&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (formerly Ngorongoro Crater Lodge) is Tanzania's most opulent and deluxe lodge, perched directly on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater UNESCO World Heritage Site with absolutely spectacular, unbeatable views over one of nature's greatest wonders. The lodge is currently closed for an extensive rebuild that will redefine luxury and is scheduled to reopen in 2027 with an elevated experience blending breathtaking design with the crater's natural splendour.
Rooms
The property consists of three separate camps with 30 suites total: North Camp (12 suites), South Camp (12 suites), and Tree Camp (6 suites) that sits closer to the crater rim surrounded by woodland. North and South camps are identical, while Tree Camp has a more intimate woodland setting. Each suite occupies a timber, stone, and thatch structure resembling a Maasai homestead (manyatta), built on stilts with banana leaf ceilings and grass roofs to fully embrace panoramic views.
Facilities
The interiors are famously described as "Maasai meets Versailles" – a unique medley combining Victorian elegance with African treasures: paneled walls, roaring fires, chandeliers, brocade sofas, gilt mirrors, beaded chandeliers, Persian rugs, antique tables, and leather armchairs. Each suite features large central Maasai-made chandeliers, king-size velvet beds under elaborate headboards, raw silk curtains, floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the crater, and bathrooms with both baths and showers plus outside verandas with stunning views.
Services
Each of the three camps has its own dining room and sitting/lounge area with sumptuous velvet sofas, roaring fires, rich rugs, antique tables laden with sherry decanters, crystal, bronze statues, and old books. The dining rooms sparkle with starched white tablecloths, gleaming silverware, and three-course menus. Personal butlers discreetly cater to every guest need, bringing tea in bed, stoking fireplaces, and drawing luxurious bubble baths for that super-luxurious experience.
About
The lodge offers daily game drives into the crater to spot incredible wildlife including the Big Five, with approximately 25,000-30,000 large mammals resident in the ancient caldera (nearly 3 million years old), including 6,000 wildebeest and around 70 lions. At night, zebra often graze up to the lodge, and guests are surrounded by wildlife from sunrise to sunset, though caution is advised around buffalo that sometimes graze around the lodge.
Destination
Tanzania Safaris
Style
Lodge
