Where to stay when visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Our top picks for the best lodges and camps in the Ngorongoro and Karatu areas
Often talked about as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest of its kind in the world and protected within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It was one of the world’s first “multi-use areas” when it was created in 1959, with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing traditional livestock grazing alongside big-game wildlife.
Aside from being home to the “Big 5” (black rhinoceros, elephants, lions, leopards and Cape buffalo) and a staggering array of other wildlife species, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area also encompasses what’s been dubbed as the “Cradle of Mankind”. Olduvai Gorge is famously where one of the earliest known specimens of the human genus was discovered and it remains a popular destination for history buffs today.
Thanks to its popularity, the Ngorongoro area offers some of Tanzania’s best safari lodges and camps, each of which has been designed with a unique aesthetic and style. Whether you’re after colonial elegance or a farm-to-table experience, here are four of the top places to stay when visiting the Ngorongoro Crater for the best safari in Africa.
Gibb’s Farm is an award-winning safari lodge that’s one of the most well-known properties in the Ngorongoro Highlands. It’s situated around 45 minutes’ drive from the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, just off the main road that passes through the town of Karatu.
Once a family home, Gibb’s Farm feels like a sanctuary, with uniquely designed cottages nestled in gorgeous gardens and accompanied by stunning views. It’s surrounded by verdant farmlands and the property even produces much of its own produce, including vegetables, meat and coffee.
Each of the 17 guest cottages exudes a rustic charm, with handcrafted furnishings, eucalyptus floors and both indoor and outdoor showers. They’re individually themed and decorated with artwork that’s commissioned through the farm’s artist-in-residence program. You can soak up the views from your private verandah or settle in beside the fireplace with a good book.
Gibb’s Farm is often used as an overnight destination en route through the Ngorongoro Crater or returning from the Serengeti, with many of the activities centred around farm life. You can assist in the early morning bird count or help to harvest vegetables, then indulge in the ritual of afternoon tea.
The Gibb’s Farm African Spa offers a range of Maasai healing treatments in the privacy of your cottage or you can get out to interact with the community through tree planting, carpentry workshops or on a tour of Karatu. If you want to get active, you can join one of the farm’s naturalists on a guided walk to the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, with sweeping views across this breathtaking wilderness area.
Designed in a striking Cape Dutch architectural style, the Manor at Ngorongoro is nestled in lush gardens on the 1,500-acre Shangri-La coffee estate. It comprises just 10 luxurious cottages that fuse a colonial European aesthetic with warm East African hospitality, as well as featuring a magnificent main Manor House. It lies adjacent to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, making it an ideal base for exploring this exceptional wildlife destination during a private safari in Tanzania.
Each of the cottages features an en-suite bathroom with a hot tub and both indoor and outdoor fireplaces, as well as a sitting area where you can relax with a good book. The private decks offer sweeping views across the surrounding hills while maintaining an intimate feeling that it’s all yours.
Delicious African-inspired meals are served in the formal dining room or you can opt to dine in the privacy of your cottage, accompanied by fine wines from the manor’s own cellar. The property also boasts a sauna and steam room where guests can relax, as well as an extensive library and a snooker room.
Aside from game driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, The Manor at Ngorongoro can also organise picnic lunches in the middle of the crater and game drives through little-visited Lake Manyara National Park. Explore their coffee estate on horseback, followed by a luxury picnic, or indulge during a relaxing, deep tissue massage.
Recently awarded as the most unique property in the Ngorongoro area, The Highlands perches at 2,700 metres above sea level on the slopes of the Olmoti Volcano. It’s comprised of just eight modern dome suites that offer breathtaking views while being equipped with all the creature comforts you’d expect of a luxury safari in Tanzania.
The Highlands has raised the bar for low-impact/high-style camps, with the property’s canvas-and-glass domed suites inspired by the traditional Maasai bomas that dot the region. Each is furnished in a contemporary style and with interior fireplaces while being decorated with black-and-white Maasai photography.
Communal areas at The Highlands include a well-stocked library and a cosy bar, as well as numerous dining areas where you can feast on gourmet meals prepared using organic produce. It’s the combination of luxurious details and paired-back elegance that make this property really shine, creating a truly unique East African safari camp experience.
At just 45 minutes’ drive from the Ngorongoro Crater entrance, The Highlands is a convenient base for exploring this natural wonder or venturing into the remote highlands. Follow ancient Maasai trails to the summit of Olmoti on a guided trek or visit one of the local communities to gain an insight into their traditional way of life. The Highlands also offers exclusive excursions into the Empakaai Crater to view the pink flamingos that congregate on the shores of its soda lake.
Comprised of three separate and intimate camps, the &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is situated on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater and around 1.5 hours drive from the Lake Manyara airstrip. It offers incredible views from its 30 stilted suites, which are handcrafted from mud and thatch while being decorated with colonial antiques and African treasures.
You can enjoy the magnificent crater views through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows or soak in the chandelier-lit bathtubs at the end of a long day sightseeing. Personal butlers are all part of the experience, coming to stoke your fireplace or bring tea and coffee when you need it most.
Gourmet meals are served in the domed dining room that’s reminiscent of a Baroque chateau, with gilded mirrors and brocade sofas transporting you to another world. The lodge has often been referred to as where Versailles meets Maasai, with distinct European touches in a wholeheartedly East African setting.
Spend your days game driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area or embarking on guided walks through the lodge grounds, with trips to Olduvai Gorge and Shifting Sands also offered. You can join a walking safari into the Empakaai Crater where flamingos can be spotted, alongside black rhinos, hyenas and elephants.
While &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is undeniably romantic, children of all ages are also welcome as part of their WILDChild program Tanzania safari packages, with inter-leading suites in their family rooms.
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