&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Award winning lodge fit for a king and queen on the edge of the Crater
The spirit of &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Guests can be forgiven for losing track of which era, or even continent, they are experiencing at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Nowhere else on earth can you wake up among all the trappings of an elegant baroque chateau – brocade sofas, gilt mirrors, beaded chandeliers and panelled walls – and be instantly transported into one of the most famous African landscapes with just one glance out the window of the lodge. In this place of dramatic contrasts, where Versailles meets Maasai, anything is possible and the natural luxury of the breathtakingly beautiful setting ensures the dramatic interior of your suite blends perfectly with its stilted thatch architecture.
Why we love it
- Situated on the rim of the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater
- Spectacular Crater views from everywhere in the suites, including the bathroom
- Ornate architecture
- Rich wildlife experience on the Crater floor
- Experience Maasai and cattle living among the wildlife
- Fresh springs and large soda lake within the Crater
- Seasonal sightings of flamingo on the soda lake
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Care of the Land, Wildlife & People
Environmental sensitivity at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
The &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Green Team is striving to recreate pockets of indigenous forest and other highland vegetation around the lodge.
Environmental sensitivity at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
The &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Green Team is striving to recreate pockets of indigenous forest and other highland vegetation around the lodge.
New desks create a better learning environment
&Beyond and Africa Foundation recently supplied 40 new school desks to the Embarway Secondary School in the Embarway community near &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. There are over 800 learners currently …
New desks create a better learning environment
&Beyond and Africa Foundation recently supplied 40 new school desks to the Embarway Secondary School in the Embarway community near &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. There are over 800 learners currently attending this school, most coming from families that are unable to afford the $60 annual school fees. Resources at the school are severely limited, and the desk shortage meant that in some classes, 3 or 4 learners were sharing a desk designed for one student. The additional 40 desks have greatly improved the learning environment for these learners, and will certainly have a positive impact on their academic performance. A special thank you to everyone who has supported the Embarway Secondary School!
Conservation lessons in the Ngorongoro Crater
Working closely with the Africa Foundation, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge rangers take groups of Maasai children on game drives into the Crater. This exposes them to the wonder of nature, …
Conservation lessons in the Ngorongoro Crater
Working closely with the Africa Foundation, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge rangers take groups of Maasai children on game drives into the Crater. This exposes them to the wonder of nature, and is enhanced by lessons in environmental awareness and the value of ecotourism to local communities.
Understanding our impact
We show our commitment to “Care of the Land. Care of the Wildlife. Care of the People” by looking for ways to contribute and give more to wildlife spaces and …
Understanding our impact
We show our commitment to “Care of the Land. Care of the Wildlife. Care of the People” by looking for ways to contribute and give more to wildlife spaces and the communities that live adjacent to them. But we also believe that we can reduce our negative enviromental impact on the earth without compromising our guest experience.
We operate a high-yield, low-impact model by creating very small luxury lodges that can support enormous tracts of biodiverse land, which remains untouched and untrammeled. But, even though &Beyond ‘s footprint is very small (less than 450 bedrooms in total, which, in turn, support over 9 million acres of precious wildlife land), many of our lodges have a sustainability champion, who together with lodge managers, are custodians of our philosophy to “give more” and “take less”.
At every lodge and office we seek out small but meaningful ways of putting our values into action each day. We understand that delighting our guests is the most important thing we can do to sustain our business and thus sustain the wildlife areas we protect.
Over the years, &Beyond has introduced an environmental strategy to assess our lodges from a sustainability and conservation viewpoint. The lodges are annually subjected to an intensive sustainability audit to determine their environmental impact. This allows us to determine lodge-specified strategies to reduce that impact. Additionally, in order to understand and manage some of our impact, monthly measures are taken of the following eco-overheads:
- Water usage
- Electricity consumption
- Diesel and petrol consumption
- Gas and paraffin, charcoal usage (for illuminating and cooking)
- Firewood and charcoal
- Waste production and management
These statistics are collated and analysed in order to help identify problems, as well as to help lodges see how their innovations and savings have paid off. Efficiencies are identified and the lodges are set targets to improve and reduce their impact still further.
