Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp

OVERVIEW:

Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp has been a stand-out property for years as one of the more authentic bush camps in the area, with a terrific location close to the descent road. This means guests beat the crowds in the morning and can be on the crater floor by 6:30 am, an hour before most 4×4 vehicles rock up. While it doesn’t have crater views from camp, Lemala is surrounded by ancient acacia forest, and night-time visits from passing elephant and buffalo aren’t unusual. The guiding here is great, and the camp ambience is among the warmest in the region. As one of Tanzania’s most spectacular natural wonders, the crater itself is a ‘must-see’ for first-time visitors to Tanzania’s northern circuit – a vast caldera with an impressive amount of resident wildlife, including all Big Five species. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, and a laundry service.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp is located on the quieter eastern side of the Ngorongoro Crater, a short drive from the descent road and Lemala Gate – meaning guests can be among the first on the crater floor each morning. This makes the camp particularly attractive given how busy the crater can get, especially in peak season. Lemala is usually accessed via a 2-hour road transfer from Lake Manyara Airstrip. Sometimes, guests arrive from elsewhere if they’re doing a driving circuit in a private 4×4.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT LEMALA NGORONGORO TENTED CAMP:

Guest accommodation at Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp consists of ten solar-powered Meru-style tents designed to ensure minimal impact on the surrounding ancient forest. Each is furnished with two queen-sized beds, and triples are available on request. Instead of mosquito nets, zip-up mesh at the entrance and netted windows keep insects at bay and provide plenty of airflow when needed. The interiors feature dark hardwood floors, pull-back curtains, leather luggage racks, explorer-style chests, antique writing desks, and reading lamps. Every tent includes a tea-and-coffee station, a gas heater for keeping warm during the cool Ngorongoro mornings and evenings, warm winter-weight duvets, and hot water bottles. The en-suite washroom in all units has a wash basin, flush toilet, walk-in shower with hot water, and hanging storage unit with open shelves. Outside, you’ll find a private veranda with a couple of campaign chairs and a small drinks table. As this is one of the few crater properties with some game viewing in camp, you might even spot an occasional wild animal passing through the forest! One of the tents has two en-suite bedrooms accommodating a maximum of six guests, which is ideal for families traveling with children. Please be aware that the tents have no charging points, but you can plug your equipment in at the mess tent.

The large communal mess tent features a lounge, bar, and dining area where guests dine together on cushioned chairs around a long table. There’s plenty of comfortable seating in the lounge and a selection of books should you wish to settle in for some reading or a game of bao. A help-yourself drinks cabinet offers a good selection of wines and other alcoholic beverages, and outside the campfire is ideal for socializing with other guests and sharing some once-in-a-lifetime safari memories. The communal tent also has a charging station and is the only place in the camp with access to Wi-Fi.

ACTIVITIES AT LEMALA NGORONGORO TENTED CAMP:

The main reason to visit Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp is the crater, but the camp offers some other great activities, including guided walks along the crater rim, forest hikes, and trips to Maasai villages.

• Game drives

  – The Crater is home to all Big Five species – lion, (black) rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. Other sightings can include spotted hyena, hippo, zebra, eland (a type of antelope), wildebeest, and very occasionally leopard. There’s plenty of birdlife too – raptors, waterbirds, songbirds, and many others.

• Guided nature walks

  – Guests can enjoy walks along the crater rim and hikes in the forest, all in the company of a ranger and a Maasai guide. This is a truly immersive experience where you’ll learn how to identify tracks and spoor, watch for resident birds, and gain insights into the smaller species not so easily seen from a vehicle. The more adventurous can venture farther afield and visit the Olmoti and Empakai craters (if your thirst for craters isn’t already sated!). The latter two may require extra time at camp, so to include these, please discuss timings with one of our consultants. The minimum age for walking safaris is usually 12, though this is at the guide’s discretion.

• Maasai boma experience

  – Chief Lubolo invites Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp guests to one of his bomas for an authentic interaction with the local community and a chance to experience the Maasai way of life. You’ll have the opportunity to buy traditional beaded jewelry handmade by the women in the boma. The boma is the epicenter of community life for the Maasai people indigenous to this region, and this experience offers insight into Maasai customs, including beading, milking cattle, and herding goats.

• Tuk-tuk cultural experience

  – Accompanied by your guide, board a local tuk-tuk and meander through Mto wa Mbu’s village streets on the border of Lake Manyara National Park, home to various banana plantations. See the surrounding rice fields, meet Makonde carvers, watch the colourful Tinga Tinga painters, visit a local primary school, and tuck into a traditional Tanzanian lunch under the shade of the banana trees.

• Lemala Cubs kids activities

  – Children under 12 can participate in the Lemala Cubs programme, which sets up spear throwing, bow-and-arrows lessons, tracking around camp, roasting marshmallows around the campfire, and heading out on kids-friendly morning game drives!

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.