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OVERVIEW:
Craters Edge is a new luxury lodge high up on the rim of Tanzania’s epic Ngorongoro Crater. Its 15 spacious, thoughtfully designed suites offer panoramic views of the crater, with all the indulgences guaranteed to ensure an extremely comfortable stay. A key draw is the lodge’s proximity to the descent road, a mere kilometre from Lemala gate, meaning Craters Edge guests are some of the first to reach the crater floor in the morning. A range of activities led by excellent guides makes this a first-rate base from which to explore Ngorongoro Crater and its surroundings. Rates are full board and include accommodation, all meals, including in-room dining, house drinks, and laundry.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
Craters Edge is located in the north-eastern part of the Ngorongoro Crater rim, just a few minutes by car from the descent road and 1 km from Lemala Gate, meaning that guests can be some of the first on the crater floor each morning. Access is usually by light aircraft to Lake Manyara airstrip, followed by a 2-hour drive to the lodge.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT CRATERS EDGE:
The accommodation at Craters Edge consists of 15 supremely luxurious, insulated tented suites, including two that connect to create a family unit. Of these, ten have king-sized beds, and five are configured as twins with two single beds each. Triples are also available on request. Double-glazed glass-paneled doors slide open to reveal sensational views and encourage airflow, while concertina mesh screens create an insect-free environment. The style is contemporary but cozy, featuring teak wood floors and gas fireplaces ideal for the cool Ngorongoro early mornings and evenings. There are also sink-in leather armchairs and footrests, walk-in wardrobes, Nespresso coffee machines, and free-standing copper bathtubs. The spacious en-suite washrooms have twin basins, a walk-in rain shower, and a flush toilet. Outside, you’ll find beautiful wooden viewing decks with panoramic Ngorongoro outlooks (from most suites), each with its own telescope.
Equally luxurious is the canvas and glass-paneled communal area at Craters Edge, complete with a library, a lounge with a central fireplace, and two à la carte dining spaces, delivering jaw-dropping views from every angle. The main areas have high-speed Wi-Fi and printing facilities, and there are safety boxes at the reception where you can store valuables. The lodge has two fire-pits where guests gather for pre-dinner drinks and storytelling, and the wooden walkways are lit up with glowing lanterns by night, further enhancing the atmosphere.
ACTIVITIES AT CRATERS EDGE:
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Game drives
– The Ngorongoro Crater is an enormous volcanic caldera teeming with wildlife, including all Big Five species: elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino. Early each morning, you’ll descend into the crater, taking advantage of the lodge’s prime location close to the Lemala entry gate. Accompanied by an expert guide, explore the grasslands, swamps, forests, and lakes that provide diverse habitats for this diverse spectrum of wildlife. Enjoy a memorable picnic lunch at a picturesque spot within the crater before continuing your afternoon game drive. -
Maasai boma experience
– The boma is the epicenter of community life for the Maasai people indigenous to this region. Known as ‘manyattas’, traditional Maasai houses are simple structures made of mud, sticks, and cow dung. These are always positioned close to the boma, a thorny enclosure where the Maasai keep their prized livestock safe from intruding wild animals. A visit to the boma offers insight into Maasai customs, including beading, milking the cattle, and herding goats. -
Crater floor banquet lunch
– A culinary extravaganza awaits as you’re seated at a beautiful table for lunch on the Ngorongoro Crater floor. You’ll be welcomed by friendly staff who’ll serve drinks and a delicious menu surrounded by the sounds of nature. -
Wilderness walks with an NCAA ranger
– Embark on a fascinating nature walk accompanied by an NCAA (Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority) ranger in the Ngorongoro Highlands. Receive unique insight into the surrounding ecosystem, the flora and fauna, medicinal properties of indigenous plants, and perhaps some advice on tracking and spoor identification. -
Olmoti Crater guided walk
– Meaning ‘big cooking pot’ in Maa, Olmoti is a sunken caldera that provides a water source for grazing wildlife. Visitors can take in the views, including the Munge Waterfall, accessed by hiking a 30–40 minute ascent.
*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.
