Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is a substantial 75-room hotel built into the rim of Tanzania's great natural wonder, the Ngorongoro Crater. It's this location, the best of any hotel in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, that makes Ngorongoro Serena stand out. From the guest rooms that line the edge of the crater rim, it's possible to look down onto the crater floor several hundred metres below and, with the aid of a pair of binoculars, watch the roaming wildlife (conversely, it's not possible to see Ngorongoro Serena from the crater floor, cloaked as it is behind a covering of ivy).
In keeping with most Serena properties, Ngorongoro Serena is a large, functional hotel, which lacks the intimacy offered by the smaller guesthouses and lodges available in the Crater Highlands. It is not without character, however. The design of the lodge is striking, its rooms contained within a concave building that wraps around the crater rim, constructed using a mixture of natural stone and concrete and covered in ivy so as to blend in with the surrounding bush. The interior design is less inspiring, but the African frescoes that decorate the walls, inspired apparently by the cave paintings at Olduvai Gorge, are a unique touch.
Though Ngorongoro Serena Lodge lacks some of the individual charm and character that the best safari lodges have, we often recommend it due to its very reasonable rates, generous facilities and, most of all, its superb location. Few lodges in the Ngorongoro Conversation Area offer a comparable location to Ngorongoro Serena, though many offer more stylish accommodation and a more intimate atmosphere.
NB. Ngorongoro Serena operates a 2 night minimum stay policy, meaning it is not suitable for those just looking to pass through the Crater Highlands en route to the Serengeti or Arusha.
Accommodation
Ngorongoro Serena offers 75 rooms, which are spacious and simply but attractively furnished. They enjoy private terraces overlooking the crater, full en-suite facilities, and central heating/air-con.
Dining
Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style in the large dining room overlooking the crater. The dinner menus are varied and accompanied by a salad buffet. Dietary requirements can be catered for and there are plenty of vegetarian options. The staff will prepare 'bush dinners' on request, served outdoors at one of several sites. There is a well-stocked bar.
Facilities
- Dining room
- Bar and lounge with fireplace
- Wedding venue
- Computer centre
- WiFi throughout hotel
- TV room
Activities
- Game drives into Ngorongoro Crater
Child Policy
Children of all ages accommodated. Those under the age of two stay free of charge; below the age of 12 stay at 50% of the adult rate if sharing with an adult (75% if in own room).
