Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge has been called the game lodge at the top of the world and, between the natural riches of the Crater spread out at its feet and the amazing architecture; it’s easy to believe that you have entered a realm of pure fantasy. With ever-changing views as mists swirl over the huge wildlife cauldron below, the location is truly breathtaking. Buffalo and zebra wandering the grounds and tall Maasai warriors in traditional dress escorting guests to their rooms contribute to an atmosphere of African mystique and romance.

Divided into three camps, the Lodge provides an intimate and exclusive Crater experience. Each camp has its own sitting and dining areas, with private butlers to provide warm, personal service to each guest. Brocade sofas and Persian rugs invite guests to re-live the day’s experiences around a roaring fire. The domed dining room, where sparkling silver and crystal vie for attention with the huge windows and awe-inspiring views, ensures that the setting, as well as the meal, is one you will never forget.

The Lodge has 30 stilted suites with banana leaf ceilings and grass roofs. Steeped in romance, each stilted, handcrafted mud and thatch suite is adorned with graceful antiques. Ensuite bathrooms, with a centerpiece of fresh roses, feature huge showers and chandelier-lit bathtubs, while floor-to-ceiling windows ensure breathtaking views from everywhere.

Everything is chosen to delight the imagination and enhance the spectacular views of the magnificent surroundings.

An eclectic blend of elegant teak panelling, Victorian furnishings and whimsical African touches creates a sumptuous atmosphere that is as elegant and unique as the Crater itself. Leather chairs recline in front of a lit fireplace and raw silk curtains screen a private veranda. Even the gigantic bathtub set under its hand-beaded chandelier and the massive round shower offer tantalizing glimpses of the world’s most famous caldera.

The largest intact caldera in the world, the Ngorongoro Crater shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens anywhere. A permanent population of more than 30 000 animals inhabit a mere 260 km² (100 square miles) in the 600 m (2 000 ft) deep crater, making this one of the few places in Africa where guests stand a great chance of seeing the entire Big Five in the course of a single game drive.

Large herds of resident wildebeest, 16 highly endangered black rhino and around 70 lions make their home in the Crater. 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.

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.