The champions and lodge managers look for new “take less “ ideas and, ways to reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions, recycling initiatives, conservation awareness drives, water efficiency, elimination of exotic plants, addressing erosion, re-greening and many more. They are the drivers who ensure that each department, behind the scenes, finds practical ways of reducing our impact and creating a better company in a better world.
Rates & Offers
Suite Rate
Suite Rate
Perched above cool, swirling mists on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, the sumptuous safari suites at&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge offer breath-taking views. Inspired in design by the Maasai mud and stick manyatta, or homestead,this is without doubt one of the most spectacular lodges in Africa.Three separate and intimate camps totalling just 30 suites are reminiscent of a bygone era. Steeped in romance, each stilted,handcrafted mud and thatch suite is adorned with graceful antiques, grand chandeliers and elegant African treasures. The bedroom, sitting room and ensuite bathroom boast floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the magnificent Crater below. Beaded chandeliers hang above large gilt mirrors, while antiques, billowing raw silk curtains and leather-backed chairs blend harmoniously with African art elements. Ensuite bathrooms with a dramatic centrepiece of red roses feature spacious showers and chandelier-lit bathtubs. Personal butler discretely cater for each guest’s every need, bringing tea in bed, stoking fireplaces and drawing luxurious bubble baths.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Family Suite Rate
Family Suite Rate
Perched above cool, swirling mists on the edge of the renowned Ngorongoro Crater, the sumptuous safari suites at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge offer breathtaking views. Inspired in design by the Maasai mud and stick manyatta, or homestead, this is without doubt one of the most spectacular lodges in Africa.
Families, or groups, will love the family suite at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Two suites are conveniently interlinked via a closed walkway, which allows access between the suites, while maintaining complete privacy. The bedrooms, sitting rooms and ensuite bathrooms of the suites boast floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the magnificent Crater below. The family suite can accommodate two adults and two children.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Fly me around East Africa
Explore the classical safari landscapes of East Africa and save up to USD3520 per stay
Fly me around East Africa Explore the classical safari landscapes of East Africa and save up to USD3520 per stay
Take advantage of…
Fly me around East Africa – discover the scenic highlights of East Africa for less. Book seven nights at any combination of &Beyond’s lodges in Kenya or Tanzania and all flights between camps are on us. Ultimate flexibility at a fixed price – you chose which of our East African properties you would like to include and we will fly you there.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Tanzania long stay offer
Stay longer for less
Tanzania long stay offer Stay longer for less
Take advantage of…
Savings up to 15% per person per night off our published rates with longer than 3 night stays at a combination of &Beyond’s East African lodges and camps.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Kenya long stay offer
Stay longer for Less
Kenya long stay offer Stay longer for Less
Save up to 15% per person per night off our published rates with longer than 3 night stays at a combination of &Beyond’s East African lodges and camps.
Ready to start planning your journey?
Our favourite lodge experiences
Frequently asked questions
What is the &Beyond WILDChild Programme?
WILDChild Program With its warm heart, welcoming people and sunny skies, Africa is a dream destination for a family holiday with children of all ages. A place where time slows …
What is the &Beyond WILDChild Programme?
WILDChild Program
With its warm heart, welcoming people and sunny skies, Africa is a dream destination for a family holiday with children of all ages.
A place where time slows down, it offers the luxury of a leisurely pace, ideal to reconnect and renew relationships among families, as well as grow friendships between the children and land, animals and people of Africa.
&Beyond’s WILDChild programme, designed especially for children visiting our safari lodges and camps in Africa, is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in the love for the African bush, it not only creates a series of unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds between our young guests, our planet and its people.
WILDChild Adventures
“Get your children traveling early. Expose them to the people, the food, the real culture of your destination.” – Joss Kent, &Beyond CEO
Expeditions may involve activities such as tracking and fishing, making traditional bows and arrows, beading, crafting and painting, as well as fun in the lodge garden or kitchen and more. At each of our African lodges, as young, sleepy heads take shelter in the comfort of their beds after a day full of thrills, they will find an assignment for the following day’s expedition laid out on their pillow, ready to fill their dreams with anticipation. Each expedition is carefully selected according to the interests and ages of the children and will be carried out in the care of our friendly staff, from rangers and trackers to child minders and cooks.
