Great views of the Crater, game drives, limited short walks
Guide Price: From: $325 To: $495
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is a comfortable, large hotel on the southern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater; well located for the wildlife at Ngorongoro, but unimaginitive. What the lodge lacks in ambience or style is made up for by the magnificent views of the Ngorongoro Crater. This is a conveniently placed hotel from which to visit the Crater. Ngorongoro Serena lodge is perched on the southern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater at around 7500ft above sea level. The building is made of plant and ivy-covered native stone, which gives a slightly austere look close up. However, from the crater the reason for this design is evident as the building blends well with it's surroundings. Serena isn't a luxury lodge in the way that Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is, but of all the lodges at Ngorongoro Crater this is probably the safest bet if your budget doesnt stretch to Crater Lodge. It lies somewhere in between the latter (serious luxury) and Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (strange food, but otherwise good) - it's basically unremarkable, but a fraction of the price of Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Most of the 75 guest rooms have private terraces with views over the Ngorongoro Crater and Highlands where countless animals make their home. The bar & dining areas are also well designed to take advantage of the lodge's exceptional situation. The food is good for a lodge of this size and the service, as in all Serena Hotels, is good. Serena Lodge is the nearest lodge to the Ngorongoro Crater entrance, a big advantage when making those early morning starts.
From: 325 To: 495
Great views of the Crater, game drives, limited short walks
price includes accommodation, food, drinks, laundry, activities and excludes transfers.
Unique is a thoroughly overused word, but it really does apply to the Ngorongoro Crater. This is the largest unbroken caldera in the world - and it's full of big wild animals. The difficulty here is remembering that what you're looking at isn't artificial. And this becomes harder when you realise the only thing to rival the animal population in Ngorongoro is the tourist population...and for this you must be prepared. On a bad day you'll can find yourself persued by minibuses full of camera-toting tourists each time you stop. It's probably harsh to suggest that you should miss the Crater out altogether on account of the traffic jams, but our advice would be plan to leave wishing you'd stayed longer, rather than the other way round. Read more?
Tanzania safaris rival a safari any other country in Africa in terms of sheer wilderness, formidable landscapes and volume of wildlife. At Natural High, we have travelled all over the country, worked in some of its best Tanzania safari camps and lodges and flown all over as bush pilots so we feel qualified to venture such opinions. Read more?
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Vanessa's 16 years in travel has seen her knowledge develop from sub-Saharan Africa into North Africa, Central and Southern America and the Galapagos. Consequently, she’s a veritable encyclopaedia of travel information and exceptionally cool, calm and collected in the face of the greatest planning demands.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
