andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania
The luxurious andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania is temporarily closed for an extensive rebuild and is scheduled to reopen in 2027. When open, it sits directly on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, offering guests panoramic views of the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known as one of the most unique properties in Africa, the lodge blends Maasai architecture with opulent, baroque European design—featuring grass roofs and banana leaf ceilings paired with chandeliers and Victorian furnishings.
andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is indulged in the country’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a remarkable to large numbers of animals with more than 25,000 individuals found here.
The Conservation Area is a fantastic playground to witness Africa’s magnificent wildlife in its natural habitat. The luxury safari lodge is one of the must-visit in the country and you will live to remember the experience. andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is set on the edge of the crater, providing spectacular vistas of one of the natural wonders of the world. The Conservation Area hosts the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera, one of the greatest African treasures.
andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Activities
Expertly guided game drives: The major activity at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is a professionally guided wildlife drive in the Crater. Drives are possible early morning and late afternoon – or you can go out for a full day in the Crater, with a picnic lunch supplied by resort personnel.
Wildlife spotting: This internationally famous wildlife hotspot is home to the Big Five species — lion, rhino, leopard, elephant and buffalo! There are lots of smaller predators and herbivores along with them, such as cheetah, hyenas, jackals, serval, caracal, golden cat, wild dog, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and all varieties of antelopes. You can see hundreds of feathery pals, including large flocks of flamingos, if you’re a keen birder!
Walking safaris: You may do full-day walking safaris in the Empakai Crater in the highlands of Ngorongoro. Here you may expect to see buffalo, bushbuck, blue monkey and, again, plenty of birdlife. Nature hikes are available around the lodge with a competent naturalist.
Day trip to Olduvai Gorge: And if you’re going to be here for three nights or more, you might want to take a drive out to Olduvai Gorge and the Shifting Sands. The gorge has the oldest known Homo sapiens fossils and the sands attraction is a series of crescent-shaped dunes of volcanic ash blowing across the terrain.
Children’s activities: Finally, there’s the WILDChild Programme, which allows kids to attempt Maasai spear throwing, fire making, woodcarving and beading. Nature walks are also available!
Access & Location
Lodge reachable by a 1 hour 30 minutes’ vehicle journey from Lake Manyara Airstrip. It has an extremely amazing location – on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater!
Facilities
Each camp features its own lounge and eating spaces – every bit as lavish as the guest accommodation! There are plush brocade sofas and winged leather chairs set around glass-topped coffee tables, occasional tables with an old-fashioned globe and a vase of fresh red roses, a grand fireplace with an antique mirror above it, immense Persian rugs, and the same design detail of wood panelling, banana-leaf roofing, and sparkling chandeliers.
The dining sections have separate tables with high-backed chairs in gold and cream. There are fireplaces and elaborate lighting in the rooms. Tree Camp is a notch less fancy than North and South, but the same top-quality service is on offer. Food and drink at all camps is amazing too, with huge buffet breakfasts and lunches, and a three or even five-course evening! The hotel features a safari shop, stocked with curios and essentials. There are in-room massages, and keep-fit fanatics may make good use of &Beyond’s gym-in-a-basket, possibly to work off all the huge meals!