Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania

The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge sits on the edge of the Crater itself. This award-winning lodge is fit for nobility.

The Lodge at Ngorongoro Crater offers en-suite bathrooms, huge showers and chandelier-lit bathtubs, while huge windows ensure breathtaking views of the game-rich Crater.

Built in a truly breathtaking location, and divided into three camps, 30 stilted suites with banana leaf ceilings and grass roofs provide an exclusive Crater experience.

Each camp has its own sitting and dining areas, with private butlers who provide friendly, personal service. The domed dining room has huge windows displaying the awe-inspiring views on the crater.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge features magnificent surroundings, Victorian furnishings, leather chairs in which you can recline in front of a lit fireplace before having your after-dinner bath in a gigantic bathtub.

A Day at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Breakfast

A soft knock on the door announces your butler with a wake-up call and a fragrant cup of tea or coffee.

Game Drive

Your guide will have a discussion with you about your expectations for the day and plan the morning game drive to best meet your expectations.

Lunch

Lunch will be served at one of the designated picnic sites surrounded by some of Africa's most iconic scenery and wildlife. After lunch, the game drive will continue until late afternoon.

Afternoon Tea

Enjoy afternoon tea or a sun-downer cocktail from the comfort of your luxury private suite.

Dinner

Mouthwatering tastes and delicate textures do their best to distract guests from the splendour of the Lodge's dining room. Magnificent designs delight the eye, while fragrances and flavours tempt the palate.

Wildlife at Ngorongoro

The saline waters of Lake Magadi attract both the lesser and the greater flamingo, with flocks of several thousand forming when the lake is low.

Other bird species on the Crater floor include the ostrich and the Kori bustard, the world’s heaviest flying bird.

An estimated 25 000 mammals are resident in the Crater, including large herds of resident wildebeest, 16 highly endangered black rhino and around 70 lion.

Nomadic cheetah move in and out of the area and leopard are most often encountered in the Lerai Forest. Both golden and black-backed jackal are abundant, while the normally shy and nocturnal serval are frequently spotted during daylight hours. Vast numbers of buffalo, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle also occur. Large numbers of both lion and spotted hyena are also resident in the Crater. While the grasses are short in winter, it is easy to spot even small predator like caracal.

The Lerai Forest, the permanent marshes on the Crater floor and the highland meadows provide the best sightings of elephant in the Crater area. The dense forest on the slopes and rim of the Crater provides shelter for the giant tuskers, which pass silently through the forest depths, some even visiting the lodge gardens after dark.

Elephant are not the only visitors to the lodge, with buffalo occasionally taking a nocturnal stroll through the grounds. A triumph of conservation efforts, buffalo were once completely absent from the Crater floor but have returned in large numbers.

While more often associated with the Great Migration in other parts of Tanzania, both zebra and wildebeest are permanently resident in the Crater. Thomson’s gazelle, which often join the wildebeest and zebras on their migration, are also more sedentary in the area, grazing the grasslands in the company of the larger animals.

The saline waters of Lake Magadi attract both the lesser and the greater flamingo, with flocks of several thousand forming when the lake is low. Other bird species on the Crater floor include the ostrich and the Kori bustard, the world’s heaviest flying bird.

Activities at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

(Available at an additional charge)

OLDUVAI GORGE & SHIFTING SANDS TOUR

Explore the breathtaking surrounds of the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind, best known as home of the earliest remains of homo sapiens, discovered by Mary Leaky. Move on to crescent-shaped volcanic ash dunes knows as Shifting Sands, which slowly creep across the desert floor in response to prevailing winds.

CRATER FLOOR BANQUET

After your scenic descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, enjoy a tasty hot lunch served in breathtaking surroundings at a private picnic spot on the Crater floor. Personalised butler service combines with breathtaking surroundings in the midst of the wildlife action.
Minimum 10 guests.
Minimum one months notice required.
Weather dependent and subject to availability of picnic site. Crater fees apply in addition to the activity fees.

WINE SOMMELIER SESSIONS

Enjoy award-winning wines with an award-winning isomerism. The sessions consist of an intimate Tanzania Signature wine tasting, or a tasting and hosted meal, with Chris Ford, the best isomerism in East Africa. Chris’s expertise includes a Diploma in Wine from the Cape Wine Academy, graduation from the Michael Fridjhon Tasting Academy, the Lowveld regional title (2009) and national runner-up title (2010) in the Chaine des Rotisseurs Jeunes Sommelier Competition and certification by the Wine Spirit Education Trust.
Maximum 6 guests.
Subject to availability of the sommelier.

ROSE PETAL DINNER

The dining area is magically transformed into an elegant banquet fit for a king and queen. The long, chandelier-lit dining table, adorned with white linen, candles and bouquets of roses, is surrounded by a carpet of brightly coloured rose petals. This is the height of elegance and romance. At each guest’s place setting, a single rose sits on top of a beautifully presented menu card. A sumptuous meal, prepared by expert chefs, is then served by attentive butlers and includes a glass of French champagne.
Minimum 24 guests.
Two week notice period.

