&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. This hotel is without a question one of the ten best in the world. People come to Tanzania just to stay here because it has such beautiful views and is on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater. There are a lot of quirky things about this property that make it stand out from the others on a northern schedule. &Beyond calls it “Masaai meets Versaille.” We think it’s a bit much, but if you can afford it, you should stay here!

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge: What You Need to Know

The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is on the edge of the crater and has great views of the crater itself. The camp is easiest to get to by plane that lands at Manyara airstrip, which is about an hour’s drive away. Right next door, the Serengeti National Park and the Crater Lodge work well together. The Crater Lodge is an important part of any high-end Tanzanian safari vacation and a great addition to a Tanzania honeymoon.

The Crater is famous for being a great place to see animals, especially the “Big 5” animals like lions, elephants, and buffalo. The Crater has some of the most amazing photo possibilities, from the lookout points around the edge to the amazing wildlife inside. Don’t forget to bring a camera with lots of batteries and memory cards!

These are the rooms at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.

Three camps are spread out in the lodge. Each camp has a very similar feel, and if you are living in one, you would not know that there are two other camps there. North, South, and Tree are the names of the camps. Tree Camp is lower down and closer to the edge, among the trees. However, the trees can sometimes block your view. There are big, fancy chandeliers, huge windows with great views, and open log fires in the main living area, which is kind of over the top.

The Bandas are private and spread out on the grass in front of the lodge. This lodge is very different from any other in north Tanzania because of its deep reds, chandeliers, and freestanding baths.

Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge: Things to Do

The main thing to do here is go on a 6-hour Ngorongo Safari drive through the crater to see animals. We only suggest staying here for a couple of nights because the only things you can do here are explore the Crater and visit nearby Masai villages.

The walk to the cultural village can happen in the morning or afternoon. The Crater isn’t as big as the Serengeti’s open plains, so one day is plenty of time to explore it.

After staying at Crater Lodge for a few nights, you have to go to the Serengeti. The Serengeti Under Canvas mobile migration camp from &Beyond is the nicest of the canvas camps in the National Park. As the wildebeest make their yearly journey, the camp moves with them. No matter if it is in the Northern Kogatende area or the Southern Ndutu Plains, you can be sure that it will have all the amenities you could want. This is what “glamping” is all about.

Besides Klein’s Camp, there are other camps in the Ngorongoro Area and the Serengeti that you might want to think about. Based in its own private concession on the eastern edge of the Serengeti, the lodge offers extra activities like night drives and off-road driving that let you get away from the crowds in the National Park and see wildlife in a more private setting.

At all times, there are lots of great deals to be had. Get in touch with one of our Tanzania experts to learn more about the best ways to combine deals and save money.