Ngorongoro Crater · Safari Lodge
Ngorongoro Lodge by Melia
A luxury lodge on the southern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, with thirteen room and suite categories from intimate doubles to a four bedroom House for full buyouts.
About
Ngorongoro Lodge, a Member of Meliá Collection, sits on the southern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater with thirteen room and suite categories carved into the slope. Every category has direct rim views, and the categories scale up from intimate doubles through Crater Suites with terraces, multi bedroom Royal Suites, and a full Ngorongoro House for private buyouts.
The setting is unusual. Most Crater rim lodges sit on the western or northern arc; this one is on the south, which puts you on the right side of the rim for early descent down the Lemala access route into the floor before the day vehicles arrive. The morning quiet on the floor is the single most underrated experience in a Crater stay, and southern rim positioning gets you there faster.
The lodge runs on full board with house beverages included and a dedicated Crater descent vehicle fleet. The room categories are designed for very different parties. The Rim Room and Family Room work for couples and small families. Enkaji Junior Suite, Executive Suite, Crater Suite with Terrace, Presidential Suite with Terrace, and Royal Suite each step up in size, privacy, and finish. The Two Bedroom Presidential and Two Bedroom Royal Suites handle families of five. The Ngorongoro Suite, Four Bedroom Ngorongoro Suite, and Ngorongoro House serve large extended families or full lodge buyouts up to nine guests in one connected layout.
Suited to honeymooners who want a Crater rim view from a private terrace, families who need a suite layout, photographers prioritising early Crater descent, and large parties looking for a buyout option. The Crater is one of the most consistent Big Five sites in Tanzania and the lodge is positioned to maximise time on the floor versus time on the rim road.
Access is by light aircraft to Manyara airstrip (around 2 hours total from Kilimanjaro) plus a 1.5 hour transfer up to the rim. Road from Arusha takes around 6 hours.
Signature experiences
Early Crater descent game drives
Southern rim positioning means a faster descent route to the Crater floor in the morning. Lion, rhino, hippo, flamingo on Lake Magadi, and the resident elephant bulls are all within easy reach.
Private Crater Suite terraces
Crater Suite with Terrace and Presidential Suite with Terrace include private outdoor terraces with direct rim views. Best used at sunrise and sunset when the floor lights up.
Multi bedroom suite stays for extended families
Two Bedroom Royal, Four Bedroom Ngorongoro Suite, and Ngorongoro House handle parties of five to nine in one connected layout with a shared lounge.
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Lounge
- Bar
- WiFi
- Daily Housekeeping
- 24 Hour Electricity
- Private Bathrooms
- Crater Rim Views
- Spa Available
- Multiple Suite Categories
- Family Connecting Rooms Available
Best for
- Honeymoon
- Family
- Photography
- Suite Stays
- Extended Family
- Buyouts
- First Time Safari
Wildlife you might see
- Big Five Regularly Sighted On The Crater Floor Year Round
- Critically Endangered Black Rhino — One Of The Few Reliable Sightings In Tanzania
- Large Lion Prides Resident On The Crater Floor
- Flamingo On Lake Magadi Seasonally
- Hippo Pools At Ngoitokitok In The Southern Crater Floor
Best time to visit
May
Location & access
Ngorongoro Crater
Fly-in: Roughly 3.5 hours total. 45 minute road transfer Kilimanjaro to Arusha airport, then a 50 minute scheduled flight to Lake Manyara airstrip, then 1.5 to 2 hours road transfer up to the Crater rim.
Drive: Approximately 6 hours total. 1 hour Kilimanjaro to Arusha, then 3 hours Arusha to Karatu, then 2 hours up to the Crater rim and the southern arc to the lodge.
Room types
The Rim Room — Single Room
Crater rim view room for solo travellers with full board and house beverages.
The Rim Room — Double Room
Crater rim view room for couples with full board and house beverages.
Interconnected The Rim Room
Two interconnecting Rim Rooms for families or small groups. Min 3 pax, max 4.
