Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Perched on the jagged rim of the crater, wreathed in morning mist, camouflaged in river-stone and cloaked in indigenous creepers, the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is a triumph of ecological and architectural fusion. Sensitively constructed so as to take nothing from its environment whilst affording endless vistas over the heat-shimmering reaches of the crater below, the clustered boulder-built buildings of the Lodge hug the crater rim, linked by rope-lashed timber walkways that skirt the buttressed roots of ancient, liana-hung trees.

Strung around the crater rim, each with its own rock-enclosed balcony, the 74 rooms feature brass lamps, embossed leather headboards, wildwood mirrors, Maasai carvings and flamboyant prehistoric wall motifs depicting fleeing giraffes, stylised gazelle and plunging buffalo.

At the end of an action-packed day, guests can also follow a gentle nature trail that loops around the Lodge through moss-hung glades and plunging ravines, take a guided walk to the Crater's rim, relax with a herbal massage, or watch as the burning sun sinks behind the mountains from a unique vantage point on the craggy heights of the Crater's rim.

Destinations Africa Comment – This lodge is quite lively & reminiscent of a ski lodge.  It is in a great position as each room has a view into the crater.  The room we had was quite small but adequate.  The bed was incredibly hard & we had a lukewarm shower at 5 am (we were told that the water heater was only switched on at 3 am).  They gave us a fantastic packed breakfast but dinner was the usual buffet and the quality was nothing to rave about.  It can get very cold in the crater.

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