Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
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Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

THE LODGE

 

Tanzania’s prehistoric Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, has yawned heavenward for millennia. Deep within its immense walls is a breath-taking blue-green landscape dotted with plains, lakes and forests; an eerie, otherworldly “land that time forgot” thick with massive bull elephants, rhinos, wildebeests and the highest concentration of lions in Africa.

 

Nestled high above the plains into the Crater’s jagged rim, cloaked in river stone and indigenous vines, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is barely visible to the naked eye. Framed by arched stone passages and timbered decks, its torch-lit walls are adorned with stylized cave paintings. At the stone heart of the lodge burns a glowing fire, which is kept constantly alight. Rooms are looped around the Crater rim. Each has its own rock-enclosed balcony, and all enjoy completely uninterrupted views of the volcanic amphitheatre far below. Our Ngorongoro hotel lodge is a place that feels as ancient as the Crater itself, yet no modern comfort has been spared in an effort to bring you the best safari adventure in Africa and one of the most unique travel experiences in the world.

LOCATION

 

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is about 170km from Arusha.

 

ACCESS

 

2.5 Hr Drive form Arusha by road, via A104 and B144.

ROOMS

STANDARD ROOM

The 74 guest rooms and one suite at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge blend the almost indescribable beauty and magnitude of the Ngorongoro Crater with unparalleled standards for comfort and service. Clinging to the Crater rim beneath river stone and a cloak of native vines, our accommodation is so seamlessly entwined with the landscape, guests can’t help but feel as one with the natural surroundings. With a private stone balcony opening onto the blue-green vastness of the Crater floor below, it’s like you’re living alone in the “cradle of mankind.”

 

Interiors feature brass lamps, embossed leather headboards, wildwood mirrors, Maasai carvings and stylised cave paintings. The guest experience is enhanced with modern comforts like complimentary wireless Internet and 24-hour room service.

 

With a private stone balcony opening onto the blue-green vastness of the Crater floor below, it’s like you’re living alone in the “cradle of mankind.”

 

Standard Rooms at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge feature elegant interior spaces infused with a locally inspired décor and private stone balconies overlooking the Crater.

KIMBA SUITE

The 74 guest rooms and one suite at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge blend the almost indescribable beauty and magnitude of the Ngorongoro Crater with unparalleled standards for comfort and service. Clinging to the Crater rim beneath river stone and a cloak of native vines, our accommodation is so seamlessly entwined with the landscape, guests can’t help but feel as one with the natural surroundings. With a private stone balcony opening onto the blue-green vastness of the Crater floor below, it’s like you’re living alone in the “cradle of mankind.”

 

Interiors feature brass lamps, embossed leather headboards, wildwood mirrors, Maasai carvings and stylised cave paintings. The guest experience is enhanced with modern comforts like complimentary wireless Internet and 24-hour room service.

 

With a private stone balcony opening onto the blue-green vastness of the Crater floor below, it’s like you’re living alone in the “cradle of mankind.”

 

The spacious bedroom is luxuriously appointed with a king bed with walk-in mosquito net, sumptuous furnishings, a dressing area and natural stone ensuite bathroom. The elegantly appointed sitting room enjoys panoramic views and is tastefully and relaxingly furnished while offering a fully stocked mini-bar, digital multi-channel TV and direct dial telephone. The room also features a generous stone-built balcony overlooking the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. 24-hour room service is available and fruit and wine will be laid out to welcome you.

DINING AND WINING

ELEGANT DINING WITH NGORONGORO CRATER VIEWS

 

The Main Restaurant at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is beautifully designed in the traditional style and décor of Tanzania to create an enchanting dining experience. Savour a delightful range of local and international cuisines crafted from the finest and freshest meats, produce and ingredients.

 

Featuring charming stone-built architecture, a glowing fireplace and walls adorned with prehistoric cave paintings and flickering torchlight, the elegant yet relaxed dining space is ideal for any taste and occasion. Floor-to-ceiling windows and double doors leading out on to an expansive terrace complement each meal with panoramic views of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style and feature a wide range of international choices. In typical safari style, we offer a full English breakfast as well as European options while our lunch menus include meat, poultry, fish and vegetarian options. Our table d’hôte dinner menus feature a salad buffet, soup, entrée, pudding, cheese and biscuits and tea or coffee. Vegetarian options are always available. The majority of our meat and dairy products, as well as our fruits and vegetables, are sourced from local communities.

 

THE CRATER BREAKFAST

 

One of the highlights of the Crater visit, the bush breakfast is an experience not to be missed. Typically, guests are awakened by a very early morning cup of tea; they then set off down the steeply winding road that leads to the Crater floor.

 

After a game drive through primeval forests and acacia groves, the guests arrive by the selected spot where a spectacular cooked breakfast is served. After breakfast, the game drive continues around the 120 km of roads that circle the lakes, forests and plains of this unique conservation area.

 

THE CRATER LUNCH

 

Because entrance to the Crater is strictly limited – and also because there is so much to see – many guests prefer to take lunch on the Crater floor. This can be provided as a picnic, which can be enjoyed in one of the forest clearings, or as a full cooked lunch, which is typically cooked and served in the acacia groves.

Before and after lunch, the guests are then free to enjoy extensive game drives around the Crater floor.

 

THE BUSH DINNER (SUMMER ONLY)

 

Typically, the Ngorongoro Bush Dinner takes place at a scenic location on the rim of the Crater, with stunning views over the plains below. Timed to coincide with the setting of the sun, which on the Equator is around 6 pm, the bush dinner will commence with a short drive to a panoramic spot on the Crater rim. Here, tables, chairs and lanterns will already have been set up, and a campfire will have been lit.

 

Beginning with sundowners around the campfire, we are proud to entertain our guests with Maasai dance and song while their 5-course dinner is prepared on the blazing charcoal BBQ. The choice of meat, fish and poultry will be supplemented by vegetarian choices, salads, fruit and desserts from the main lodge, and a full safari bar will be provided.

AMENITIES AND FACILITIES

 

Swimming Pool

 

Free Wireless Internet Connection(WIFI)

 

 Laundry Service

 

 Bar / Lounge

ACTIVITIES

CRATER GAME DRIVES

Descend to the floor of the Crater for game viewing drives. Often described as the “Eighth Wonder Of The World,” the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular natural sanctuary for over 25,000 animals, including the black rhino. It is also a conservation area inhabited by the Maasai tribe.

OLDUVAI GORGE

Take a day trip to Olduvai Gorge. Also known as the “Cradle of Mankind,” it is one of the most important and controversial Palaeolithic finds in recent history.

EMPAKAAI CRATER

The Empakaai Crater is a beautiful 6-kilometre wide, 300-metre deep caldera containing a natural forest and a soda lake that serves as a famous Flamingo breeding site. From the north and eastern rim you can take in dramatic views of the Great East African Rift Valley, Lake Natron and the cone of the active Oldoinyo Lengai Volcano.

WILDLIFE AND CULTURAL TALKS AND FILM PRESENTATIONS

Cultural talks are offered evenings at the bar area at 9:00 p.m. Our resident naturalist will discuss the Maasai culture, their activities, their lifestyle and their co-existence with wildlife within the Ngorongoro conservation area. You will also learn about the Ngorongoro ecosystem and biodiversity.

ON MAP