The children’s activities available at each of &Beyond’s lodges attempt to tie in with that particular environment, as well as the local heritage of the region. For example, at &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia youngsters may experience stargazing as well as Bushman games that teach them the culture of the region, including how to find food and water in the desert. Meanwhile, in Botswana’s Okavango Delta adventures may include fishing expeditions and making necklaces with the Delta’s beautiful water lilies.
WILDChild Memories
Each WILDChild adventure is made up of unforgettable moments to cherish forever and, to help keep memories of their safari fresh, each young traveller will receive a WILDChild backpack with a special scrapbook and other goodies at the &Beyond lodge where they begin their journey. Throughout the safari, the scrapbook is filled up with mementoes of special times in the bush, from notes and drawings to stickers.
At each subsequent lodge our young guests will receive a different educational or bush-oriented gift, as well as fresh expeditions to carry out, so that each stop adds to their collection and their experience continues to grow throughout their journey. Each &Beyond lodge has something different to offer, whether it is a solar torch, a magnifying glass or a compass. Specially sourced by &Beyond, all our gifts consists of quality products made of recycled or sustainable materials where possible and used to encourage interaction between the child and their ranger or guide, who helps them unravel the mysteries of the African bush and introduces them to local customs and traditions.
To add to each child’s experience, the Safari Shops at &Beyond’s participating lodges and camps also stock a range of WILDChild goodies, including scrapbook stickers and clothing. Through purchasing these mementoes, our young guests not only provide themselves with a tangible reminder of their African adventure but also contribute towards the Community Leaders Education Fund scholarship programme, which assists students from the communities bordering &Beyond’s conservation areas with funding for their tertiary education.
WILDChild in the Making
At the end of your extraordinary family adventure, along with treasured memories of time spent together, you will find your WILDChild has fallen irrevocably in love with the animals, people and landscapes of Africa, a true conservationist in the making.
Why visit the Ngorongoro Crater?
Once a gigantic volcano, the Ngorongoro Crater is now the largest intact caldera in the world. Some maintain that, before it erupted, it would have been higher than Mount Kilimanjaro, …
Why visit the Ngorongoro Crater?
Once a gigantic volcano, the Ngorongoro Crater is now the largest intact caldera in the world. Some maintain that, before it erupted, it would have been higher than Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Long since having collapsed and eroded, this three-million-year-old caldera now shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on earth.
The crater is also incredibly scenic, with towering euphorbia clinging to the crater walls, while fever and fig tree forests on the crater floor provide shade for an incredible array of wildlife. Lean Maasai, resplendent in their beads and furled in scarlet shuka robes, tend their herds on the crater floor. A burbling spring and a large soda lake quench the thirst of the crater’s inhabitants. Black rhino are protected within the crater rim, giant tusked elephant wander the forests, black-maned lion stalk the grasslands and flamingos crowd the soda lakes.
An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl of plenty, including a large population of lion. Cheetah move in and out of the crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the spectacular Lerai Forest. Among the smaller carnivores, both golden and black-backed jackal are abundant, while the normally shy and nocturnal serval are frequently seen during daylight hours. Vast numbers of buffalo, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle can be seen grazing the crater floor.
Why Visit?
- The world’s only intact caldera – 610 metres (2 000 feet) deep and covers 260 square kilometers (100 square miles)
- The rim of the crater is at an altitude of 2 400m (7 900 feet)
- Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO world heritage site
- Wildlife haven, with a very high game concentration on the Crater floor
- Breathtaking views
- Fresh springs and large soda lake within the Crater
- See Maasai herdsmen graze their cattle side by side with predators and prey
- The Lerai Forest is one of the best places in Africa for leopard sightings
Endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, giant tusked elephants wander the forests, black-maned lions stalk the grasslands, and flamingos crowd the soda lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl of plenty, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, 16 highly endangered black rhino and around 70 lions.
Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the spectacular Lerai Forest.
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, consistently recognised as one of the world’s most luxurious and elegant places to stay, sits right on the edge of the Crater, offering unbeatable views of one of the natural travel wonders of the world.
It boasts some of the best rhino sightings in East Africa, as well as large numbers of lion and hyena, which compete for a share of the abundant zebra, wildebeest and antelope populations, all set against the backdrop of its craggy walls and illuminated by the golden light of the African sun. The Ngorongoro is one of the quintessential experiences for any safari traveller. Entire days can fly by as you roam the wide plains on the crater floor and there is no better place than the Crater rim to sit and contemplate the majestic views as the sun begins to set.
