The Ngorongoro Crater is a natural amphitheatre created about 2 million years ago when the cone of a volcano collapsed into itself, leaving a 100 square mile caldron-like cavity. This caldera, protected by a circular unbroken 2,000-foot high rim (610-metres), contains everything necessary for Africa’s wildlife to exist & thrive.

Each morning game viewing vehicles descend the steep crater wall to the grass plains that are teeming with animals. However, the dark of night belongs to the animals & all vehicles must leave the crater floor by sunset.

Ngorongoro is inhabited by about 30,000 animals, of which half are zebra & wildebeest. This is the perfect situation for predators & packs of spotted hyaenas & lion prides lord over this domain.

This eco-system habitat is also home to leopards, cheetahs & three species of jackals. Tanzania’s few remaining black rhino are regularly sighted in the crater, as are large herds of buffalo.

Very sadly the much endangered African Wild hunting dog have quite recently disappeared from the crater & may have declined elsewhere in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as well.

Lake Magadi in the centre of the crater is, like many in the rift valley, a soda lake supporting flocks of flamingo.
It's a dramatic setting for a theatrical property – & only personal taste will determine whether you see divine decadence or gaudy glitz.

This was once the site of the British Governor’s private residence & perches on the rim of the now extinct & ancient volcanic crater. The crater itself ranks as one of the world’s natural wonders, so in accordance with the necessity that it fitted into this environment, the lodge was designed to be all but invisible from the crater floor & adapts post-modern architectural features with that of a Maasai village sitting proudly & unobtrusively within the rich landscape. The interior features both British colonial times blended tastefully with African art & antiques.

The exteriors of the suites are Maasai inspired mud 'manyattas' (homesteads), the interiors are part reminiscent of a Phantom of the Opera set, part wood-paneled colonial manor house: there are sensuous fabrics, vases of long-stemmed roses, petal strewn bedcovers, heavy gilt mirrors, deep bubble baths, cut crystal glasses of sherry by the roaring open fire & some of the most engaging personal 'butlers' in Africa. The standards of guest service delivery & the deftly prepared cuisine are aspects that are both truly world-class.

Without peer Ngorongoro Crater Lodge offers outstanding boutique luxury safari accommodation reserved for the most discerning of guests.

Within the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge complex there are three totally separate camps (Tree Camp, North & South Camp) with a total of thirty (30) Maasai-inspired suites. North & South Camp have twelve (12) exquisite individual & private guest suites each, while intimate Tree Camp has six (6) suites. All have an en suite bathroom & chandelier-lit bathtub & huge walk-in open interior shower with double shower heads.

Inspired decor & eclectic design make these romantic camps ideal for celebrating a special occasion.

Each sumptuous suite is discreetly tended by a personal butler, who will bring you tea in bed, stoke your fireplace & draw your bath, scattering the water with rose petals, ready for your enjoyment.

For personal security (as the camps are unfenced & wild animals are free to come & go as they please as after all this is their territory) Askaris (Maasai warrior security guards) accompany you to & from your room at night.

The sumptuous colonial-style interiors of each guest suite combine silver, gold & ruby colours under banana-leaf ceilings & grass roofs.

Crystal chandeliers hang above large gilt mirrors reflecting carved Zanzibar wall paneling decorated with gold-leaf.

Huge bowls filled with long-stemmed red roses complement the Persian carpets & velvet bedspreads. Antiques, plump cushions, voluptuous raw silk curtains & tall, leather-backed chairs complete the picture. This opulent design blends with African art elements in unexpected harmony.

Each of the exclusive camps operates independently with its own main lodge, expansive kitchen, chef & service staff.. They each have a central living area & viewing decks overlooking the awesome crater. Ancient African nights are evoked by the large fire bowls that flank the entrance to each of the living and dining areas.

North & South Camp dining is a truly five-star experience.

The domed dining room with its welcoming fireplace, crystal, silver & massive wooden platters, treat ever meal as a special occasion. Truly food for the soul, this mélange of traditional African recipes is enhanced by Africa's famous spices - saffron, vanilla, cumin & nutmeg.

Tree Camp is set in classic crescents; each stone & thatch suite has spectacular views of the crater from large glass windows in the bathroom, lounge & bedroom, yet is almost invisible from the crater floor.

The facilities include a central living area, viewing decks overlooking the awesome Ngorongoro Crater, exterior & interior dining areas, a communal curio shop, gallery & Maasai market.

Ideally Tree Camp is an obvious choice for a small group or family who are seeking ´exclusivity´ by having their own African safari camp all to themselves.

Tree Camp suits this desire exactly.

Please note though: Due to the rainy season, Tree camp is CLOSED annually from the 1st April to 25th May.

No matter whether you stay in North or South Camp , or Tree Camp, between the enormous beds, stunning veranda views & delicious meals, it can be hard to tear yourself away for safari activities: though this you must, for it would be willful not to let the good resident guides show you the wonders of the Crater's kaleidoscope of game.

