About This Property
andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge stands on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a three-million-year-old caldera and UNESCO World Heritage Site that shelters one of the densest concentrations of wildlife on earth. It has long been called the game lodge at the top of the world.
Accommodation is split across three separate camps – North and South with twelve suites each, and the six-suite Tree Camp – for thirty suites in total. Each is a handcrafted mud-and-thatch structure on stilts, with banana-leaf ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto the crater.
The look is famously described as ‘Maasai meets Versailles’: baroque chandeliers and gilt mirrors set against African artistry, with a private butler for every suite. Please note the lodge is currently closed for a complete rebuild and is expected to reopen in 2027.
Why We Love It
There is nowhere else quite like it. Waking among chandeliers and roses, then dropping down to the crater floor for a morning among lion, elephant and black rhino, is a contrast that stays with you.
The three-camp layout keeps things intimate, and the position right on the rim means the view is the headline act from your bed, your bath and the dining room alike.
Rooms & Details
North and South Camps
The two larger camps hold twelve suites each, every one a stilted, handcrafted structure of mud and thatch with a banana-leaf ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedroom, sitting room and bathroom frame the crater below.
Tree Camp
The smallest and most intimate of the three, Tree Camp has just six suites set closer to the rim and wrapped in woodland – a quiet choice for couples.
Inside the Suites
Interiors are pure theatre: beaded chandeliers, gilt mirrors, Persian rugs, raw-silk drapes and a fireplace, with an en-suite bathroom and a chandelier-lit bathtub. A personal butler looks after each suite, and interleading family suites are available at every camp.
Dining and Living Areas
Each camp has its own lounge, dining room and viewing deck. The domed dining room turns dinner into an occasion, while bush breakfasts and sundowners are set up out on the crater rim and floor.
Amenities & Features
Cancellation Policy
Booking and cancellation conditions are set by andBeyond; refer to their terms at the time of booking.
Photo Gallery
Rates
Prices start from $1,160 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.
andBeyond rates are generally fully inclusive and quoted on request rather than as a fixed nightly rate. The lodge is closed for rebuilding until an expected 2027 reopening; confirm availability and current pricing directly before booking.
What's Included
- All meals included
- Domed dining room
- Bush breakfasts on the crater floor
- Private in-suite dining
- Crater-floor game drives
- Guided walking safaris
- Olduvai Gorge and Shifting Sands excursion
- Hadzabe Bushmen experience (extra)
andBeyond crater-rim stays are typically fully inclusive of accommodation, meals, most drinks, guided game drives and butler service; park and conservation fees, premium wines, certain excursions and gratuities are usually excluded. Confirm the inclusions for the rebuilt lodge on reopening.
Location
How to Get There
Most guests fly to Lake Manyara Airstrip on a scheduled flight from Arusha, then transfer by 4×4 to the crater rim – around an hour and a half through the highland forest. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the usual international gateway.
Nearby Attractions
The crater floor itself, the Olduvai Gorge and Shifting Sands, the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and onward Serengeti safaris.
Things to Do
The headline activity is a guided game drive on the crater floor, home to tens of thousands of animals including black rhino, lion, elephant and flamingo. Guided walking safaris and a day trip to Olduvai Gorge and the Shifting Sands round out the days, with a Hadzabe Bushmen cultural experience available at extra cost.
Good to Know
Important: the lodge is closed for an extensive rebuild and is expected to reopen in 2027 – confirm status and reopening dates before promoting bookings. Rates are typically quoted on request through andBeyond. This is a high-altitude crater-rim setting; some sources note restrictions on very young children for safety on the raised decks, so confirm the current children’s policy.
Who It's For
Couples, honeymooners and design-minded travellers after a once-in-a-lifetime, high-luxury crater safari.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season, roughly June to October, is best for crater game viewing.
