Ngorongoro crater rim — lodges
- Type
- Lodge
- Level
- Luxury
- Typical size
- 20 to 40 rooms
- Rooms are
- Rooms and suites with crater views
- Children
- Welcome
- Wi-Fi
- Usually, in the mess
Staying on the rim instead of down in Karatu saves you an hour each way, and lets you be on the crater floor as the gate opens, ahead of the day trips. Just so you know, it's colder than people expect: the rim sits above 2,200 metres.
What does the rim's higher price get you? One thing: being on the crater floor as the gate opens, ahead of the vehicles driving up from Karatu. In that first hour, the floor is quiet and the light is gorgeous. You save roughly two hours of driving and gain the best light of the day.
The trade-off: it's expensive, and it's properly cold. The rim sits above 2,200m, and the rooms have fireplaces for a reason! On a two-night crater stop, it earns its money. For one night in the middle of a longer route, Karatu often makes more sense, and we'll tell you so.
What stands out
- 01 Right on the crater rim
- 02 First onto the floor when the gate opens
- 03 Fireplaces in the rooms