Several activities, quite aside from the thrilling daily game drives in closed Land Rovers with pop top roofs descending the 610m down into the floor of the crater, are offered from Crater Lodge including visits to a Maasai cultural village, guided walking safaris following a dramatic route or excursions to the famous Olduvai Gorge.

With such a range of experiences to be had on the doorstep, a stay for a minimum of two nights but preferably three, make for an unforgettable African safari experience.

Ngorongoro Lodge is supremely glamorous, deliciously stylish & definitely for those discerning guests who dream of having all the luxuries of home while on safari witnessing the greatest concentrations of wild animals in Africa outside their front door.

To paraphrase Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is stunning & one can only say that to stay here is to experience the penultimate as it is quite simply, ´the benchmark of the best.´

Mbalageti is situated in the vast Serengeti National Park, the largest, most famous national park in Tanzania, covering 14.763 sq km & adjoining the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Some of the main attractions include the annual migration of millions of Wildebeest & the large number of resident lion, cheetah, giraffe, zebra & gazelles.

Mbalageti takes its name from the river that can be seen from all angles of the Mwamveni hill on which the lodge is set. It comprises stylish East African safari tent chalets & a central building all positioned to take advantage of the great views as well as the immediate surroundings.

There are twenty four (24) luxury tented chalets are designed for a true safari experience. The tents are structured out of local rock & timber & fitted with canvas. All have an en-suite bathroom with all the luxury amenities & a private veranda with cooling thatch roofs.

There are four (4) exclusive suites offer a little extra of everything, such as both an indoor an outdoor private bathtub, 2 spacious en-suite bedrooms & a lounge veranda.

The central lodge building consists of a reception centre providing information on lodge facilities & services; a bar which opens out onto a stunning swimming pool area & is the natural meeting point & heart of the lodge. The bar serves a wide range of local & imported beverages; a cozy lounge loft on the 2nd floor with board games, puzzles, magazines & a selection of books; curio shops selling local products, art & crafts as well as more luxurious items.

Outside, a pool deck features a swimming pool made of local rocks & set on the edge of the hill with 360 degree views of the Serengeti.

A newly built Massage Boma offers massage wellness services & the Tranquility Pool is a great place to unwind after an activity packed day. Private or couple massages on your safari tent chalet veranda can also be arranged.

Breakfast, lunch and dinners are served in Mbalageti's restaurant which overlooks the Serengeti.

Each evening during dinner local Masai warriors perform for the guests with a series of traditional dances, the feature of which is their ability for incredible vertical leaps that are seemingly effortless as if the warrior has springs in their feet.

The food fuses the influences of the Serengeti environment & continental cuisine. One things for certain – nobody has ever been short of food choices while staying here at Mbalageti as the cuisine is exceptional.

Mbalageti is able to also set-up bush breakfasts & themed bush dinners for 4 - 6 people, or
for larger groups by prior arrangement. These take place on the banks of the Mbalageti River or under a large Acacia tree respectively & offer sumptuous fresh meals.

Full or half day games drives are available on 4WD vehicles. Alternatively, sign up for a 2-hour guided nature walk along the banks of the Mbalageti River.

Kirawira Camp brings to life once again, the Victorian era outpost in Africa, set against the ever imposing background of the vast Western Serengeti Plains. Here, guests can enjoy both the majesty of animals of all major African species as well as being hosted in elegance & style accorded to dignitaries of bygone times.

Set upon a hill commanding seemingly endless views horizon to horizon, the luxury tented camp provides a mystical draw for guests to experience the very soul of Africa. It is located in the remote regions of the Grumeti River – home to lion prides, buffalo, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, baboon & gazelle. For those fortunate enough to be here when the annual Great Migrationary herds pass through on their timeless journey northward, the spectacle of millions of wildebeest, zebra & gazelle is awesome. But the pinnacle is to witness the herds in a frenzied rush crossing the Grumeti River, as here await the largest & most patient of all natures predators – African crocodile – many who gorge themselves only during the migration. It is indeed both gruesome yet compelling to witness.

At Kirawira guests enjoy the highest standards of service, accommodation meals & personal attention. Most beverages, (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) food, laundry & game drives are all inclusive. With only 25 Ivory class tented units, Kirawira is one of Tanzania´s most exclusive tented camps. Each unit is built on a raised wooden base, has a deep shade deck & individually appointed select antique Victorian furniture complemented by East Africa art.

Kirawira Camp provides :

• Private Raised Deck Tented luxury accomodation with en-suite bathroom facilities.
• All Meals, beverages & laundry service
• Guided game drives in 4 x 4 safari vehicles – day & night game drives are available.
• Guided game walks for those guests who wish to indulge.
• Bush location breakfasts & lunches.
• Swimming Pool
• Curio & craft shop in camp
• Nurse on 24 hour call & emergency evacuation service on call

Tucked away, almost hidden in the bush clad Kuka Hills, Klein’s Camp lies within the Serengeti just south of Masai Mara along ancient well trodden migratory routes of the herds of elephant, zebra & wildebeest. Set in some 10000 acres of private concession land owned by the local Masai tribe people who are themselves stake holders, this intimate camp offers sweeping views into the Grumeti River Valley.

