilted suite is sumptuously furnished with panelled walls and floors made of Tanzanian hardwoods, rich raw silk curtains, hand-beaded chandeliers, gilt mirrors, a fireplace and a butlers lobby. All rooms are en suite. Suites all feature decks with magnificent views of the Crater floor.

Each camp has a sitting and dining room, an outdoor dining area and viewing decks.  The sitting rooms have woven banana bark ceilings and are adorned with hand-beaded chandeliers, carved and gilded wall plaques, brocade sofas, Persian carpets, candles and bowls of red roses.  The domed dining room with its welcoming fireplace, crystal, silver and massive wooden platters makes every meal a special occasion.  At the entrance to the Lodge there is a well-stocked African crafts gallery.

Game Viewing

A population of about 25,000 large animals, including the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa, lives in the crater. These include black rhinoceros, hippopotamus which are usually very uncommon in the area. There are also wildebeest, zebra, eland, Grants and Thomsons gazelles. The crater has the densest known population of lion. On the crater rim are leopard, elephant, mountain reedbuck and buffalo.

Activities

Daily game-drives into the Crater in closed game viewing vehicles with pop-up roofs.  Bird watching, half-day trips to Olduvai Gorge and Shifting Sands subject to vehicle availability. Optional activities at an additional cost include walking on the rim of the Crater or in Empakaai Crater, a cultural Maasai boma visit, sundowners with spectacular views over Lake Eyasi, excursions to Lake Ndutu and private bush breakfasts and lunches.

Pricing

Shoulder rates: 7 31 January / October 20 December

Highest Rates: 21 December - 6 January / February March /June September

Closed: April - May

Please contact us for current rates:

Suggested Daily Activity Schedule

Please contact us for suggested itineraries.

How to get there

Twice-daily scheduled flight from Arusha Airport. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge transfers guests to and from the airstrip by closed game-viewing vehicle.

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Ngorongoro Crater