Lodges & partnersNgorongoro Crater
Eight domed suites in the forest on the slopes of Olmoti Crater, each with its own wood stove, an hour from the Ngorongoro Crater and a walk from Empakaai.
From $625 per person per night
About
The Highlands sits on the forested slopes of Olmoti Crater in the northern highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, well away from the busy southern rim where most crater lodges cluster. Asilia describes it as the highest camp in the region, and the position shows: from the decks you look out over rolling green hills, Maasai grazing land and swampy valleys to distant volcanic mountains. It is about an hour's drive to the Ngorongoro Crater itself, roughly two hours from the Loduare entrance gate, three hours by road from Lake Manyara airstrip and about five hours from Arusha.
The camp is eight domed suites built of canvas and clear perspex panels, raised on timber decks among the trees. Each has a wood burning stove, which you will be glad of because nights at this altitude are properly cold, and an en suite bathroom with hot running water, a shower and a flush toilet. There is an interconnected family suite, where a smaller room for children connects to the main suite, and a honeymoon suite with its own outdoor hot tub. The main lounge is a larger dome with sunken seating around a central fire, there is a canvas lounge with a stove and a deck, and breakfast is often served outside on the deck looking over the forest. A small spa with a sauna, wifi and a limited laundry service round it off. Power is from solar with a generator.
The reason to come is the combination of the crater and the highlands around it. Days in the crater floor bring lion, elephant, buffalo, zebra, hartebeest, hyena and, with luck, black rhino, and Asilia's guides usually take a picnic lunch down with them. Closer to camp, the hike up Olmoti is included, as is the walk down into Empakaai Crater to a soda lake that draws thousands of flamingos; both are for guests aged 12 and over, and Asilia suggests a three night stay to fit Empakaai in comfortably. A visit to a neighbouring Maasai village can be added.
Be honest with yourself about the trade. The camp's privacy comes with distance: the crater is an hour each way on rough highland roads, and arrivals and departures through Lake Manyara airstrip must fall between 10:00 and 15:00 because of the three hour drive. It is cold after dark, so pack a warm jacket and a hat. In return you get a camp of eight suites with real character, the hikes almost no one else does, and the crater at the start of your day rather than the whole of it.
Signature experiences
A guided walk down the forested wall of Empakaai Crater to the edge of its soda lake, where flamingos gather in their thousands. Included for guests aged 12 and over, and the reason Asilia suggests three nights.
Leave early for the hour's drive to the Ngorongoro Crater and spend the day on the floor with a picnic lunch, looking for lion, elephant and black rhino among the herds.
The hike to the rim of Olmoti Crater starts close to camp and opens up views across the highlands. Included for guests aged 12 and over.
The highland nights are cold, so the evenings revolve around fire: the central hearth in the lounge dome before dinner, and the wood stove in your suite afterwards.
Gallery
Room types
A domed suite of canvas and perspex taken by one guest, raised in the forest on the slopes of Olmoti Crater. Wood burning stove, a wall of clear panels onto the view, and an en suite bathroom with hot running water, a shower and a flush toilet. On the Game Package rate, scheduled shared game drives in open vehicles and the stated airstrip transfers are included.
A domed suite with a large double bed, a wood burning stove for the cold highland nights and clear panels onto the forest and hills. En suite bathroom with hot running water, a shower and a flush toilet. The honeymoon suite adds an outdoor hot tub. On the Game Package rate, scheduled shared game drives in open vehicles and the stated airstrip transfers are included.
The same domed suite set with two beds, with a wood burning stove, clear panels onto the view and an en suite bathroom with hot running water, a shower and a flush toilet. The interconnected family suite, with a smaller room for children, is available on request. On the Game Package rate, scheduled shared game drives in open vehicles and the stated airstrip transfers are included.
A domed suite of canvas and perspex taken by one guest, raised in the forest on the slopes of Olmoti Crater. Wood burning stove, a wall of clear panels onto the view, and an en suite bathroom with hot running water, a shower and a flush toilet. On the Full Board rate, meals and soft drinks are included; game drives and transfers are arranged separately.
