Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - Ngorongoro Crater

Regularly voted one of the best hotels in the world, this unique lodge clings to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the largest and most perfect volcanic crater on Earth. Long and low, the lodge is built from local river stone and camouflaged with indigenous vines. Designed to blend completely into the landscape, it is entirely invisible from the floor of the Crater 600 metres below.

Known as ‘the eighth wonder of the world' the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's best-known wildlife arenas. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a unique biosphere, which has remained virtually unchanged since the dawn of time. Deep within the Crater, enclosed by towering walls, some 25,000 large mammals wander the plains, lakes and forests of ‘the land that time forgot', dominated by enormous bull elephants, rhinos and lions.
Hugging the contours of the jagged Crater rim, the lodge takes its inspiration from the so-called ‘Cradle of Mankind', the prehistoric site of Olduvai Gorge, which lies close by. Linked by arched stone passages and timbered decks, its walls are decorated with stylized prehistoric cave paintings and lit by flaring torches. At the stone heart of the lodge burns a glowing fire, which is kept constantly alight. Decorated with cave paintings, the rooms are strung around the Crater rim. Each has its own rock- enclosed balcony, and all enjoy completely uninterrupted views of the volcanic amphitheatre far below.

What to do and see at the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

A stone-clad viewing hide, invisible from the crater floor, the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge stands on the rim of the immeasurably ancient Ngorongoro Crater, the largest perfect volcanic caldera in the world. A unique biosphere, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area shelters some 25,000 large mammals: dominated by bull elephants, rhinos and lions.

The choice of things to do and see at the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge includes:

• Game drives down into the crater
• Morning wildlife walks around the lodge and crater rim with the resident naturalist
• A full safari breakfast, cooked in the cool of an acacia grove on the Crater's floor
• An open-air ‘Crater Barbecue Lunch' by a hippo-filled pool on the Crater's floor
• Adventure hikes around the Ngorongoro Crater and the volcanoes of the nearby Crater Highlands
• Authentic displays of Maasai dance, song, performance and music
• A day trip to Olduvai Gorge, the ‘Cradle of Mankind', and site of one of the most important and controversial Palaeolithic finds in recent history
• A visit to neighbouring ‘Empakaai ‘, a 300m deep crater dominated by a flamingo-frosted soda lake
• Visits to a selection of authentic Maasai villages, all of which belong to the national Cultural Tourism Programme and allow unique visits to Maasai homesteads traditional cattle markets and women's handicraft groups
• Atmospheric ‘Sundowners', staged high on the Crater rim nightly

Getting there

The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, lies immediately adjacent to the Serengeti National Park and 180 kilometres from Arusha.
By road: transfers by road from Arusha take approximately 4 hours.
By air: there is an adjacent airstrip and a ‘meet and greet' and transfer service is offered.

Facilities

• 75 rock-built rooms with panoramic private balconies
• Rock built dining room and bar with central fire
• Extensive viewing terraces
• Game drives into the Crater daily
• Wedding planning and honeymoon venue
• Gift shop, business centre, WiFi
• Tented conference centre
• Extensive selection of sports and activities
• Cultural dance and music
• TV room with satellite TV.
wildlife and cultural talks, videos and film shows.