HONEYMOON ROSE PETAL DINNER

The ultimate romantic experience, your private dinner begins with a long soak in a hot bubble bath large enough for two, from where you can admire magnificent views of the Ngorongoro Crater. From there, a carpet of rose petals leads to an elegant table set up just for you in the privacy of your opulent suite. Attentive yet discrete, your personal butler serves up a delicious feast, prepared by the lodge’s professional chefs and accompanied by a bottle of the finest French champagne.
2 guests.
Two week notice period.

PRIVATE SUNDOWNERS ON THE RIM

Enjoy sun-downer cocktails and delicious snacks whilst treated to awe-inspiring views and 20 Maasai warriors entertaining guests.
Minimum 6 guests.
One month notice required.
Weather dependent.

AFRICAN DRUMMERS

Experiencing the rhythm of African music is one of the most unforgettable experiences. This group of local drummers provides great entertainment to guests, whilst also sharing their unique culture. The traditional music of Tanzanian cultures is given its melodic drive by a marimba (also called a mbira), a type of instrument that is unique to Africa. Weather dependent and exclusivity cannot be guaranteed. Performance takes place on the lawn in front of lodge.
Minimum one month notice required.

MAASAI DELIGHT WITH PRE DINNER DRINKS

Be touched by the spirit of Africa whilst listening to the traditional singing and chanting of Maasai (20 Maasai warriors) whilst enjoying sun-downer drinks or pre dinner drinks.
Two week notice required.

EMPAKAI CRATER HIKE

From the beautiful forests that surround the Empakaai Crater walls to impressive strangler figs and fantastic birdlife, this energetic full day hiking adventure promises guests an up close experience with nature.

Highlights:
• Explore the Empakaai Crater floor and the water’s edge
• Birdwatcher’s paradise
• Potential sightings of barred tailed trogon, grey headed negro finch, greater and lesser flamingo, steppe eagles and crowned eagles.

Maximum 6 guests.
The walk into and out of the crater is on a steep grade and at a high altitude and therefore is suitable for relatively fit and agile individuals. Full day hiking adventure.

LAKE EYASI WALK

A panoramic half day walk through Maasai villages and open grazing land that allows guests to enjoy the culture and lifestyle of the Maasai. Along with authentic culture, this walk also offers spectacular views of Lake Eyasi.

Highlights:
• The inspiring Africa Foundation Mokilail School project can be visited en route
• The walk can be tailored to finish at a viewing point overlooking Lake Eyasi - perfect for sun-downers
• A unique opportunity to interact with the Maasai
Maximum 6 guests.
Half day panoramic walking route.

CRATER VIEW WALK

This popular late afternoon walk along the western rim of the Ngorongoro Crater allows guests to experience various natural habitats, including the acacia woodland, thick lush forests and open grasslands.

Highlights:
• Excellent birding route with sightings of golden winged sunbirds, African cytrill, white eyed slaty flycatcher and mountain buzzard
• The only place in the area to see Schalow’s wheatear and mountain white-eye
• A chance to see the Maasai and their cattle en route
Maximum 6 guests.
Cannot be pre-booked.

Rates

Please contact us for our latest rates and availability.

Terms & Conditions

Included

Accommodation
Three meals daily
Soft drinks
House wines
Local brand spirits and beers
Teas and coffees
Refreshments on lodge activities
Laundry
Safari activities
Emergency evacuation insurance

Excluded

Telephone calls
Safari shop purchases
Gratuities
And all items of a personal nature
Champagne
Cognac
Fine wines
Premium brand spirits and cigars
Tourism Development Levy of USD 1.50
Park and conservancy fees
Transfers Lake Manyara airstrip/Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Administration fee

Rate Conditions

All rates are inclusive of VAT and in US Dollars.

Accommodation rates are per person per night sharing, except for the family suite which is per family per night.

Long-Stay Rates: May be applied for a combination of &Beyond lodges in Africa (subject to seasonal availability of the offer), for the same guests on a single itinerary. These cannot be used in conjunction with any other &Beyond offers, including Signature offers.

Single Supplement: A single supplement of 50% applies to all single rooms during High Season. A single supplement of 25% applies to all single rooms during the remainder of the year.

All Tourism services are levied with an 18% Value Added Tax

Children under the age of 16 sharing with 1 or 2 adults are charged 50% of the adult rate. This is subject to the availability of triple rooms.

Private 4x4 safari vehicles can be pre-booked at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge at an additional cost and subject to availability

National park fees are not included in the above mentioned rates - these are charged per 24-hour period

All pricing is indicative and subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
&Beyond Trading Terms apply

Children

Travel to Tanzania is recommended for children 8 years or older. The lodge has a family room consisting of two inter-leading suites.

When available, booking an exclusive use safari vehicle means that game drives can be tailored for the shorter attention span of younger children, leaving and coming back to the lodge at any time.

The lodge is also able to accommodate a limited number of triple rooms. This means that, should parents wish to share a room with younger children, an additional bed will be set up in the parents’ room for children 16 years or younger.

When not using an exclusive use vehicle, game drives are available to children aged twelve years and older. Children aged six to twelve are permitted on game drives at the lodge manager’s discretion. While children younger than six cannot participate in game drives, childminders can be arranged during game drives and meal times at an additional cost.