Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Tucked away on the edge of the largest unbroken caldera in the world is Ngorongoro Serena Safari lodge, a luxury intimate safari lodge offering exceptional service and exquisite comfort to its guests. Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is one of the properties run by Serena Hotels – a hospitality company that operates high end resorts and hotels in East Africa, South Asia and Southern Africa. Serena Hotels is dedicated to a memorable stay for each guest that visits any of their properties.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari lodge is like a hidden gem, tranquil with breath taking views of the Ngorongoro Crater. The safari lodge is built in such a way that the architecture blends in perfectly with the environment and the lodge areas are dotted with authentic African inspired ornamental décor pieces some of which are locally sourced. The best feature about the lodge are the natural stone built walls on most of the buildings at Ngorongoro Serena safari lodge, it’s such a unique design!
Accommodation at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
The safari lodge features 75 guest rooms with stunning views of the surrounding areas that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your private balcony. Different room types are available at Ngorongoro Serena Safari lodge of the seventy five rooms, forty four of these are standard rooms with twin beds then fifteen rooms are standard rooms with double beds and the other fifteen rooms are standard rooms with triple beds. The lodge also features one suite which is larger in size and has one king size bed, the suite is named Kimba.
Each room at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge consists of;
Comfortable wooden beds with clean linen bed sheets,, duvets and reasonably sized throw pillows.
Bedside tables with bedside lamps.
An En-suite bathroom with much needed bath essentials, a shower, flush toilet, clean towels, double sinks and a mirror on top of the sink.
Hot and cold running water available throughout the day.
Bathroom robes and slippers
Coffee and tea making station.
A reading desk with a chair.
A private balcony with great views of the surrounding areas.
A direct dial telephone and an in-room safe.
A luggage rack.
PS: The Kimba suite has all the above mentioned amenities, however in addition the suite features a large bathtub with a shower, a satellite TV, and a sitting room with a mini bar.
Facilities and Services
The Lodge has a number of facilities aside from the rooms built to make one’s stay while in Tanzania on safari pleasant.
The safari lodge features a large dining area with comfortable seating making it perfect for guests to have their meals. The dining area overlooks the expansive Ngorongoro Crater so it’s possible to have your meal while enjoying the breath-taking view. Breakfast .lunch and dinner is served here as well as tea and snacks. Breakfast and lunch is buffet style with a number of tasty options available while dinner is a fixed menu with a few choice options.
The lodge also features facilities like a tented conference center for business travelers and corporate guests. The center is great for workshops, meetings, corporate occasions and gala dinners, it is situated at the far end of the property so it offers much needed privacy and quietness especially for guests having meetings.
Other facilities and services at Ngorongoro Serena safari lodge include a bar and lounge area with a fire place, ample car parking space, large wooden viewing decks with stunning views of the Ngorongoro Crater, Wi-Fi, room service and a gift shop where one can stop by for gifts or souvenirs.
Our Review
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is a great property to stay at while on safari mainly because of its breath taking views of the Ngorongoro Crater from different areas of the lodge. The lodge has been under operation for some years now so the rooms at the safari lodge are rather plain without much decoration however they blend perfectly into the environment. We recommend this lodge for visitors who like to stay at Eco-friendly properties and we also recommend it for its unique stone built architecture.
Top things to do while staying at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Game Drives: What better way to explore the Ngororongoro Conservation Area that on a game drive. Game drives are most definitely the best way to experience Ngorongoro Crater with great chances of excellent game viewing with a mix of beautiful expansive views of the crater. Start out the day with a delicious early breakfast at the lodge then head out in search of the Big Five, large mammals, Herbivores, birds of prey and other wildlife in the crater area. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is famously known internationally for its excellent and rewarding wildlife sightings so prepare for a memorable experience!
Bird watching in Ngorongoro: For the specialist birder, Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers incredible bird watching opportunities as the area is home to over 500 species of birds. Chances of seeing a variety of species including forest birds, water birds, woodland specials, endemic and nearly endemic species are very high. The conservation is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a key destination for ornithologists from across the world. Areas of birding in Ngorongoro Conservation area include the Crater rim for montane forest birds, Lake Lagaja for water species, Masek at the western end of Olduvai Gorge, a lake in the Empakai Crater and Gorigor which is a fresh water swamp on the eastern side of the Crater floor.
Hot Air Balloon Safari: The hot air balloon safari is a unique way to explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as it offers one an opportunity to watch the wildlife from a bird’s view. The balloon safari is magical as it takes you over the crater and you are able to view the wildlife from above and also experience the sections of the crater that aren’t accessed by car. The balloon safari begins quite early at around the hour of 6 am and is a worthwhile safari adventure offering stunning views from atop.
Visit the Maasai: The Maasai are a famous ethnic Nilotic-speaking tribe in Tanzania and known for their fearsome warrior culture. A visit to a Maasai village brings you closer to the local people and also offers you a glimpse in to their culture and way of life. The Maasai are also known for their colorful traditional wear that consists of colorful sheets and beaded jewelry as well as their interesting traditional dance that involves jumping up high. The Maasai live outside the Crater but the management of the conservation area allows them to graze their animals around the crater rim. The Maasai are majorly pastoralists and have a strong attachment to their livestock. This visit involves visiting their homesteads that are dotted with grass thatched manyattas, spending time talking to the elders and visiting their communities.
Empakaai Crater Hike: The Empakaai Crater is a 540m deep crater that is also a major crater aside from Ngorongoro and is part of the conservation area. The crater is less known but a very rewarding site worth visiting as it has one of the most stunning views in East Africa, the view from the crater rim offers great picturesque moments. The Empakaai Crater was formed by the volcanic collapse that shaped the crater highlands and features a 60m deep soda lake which covers half of the crater area. The soda lake attracts a large flock of flamingos which like to feed on the algae found in the alkaline lake. The hike up to the Empakaai crater rim is a perfect and alternative way to spend time exploring the diverse Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Sun downers and Bush Meals: The Ngorongoro Crater is a perfect destination for bush meals amidst the conservation area. With its massive crater and open grasslands, the crater offers perfect spots for bush breakfast, a private picnic or bush lunch all while enjoying expansive views of the conservation area. Sun downers are also another great way to spend your time in Ngorongoro especially after full day game drives in the conservation area, you get to end the day watching the sunset while sipping on your favorite drink. The lodge staff always arranges the bush meals and picnics for you.
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