A domed suite with a large double bed, a wood burning stove for the cold highland nights and clear panels onto the forest and hills. En suite bathroom with hot running water, a shower and a flush toilet. The honeymoon suite adds an outdoor hot tub. On the Full Board rate, meals and soft drinks are included; game drives and transfers are arranged separately.
The same domed suite set with two beds, with a wood burning stove, clear panels onto the view and an en suite bathroom with hot running water, a shower and a flush toilet. The interconnected family suite, with a smaller room for children, is available on request. On the Full Board rate, meals and soft drinks are included; game drives and transfers are arranged separately.
At a glance
Best time to visit
Best months: January to February and June to October.
Location & access
Ngorongoro Crater
Lake Manyara airstrip is the nearest, about three hours by road from camp, and the Game Package includes that transfer. Book flights that land and leave Lake Manyara between 10:00 and 15:00, because of the drive. From Kilimanjaro International Airport allow about an hour by road to Arusha Airport for the light aircraft hop to Lake Manyara.
About six hours. From Kilimanjaro International Airport the road runs west to Arusha, then on tarmac through Makuyuni, Mto wa Mbu and Karatu to the Loduare gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From the gate it is about two hours on highland roads around the crater rim and north to the slopes of Olmoti Crater, where the camp sits in forest.
On the map
2.964° S, 35.662° E
What's included
Frequently asked
On the forested slopes of Olmoti Crater in the northern highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Crater is about an hour's drive away and the Loduare entrance gate about two hours.
The nearest airstrip is Lake Manyara, about three hours by road from camp, and the Game Package includes that transfer. Because of the distance, flights into and out of Lake Manyara should arrive and depart between 10:00 and 15:00. By road the camp is about five hours from Arusha.
The camp is open all year. Asilia rates June to October as the peak, with dry weather and animals gathering at water, though the crater can feel busy. January and February are drier and quieter, and the long rains from mid March to May bring green landscapes, wildflowers and fewer vehicles.
Every rate includes full board, soft drinks, the Olmoti and Empakaai crater hikes for guests aged 12 and over, a limited laundry service and the Tourism Development Levy. The Game Package adds scheduled shared game drives and transfers to and from Lake Manyara airstrip; Full Board has neither. Park and concession fees, the Asilia conservation charge of USD 10 per person per night and the crater descent fee are paid on top.
On the Game Package it is USD 70 per person, with a minimum of two people, including VAT. On Full Board, where you bring your own vehicle, it is USD 295 per vehicle including VAT. We show it as its own line so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Children aged 5 to 18 pay 50% of the adult sharing rate, and from 19 they pay the adult rate. Children under 5 are only accepted if the camp is booked exclusively with Asilia's approval, and children under 12 must share a suite with an adult. In high season, families of fewer than five with children aged 5 to 12 must book a private vehicle in advance at the normal rate of USD 500 per day in 2026/27 or USD 600 per day in 2027/28, minimum two days; in Secret and Green season it is free, subject to availability.
Yes. The family suite has a smaller interconnected room for children alongside the main suite, so parents and children can be together without sharing one space. It is the only one, so book early.
It is cold. Asilia's own figures give lows around 8 to 14 degrees Celsius depending on the season, and early mornings and evenings feel colder at this altitude. Each suite has a wood burning stove, and a warm jacket and hat are worth packing.
There is wifi. The camp runs on solar power backed up by a generator, and every suite has hot running water.
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons to stay. The Olmoti Crater hike and the walk down to the soda lake in Empakaai Crater are included for guests aged 12 and over, and Asilia recommends three nights if you want to do Empakaai.
Light aircraft into Lake Manyara carry a baggage limit of 15 kg per person in soft bags. The camp is remote, so flying doctors or medical evacuation insurance is strongly advised and is not included in the rate.
What's nearby
About an hour's drive. A collapsed volcano with lion, elephant, buffalo, zebra, hyena and a chance of black rhino on the crater floor, usually done as a full day with a picnic lunch.
Right above camp. A guided hike to the rim for views over the highlands, included in the rate for guests aged 12 and over.
A walk down the crater wall to a soda lake that draws thousands of flamingos. Included for guests aged 12 and over; allow a three night stay.
A visit to a neighbouring Maasai community with an Asilia guide, USD 30 per person.
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