Family Room
Family room with rate calculated for 3 pax. Minimum and maximum occupancy is 3.
Enkaji Junior Suite
Junior suite with separate lounge area. Up to 4 adults or 2A+2C.
Executive Suite
Executive suite with elevated finishes. Up to 3 pax with reductions on the 3rd adult.
Crater Suite with Terrace
Crater Suite with a private terrace overlooking the rim. Up to 3 pax.
Presidential Suite with Terrace
Presidential Suite with terrace and elevated views. Up to 3 pax.
2 Bedroom Presidential Suite with Terrace
Two bedroom Presidential Suite for families or small groups. Up to 5 pax.
Royal Suite
Royal Suite. Up to 3 pax with reductions on the 3rd adult.
2 Bedroom Royal Suite
Two bedroom Royal Suite for families or extended parties. Up to 5 pax.
Ngorongoro Suite
Multi room Ngorongoro Suite for larger groups. Up to 7 pax.
4 Bedroom Ngorongoro Suite
Four bedroom Ngorongoro Suite for large families or buyouts. Up to 9 pax.
Ngorongoro House
Standalone Ngorongoro House for private buyouts. Up to 7 pax.
What's included
Included
- Full Board (breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- House Beverages (selected Non Alcoholic Options Included With Meals)
- Daily Housekeeping
- In Room Amenities And Toiletries
- 18% VAT
- 5% Service Charge
Not included
- Park Entry Fees (collected On Arrival)
- NCAA Concession Fees (collected On Arrival)
- TDL — 1% Tourism Development Levy On Room Rate (collected On Arrival)
- Vehicle Crater Descent Fee
- Game Drive Vehicle Hire
- Transfers And Flights
- Tips And Gratuities
- Travel Insurance
- Premium Beverages
- Easter Supplement (charged When Stay Covers Easter Window)
- Christmas And New Year Supplements (charged When Stay Covers Festive Windows)
Reviews
Frequently asked
How many rooms does Ngorongoro Lodge have?
The lodge offers thirteen room and suite categories spanning from a single Rim Room to a four bedroom Ngorongoro Suite and a standalone Ngorongoro House for private buyouts.
When is the lodge open?
Year round. Three pricing seasons run across the calendar: Peak (July to September, late December to early January), High (January to February, June, October), and Shoulder (March to May, November to mid December).
How do guests reach the lodge?
By light aircraft to Lake Manyara airstrip (around 50 minutes from Arusha) plus a 1.5 to 2 hour transfer up to the Crater rim. Road from Arusha takes around 6 hours via Karatu.
Are families with children welcome?
Yes. Children under 4 stay free. Children 4 to 11.99 sharing with 2 adults pay 50 percent of the adult rate. Children 12 and over pay the adult rate. The Family Room, Two Bedroom Suites, and Ngorongoro House are built for families.
What is included in the rate?
Full board dining, house beverages (selected non alcoholic options) with meals, daily housekeeping, 18 percent VAT, and 5 percent service charge. NCAA fees, concession, TDL, transfers, game drive vehicle hire, and premium beverages are not included.
Are there festive supplements?
Yes. A $30 per person per night Easter supplement applies over the Easter window. A $40 per person per night Christmas and New Year supplement applies on 24, 25, 26 December and 31 December plus 1 January. These are charged when a stay covers the dated windows.
What is the best time to visit?
Year round. The Crater is one of the most consistent Big Five sites in Tanzania regardless of season. Dry months (Jun to Oct) and post-rain green season (Feb to Mar) are particularly good.
What's nearby
- Ngorongoro Crater descentThe lodge sits on the southern rim. Descent to the Crater floor is via the Lemala access route, around 30 minutes from the lodge.
- Olduvai Gorge1 hour drive north. Paleontological site where the Leakeys uncovered some of the earliest human fossils. Includes Maasai cultural visits.
- Empakaai and Olmoti CratersHalf day extensions for guided crater rim walks; subject to NCAA permit availability.
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