Climate
Summer (September – April)
20°C/68°F Max: 30°C/86°F
Winter (May – August)
Min: 19°C/66°F Max: 25°C/77°F
Long rains: April to May (Monsoon)
Short rains: November to mid-December
Tanzania – what should I pack?
With only 13.5lbs (20kgs) to spare you may need assistance with your packing list
Tanzania – what should I pack? With only 13.5lbs (20kgs) to spare you may need assistance with your packing list
With only 13.5lbs (20kgs) to spare you may need assistance with your packing list
Casual, comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. Due to the high altitude on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater it can be cold at night (even in summer) therefore it is very important to pack warm clothing for the nights. The most practical items to pack are:
- Khaki, brown, white and beige colours
- Light cotton tops and cotton trousers/shorts in summer
- Long sleeved blouses/shirts for game drives Safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
- A fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for game drives (and at the Ngorongoro Crater)
- Swimwear is a must for the beach A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Thermal underwear, light layers, sweater, warm jacket, good socks and sturdy, comfortable walking boots for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Depending on your journey it may be easier to reference our useful Packing checklist.
How do I get to &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge?
A number of airlines operate twice daily scheduled flights from Arusha airport to Lake Manyara Airstrip ❷. The lodge collects guests from the airstrip in closed game viewing vehicles, with …
How do I get to &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge?
A number of airlines operate twice daily scheduled flights from Arusha airport to Lake Manyara Airstrip ❷.
The lodge collects guests from the airstrip in closed game viewing vehicles, with the drive to the lodge ❶ taking approximately 1½ hours.
How do I get to and around Tanzania?
Tanzania has several airports, although the most common access points are Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam) on the coast and Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north-east of the …
How do I get to and around Tanzania? The gateway to Tanzania is Dar es Salaam. Limited international scheduled flights also fly directly to Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania has several airports, although the most common access points are Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam) on the coast and Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north-east of the country or connections are available from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (Nairobi, Kenya).
Guests heading out on safari can fly into either destination and link up with scheduled light aircraft flights to airstrips in the wilderness areas. A typical route would be to arrive at Kilimanjaro, where your safari operator would be waiting to drive you to Arusha, where you would spend the night. Early the next morning, you could catch any of a number of flights that depart from Arusha heading out onto the safari circuit. In the south, guests arriving in Dar es Salaam can connect to light aircraft flights to Arusha or into the southern parks of Selous or Ruaha, depending on their arrival time. If you are travelling to the remote western parks, flights depart only twice a week and take up to five hours to reach their destination.
Flights
SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
The gateways to Tanzania are Dar es Salaam and Nairobi in Kenya. (Limited international scheduled flights also fly directly to Kilimanjaro.) Daily scheduled domestic flights link these gateways with Tanzania’s wildlife areas.
SHUTTLE/CHARTER FLIGHTS
Daily flights link the international airports with Tanzania‘s wildlife areas via Arusha Airport using a reliable network of light aircraft flights sold on a scheduled seat in plane or private charter basis. Please note the luggage limit on these aircrafts is 15 kg (33 lb), packed in soft bags.
Transfers
SELF-DRIVE
Self-drive is not recommended in Tanzania as it is a vast country with varying road conditions, and 4×4 transport is required for most areas.
GUIDED DRIVING SAFARIS
We have a fleet of vehicles and can tailor-make itineraries throughout the country.
TRAVEL TIMES
When travelling through Tanzania it is useful to have the correct expectation as to how distance and time relate. Please reference our guidelines below when calculating how far you can travel in a given amount of time.
What to remember when travelling around Tanzania
Tanzania is a vast country and the distances between attractions can be considerable. It is therefore advisable that you consult a tour operator to help you organise flights and transfers. Keep in mind that some of the attractions, like the Selous Game Reserve and the Ruaha National Park, are quite remote locations and you will need to arrange air transport if you wish to visit them.
Road conditions are variable, there are long distances to be covered and 4×4 transport is required for most areas. This method of travel is not recommended in Tanzania. If you decide to travel by road, be prepared for a long, dusty and potentially exhausting trip.
