Ngorongoro Crater · Safari Lodge
Lion's Paw by Karibu Camps
Tented camp on the eastern rim of Ngorongoro Crater, fifteen minutes from the floor and well ahead of the morning crowds.
About
Lion's Paw sits in an acacia forest on the eastern rim of Ngorongoro Crater, a position that puts the world's largest intact caldera at your doorstep. The morning descent to the crater floor takes ten to fifteen minutes, long before the convoys of vehicles arriving from Karatu and Arusha, which means you reach the lion prides, the elephants in Lerai forest, and the alkaline shore of Lake Magadi while the light is still soft and the wildlife is most active.
The crater itself is the headline. Two thousand vertical metres deep, twenty kilometres across, and home to one of Africa's highest concentrations of wildlife in a single basin. Resident black rhino, the densest remaining population in Tanzania, keep to the swampy southwest. Lions hunt in the Lerai forest and along the Munge stream. Elephants with the largest tusks in East Africa graze the open grasslands. A single day on the floor will deliver the full Big Five for most guests.
The camp runs ten en-suite tents under canvas, plus a Forest Suite tucked further back into the acacias and a Family Suite for parties of four. Each tent has hardwood floors, a private deck, and a hot water bathroom. The dining tent and lounge centre around a fireplace that runs every evening once the rim cools. Meals are full board with three courses; house beverages are included. Service is unfussy and warm.
Lion's Paw is best for first-time safari guests who want the maximum density of wildlife sightings in the shortest time, family groups using the Family Suite for older children, and photographers who want to be on the crater floor at dawn. The rim altitude of 2,300 metres and the acacia setting also make it a different sensory experience from camps on the open plains: colder evenings, mist in the morning, the call of crater hyenas at night.
Access is straightforward: a three-hour drive from Arusha via Karatu, or a forty-five minute flight to Lake Manyara airstrip followed by a two-hour drive to the rim.
Gallery
Signature experiences
Dawn descent to the crater floor
Lion's Paw's rim position means you reach the crater floor in 15 minutes, well ahead of the vehicle convoys from Karatu. Catch the lions on the move and the elephants in Lerai forest while the light is at its softest.
Maasai Heritage walk
A guided visit to a Maasai boma on the conservation area's edge, with traditional dress and a frank conversation about pastoralist life inside the NCA. Educational rather than performative.
Hot meals on the crater floor
A bush picnic arranged through NCAA on the crater floor, mid-game-drive. Hot lunch in a designated picnic site rather than packed sandwiches. Minimum six guests, booked separately.
Honeymoon enhancement
Sparkling welcome, turn-down service with fresh flowers, and a small honeymoon gift curated by the camp. Available as an add-on for couples.
Amenities
- All-Inclusive Package
- Premium Beverages
- Laundry Service
- Crater Views
- Acacia Forest Setting
Best for
- First-Time Safari
- Big Five Sightings
- Photography
- Family
- Honeymoon
Wildlife you might see
- One Of Africa's Highest Wildlife Densities, Full Big Five Commonly Seen In A Single Day
- Densest Remaining Black Rhino Population In Tanzania (southwest Swamps)
- Crater-resident Lion Prides With Year-round Visibility
- Tuskers: Some Of East Africa's Largest Elephants Graze The Floor
- Flamingo Flocks On Lake Magadi
Best time to visit
May
Location & access
Ngorongoro Crater
Fly-in: Approximately 3 hours total: 1hr JRO to Arusha Airport (ARK) by road transfer, then a 45-minute Cessna flight from ARK to Lake Manyara airstrip, then a 1hr 15min drive up to the crater rim. Karibu meets guests at Manyara with a private 4x4.
Drive: Approximately 4.5 hours total: 1hr Kilimanjaro International (JRO) to Arusha, then 2hr Arusha to Karatu, then 1.5hr Karatu up to the Ngorongoro rim and around to the camp.
Room types
Single Tent
Solo en-suite tent with hardwood floors and a private deck overlooking the acacia canopy.
Double Tent
Twin or king-bed en-suite tent under canvas, with a hot water bathroom and a small private deck.
Triple Tent
Three-bed en-suite tent for parties of three sharing, with the same canvas-and-deck character as the doubles.
Forest Suite
A more secluded suite tucked further into the acacias, with a larger lounge area and additional privacy.
Family Suite
Family configuration for four, two adults plus two children, with interconnecting rooms and a shared lounge.
What's included
Included
- Full Board (3 Meals Daily)
- House Drinks (tea, Coffee, Water, Juices, Soft Drinks)
- Daily Laundry
- TDL (Tanzania Development Levy)
Not included
- Park Fees
- Concession Fees
- Game-drive Vehicle And Driver-guide
- Premium Drinks
- Flying Doctors / Medical Evacuation
- Travel Insurance
- Bush Flights
- Tips And Gratuities
- Items Of A Personal Nature
Reviews
Frequently asked
How many rooms does Lion's Paw have?
Eleven en-suite tents in total: a single, several doubles and triples, a Forest Suite, and a Family Suite that sleeps four. Maximum capacity around 25 guests.
When is the lodge open?
Year-round. The Ngorongoro Crater itself stays open every day of the year, and Lion's Paw operates without seasonal closure.
How do guests reach Lion's Paw?
Either a 4.5-hour drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport via Karatu, or a 45-minute flight from Arusha Airport to Lake Manyara airstrip followed by a 1hr 15min drive to the rim.
Are families with children welcome?
Yes. The Family Suite is built for four guests, and children aged 5 and up are charged at 50% of the adult rate. Children under 5 stay free when sharing with a parent.
What's included in the rate?
Full board (three meals daily), house beverages (water, soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee), daily laundry, and TDL. Excluded: park fees, concession fees, premium drinks, the game-drive vehicle and driver-guide, flying-doctors cover, tips, and personal items.
What is the best time to visit the crater?
The crater holds wildlife year-round; there is no off-season. June through October offers drier conditions and cooler weather on the rim. The short rains in November and the long rains in April can make rim mornings misty but bring green grass to the floor.
What's nearby
- Olduvai Gorge1hr drive from the rim. The paleontological site where the Leakeys uncovered some of the earliest human fossils. Small museum and a guided viewing of the gorge itself.
- Lake Eyasi2hr drive south. Hadzabe hunter-gatherer community visits and Datoga blacksmith demonstrations on the lake's southern shore.
- Karatu coffee farms30min drive from the rim. Working coffee farms with tours, tastings, and sunset views over the highlands.
- Lake Manyara National Park1hr drive. Tree-climbing lions, large baboon troops, and an alkaline lake fringed with thousands of flamingos. Often combined as a one-night extension.
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