About This Property
andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is one of Africa's most extraordinary — and controversial — safari lodges. Perched on the jagged rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, with staggering views 600 metres down to the crater floor below, the lodge's baroque-meets-bush design is unlike anything else in Africa.
Three separate camps — North, South, and Tree Camp — comprise 30 stilted suites, each with floor-to-ceiling banana silk drapes, beaded chandeliers, ornate gilded mirrors, and fireplaces. The effect is deliberately theatrical: Versailles transplanted to the African bush. Step onto your private deck, and the view — the entire eight-million-year-old volcanic crater spread below you — is staggering.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to approximately 30,000 large mammals, including the Big Five, in a natural amphitheatre just 19 km across. Daily crater descents provide some of the most reliable and concentrated game viewing in Africa.
Why We Love It
Love it or find it over the top, there's nothing else like Crater Lodge. The view from the rim is one of the great sights in Africa — watching clouds roll across the crater floor from your bathtub is surreal. The game viewing on the crater floor is extraordinary: it's one of the few places in Africa where you can reliably see the Big Five in a single day.
Rooms & Details
30 stilted suites across three camps. Each with king-size bed, en-suite bathroom with fireplace and chandelier, private deck with crater views, personal butler, and 24-hour room service.
Amenities & Features
Cancellation Policy
45+ days: full refund. 21-45 days: 50%. Under 21 days: full charge.
Rates
Prices start from $950 per night. Final pricing depends on season, room type, and availability. Check current rates on our booking partner's site for the most accurate pricing.
Per person sharing. Minimum 2-night stay recommended. Children 10+ welcome.
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Premium drinks
- Crater descent game drive
- Rim walk
- Maasai village visit
- Olduvai Gorge excursion
- Stargazing
All meals, all beverages including premium wines, crater descent game drive, and laundry included.
Location
How to Get There
Fly into Kilimanjaro International or Arusha Airport. Road transfer approximately 4 hours via Karatu. Alternatively, charter flights to Lake Manyara airstrip followed by a 90-minute road transfer.
Nearby Attractions
Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park
Things to Do
A visit to Olduvai Gorge — the ‘Cradle of Mankind' — is fascinating and just a short drive away. The Maasai cultural visit offers genuine insight into a way of life unchanged for centuries.
Good to Know
The crater rim is at 2,235m altitude — it's genuinely cold, especially at night. Pack warm layers. Mist and rain are common. The altitude can cause mild breathlessness for some visitors.
Who It's For
Luxury travellers, honeymooners, and anyone who appreciates theatrical design matched with world-class game viewing.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round — the crater supports resident wildlife. June to October for drier weather. January to March for calving season on the surrounding plains.
