Melia Ngorongoro
Location
Renovated for the expectations of the 21st century, the lodge has kept its architectural style of African Modernism, maintaining its original fireplaces and wooden ceilings, though these are just the foreground to the spectacular views. More than 20 kilometres across and 600 metres deep, the 2-million-year-old crater’s vast proportions are the star of the show.
Accommodation
Further indulgent facilities in the lodge include the opulent spa and a 24-hour gym. Then there are excellent dining, lounging and sipping options. The Crater Grill serves mouthwatering dishes of traditional African cuisine with Asian influences, and from here the ideal next port of call is the Crater Lounge for sunset views. Throughout the day, the Crater Bar is the place for coffee and cocktails.
Experiences
- The crater is a ‘Big Five’ location, so game drives will give you the chance to see buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhino. Of course, those are just the headliners of a diverse array of wildlife.
- In addition to adventures on the floor of the crater, we recommend treks along the rim, where the birdwatching is excellent and the views are awesome.
- Guests of the lodge are welcomed into a boma, a traditional Maasai house. Here you’ll be able to experience and participate in cultural activities including dances, handicrafts, cooking and even the secrets of house building.
- Balloon rides over the Ndutu region, where the Ngorongoro Conservation Area meets the southern Serengeti National Park, are incredible during the Great Migration.
- Head to alkaline Lake Magadi, down on the crater floor, for the stunning sight of huge flocks of flamingos.
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
A 12–14 day journey linking the Western Serengeti, Chem Chem and either Mahale or Zanzibar, this three-centre trip is a classic African safari experience in places where you’ll have an intimate, personal and slow-paced encounter with the essence of Tanzania.
Spanning a huge array of diverse environments, Tanzania offers an unmatched range of African safari experiences. It’s renowned for the Great Migration of the Serengeti, but that’s just the start of the unforgettable possibilities. Whether you are planning a family safari, seeking seclusion and exclusivity as a couple, or options suited to an individual, Tanzania has locations and seasons perfect for everyone. Luxury safaris in Tanzania, with guaranteed amazing spectacles for all, are more than just feasible: they are a reality.
The best time to visit Tanzania will depend on the activities you are interested in and the wildlife you'd like to spot. Read our month-by-month seasonal guide, and responses to your most popular Tanzania safari questions
At Journeysmiths we take you out into the wilds to enjoy all kinds of activities with expert, personable guides. Read our top ten Tanzania family safari experiences.
We’ve collated a list of our ten favourite Tanzanian experiences to show you what’s possible in this incredible country.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are truly spectacular settings filled with great herds and big cats. We take you far from the crowds and minibuses with your own private guide, staying in exclusive accommodation. Families with older teenagers will love the wildly remote Selous, Ruaha and Mahale, where you can walk, canoe and even track chimpanzees. Round it off on exotic Zanzibar.
Create memories of a lifetime together on an epic family safari in Tanzania. Witness the endless, game-filled plains of the Serengeti, explore the natural wonder of the Ngorongoro Crater and experience the magnificent wildlife in Tarangire.