How do I find the Great Migration?
The Great Migration traditionally follows the rain as animals migrate towards better pastures…
How do I find the Great Migration? The Great Migration traditionally follows the rain as animals migrate towards better pastures
The Great Migration traditionally follows the rain as animals migrate towards better pastures…
The annual movement of wildebeest and other herbivores across the Serengeti– Mara ecosystem consists of more than 1.5 million wildebeest, 400 000 zebra, 18 000 eland and 200 000 Thompson’s gazelle. The Migration is rarely the same in terms of precise timing and direction.
JANUARY – MARCH
The animals gather on the southern Serengeti plains, dropping their calves. The plains are a short drive from &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas.
APRIL – MAY
The herds move north, towards the central Serengeti plains and the Seronera area. The &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas camps follow.
JUNE
The herds move northwest, towards &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp. The luxury tented camps of &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas re-position themselves.
JULY – OCTOBER
The herds start heading northeast, followed by the &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas camps. The wildebeest must cross the Mara River before they reach Kenya’s Masai Mara, to the west of &Beyond Klein’s Camp. As the animals continue to move backwards and forwards across the river, the excitement can also be viewed from &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp and &Beyond Bateleur Camp.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
Crossing back into the Serengeti, the Migration moves south, passing &Beyond’s Klein’s Camp and Serengeti Under Canvas.
The wildebeest migration follows the year’s annual rainfall so its appearance in Tanzania and Kenya is weather dependent. Our travel experts are updated weekly by our guides in the field who closely monitor the location of the wildebeest migration throughout the year. This enables us to advise you on the best destination to visit during your particular time of travel.
When should I visit Tanzania?
While it is best known for its exceptional wildlife experiences, Tanzania has a great deal to offer travellers. Home to the endless plains of the Serengeti, as well as a …
When should I visit Tanzania? Tanzania is a year round travel destination where each season has its own reason to visit
While it is best known for its exceptional wildlife experiences, Tanzania has a great deal to offer travellers. Home to the endless plains of the Serengeti, as well as a selection of extraordinarily picturesque wildlife areas, the country is one of Africa’s most well-known safari destinations. It is also home to the continent’s highest mountain, the spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro, which offers a relatively easy ascent and is popular with climbers. The country is also one of the few places in the world where chimpanzees can be seen in the wild. Boasting a golden coastline washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is also an outstanding beach destination.
With a well-developed tourism industry and a number of attractive destinations, it is easy for our Tanzania tour packages to cater for one or more of these interests.
Your reason to come may depend on your need to escape the cold, your desire to experience turtles hatching or your quest to receive the best value for money.
Journeys to inspire
What other people say about us
2015 – The UK Daily Telegraph
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge featured in The UK Daily Telegraph – The 50 Best Honeymoon Hotels
2015 – The UK Daily Telegraph
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge featured in The UK Daily Telegraph – The 50 Best Honeymoon Hotels
2016 – Havering Resident Magazine
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge featured in Havering Resident Magazine
2016 – Havering Resident Magazine
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge featured in Havering Resident Magazine
2015 – FT How to spend it
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge featured in FT – How to spent it
2015 – FT How to spend it
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge featured in FT – How to spent it
Gogobot
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is featured at #3 in Gogobot’s Top 100 Hotels of 2011
Twende
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is named Best Lodge in Tanzania at Twende’s Quest for the Best Awards 2009
Travel News East Africa
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is named Best Lodge in Tanzania at the Travel News East Africa Quest for the Best Travel and Tourism Awards 2006
Condé Nast Traveler
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is featured at #36 in the Top 50 in Africa at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2009
Travel + Leisure
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is featured at #2 in Travel + Leisure Top 500 Hotels in the World (Africa & Middle East) 2004
Condé Nast Traveler
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is featured at #27 in the 100 Best Top Africa Resorts at the Condé Nast Traveler World Readers’ Choice Awards 2009
Travel + Leisure
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is #1 in Tanzania in Travel + Leisure World’s 500 Best Hotels 2005
Travel + Leisure
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is among the Top 10 Lodges and Resorts (Africa & Middle East) at the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2013
Resorts
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is featured at #4 in Resorts magazine’s Top 10 Lodges 2015