There are only 10 stone & thatch cottages at Klein’s Camp. Interiors are rustic but tempered with features that promote style & comfort. The leather bedspreads, simple local stone walls, cosy armchairs and soft, downy beds all reflect an elegance of the landscape & the camp’s setting. Each cottage has a private en-suite bathroom with double basin, natural cotton dressing gowns & piping hot water for showering as frequently as one might wish. The camp has a central guest sitting room with ample sofas & cushions covered in raw silk, soft chenilles & zebra hide. For those who wish to indulge, an ornate ottoman serves as both a coffee & ‘bao’ table so guests may learn a traditional Masai board game that does indeed become addictive. In the dining area the gourmet chefs ply their culinary excellence over glowing braziers preparing Pan-African Styled cuisine of which they specialize. Outside, a swimming pool floored with local stone to blend in & not impose on the landscape has dark local wooded chairs & recliners for guests who might wish to cool off in the midday hours between game drives, or simply set down here to read & relax.

Excursions into the Serengeti are lead by expert local guides. Both day and night game drives are offered in the knowledge that there are no other humans to be found for miles around, so quite literally, Klein’s Camp guests have this most intact of Africa’s eco-systems to themselves. Elephants are common in the woodland areas, while Grant’s gazelle, lion, leopard, wildebeest & eland are frequently seen.

Klein’s Camp provides :

• 10 cottages with private terrace, magnificent views, private bathroom & robes
• Guided game drives in 4 x 4 safari vehicles – day & night game drives are available
• Guided game walks for those guests who wish to indulge
• Bush location breakfasts & lunches
• Educational & cultural visits to local Masai villages
• Curio & craft shop in camp
• All meals, snacks, local brand drinks included in tariff.

Grumeti River Camp is set out on a by-water of the main Grumeti River - which is famous for its huge, old & extremely wily crocodiles. These antediluvian reptiles, seemingly locked in a time capsule handed down from the dinosaur ages, lurk in pools in the river & await the annual Great Migration, where thousands upon hundreds of thousand wildebeest & zebra make a desperate dash to swim the river & emerge onto the lush new grasses that await them on the other side. That is , if they are not one of the unlucky ones that constitute what is often an annual meal for the scaly devils who lie in wait for the endless herds who dare to cross.

Hippos wallow in the tranquil waters that run the length of the camp, snorting disapproval if another hippo dares comes too close or invades their territory. Fights are frequent occurrences, heralded in a flurry of immense grey bodies, mouths wide open & sabre like incisor teeth flashing & with river lettuce being hurled about with gay abandon in the challenge. More often than not, these are displays of bluff - minor skirmishes – however during the breeding season, they can and do turn very nasty.

Above the 10 twin or double bedded configuration tents, colobus monkeys dash across the upper branches of the canopy of riverine trees. The tents themselves are a delight. Large, spacious with huge monumental Tanzania Cypress beds that envelop guests in pure luxury. In the en-suite bathroom, a large shower which deluges one in glorious hot water, is open to the sky which allows for showering in total privacy ‘outdoors’.

The dining area & guest areas reflect an African design. Intricate mosaic work decorates low walls & steps; bright burnt orange cushions adorn the guest wrought iron lounge chairs, while twisted tree-trunks support the beamed ‘makuti’ roof. Night time lighting outside is provided by twinkling lanterns & flaming torches which cast shadows into the interior lounge & dining room. Staff will escort guests to the outdoor ‘boma’ where dinners are served. Here, throne styled chairs, with royal purple cushions make for a dramatic backdrop to the magnificent table & culinary faire served by the gourmet chefs.

Grumeti River Camp gives the feeling of transporting guests to be one nature setting. Game drives are fully interpretive. They explore the Serengeti savannah & surrounding woodland seeking out zebra, giraffe, gazelle as well as some of the highest densities of cheetah, large lion prides & solitary leopard in Africa.

Grumeti River Camp provides :

• 10 double or twin-bedded configuration rooms with private en-suite bathroom, separate open topped shower & river views
• Guided game drives in 4 x4 safari vehicles
• Guided game walks for guests who wish to indulge
• Swimming pool, guest viewing deck, outdoor ‘boma’ for dinner settings
• Library, bar, curio shop
• Satellite telephone access
• All meals, snacks, local brand drinks included in tariff.

The Selous is the largest of Tanzania’s Game Reserves , covering some fifty-five thousand square kilometres of pristine wilderness named after Frederick Courtenay Selous - a big game hunter, explorer, turned naturalist & ecologist. Here, abundant ground water from the many innumerable springs fed by dependable annual rains means there is little need for the large mammals to migrate, consequently the region boasts an impressive array of game, birdlife & perhaps lesser known is a ‘garden’ for wild flowers.

Sands River Lodge stands on a large outcrop besides the Rufiji River, in the north of the Selous. Eight secluded cottages provide for exclusive accommodation, each with twin or double bedded configurations. They are built from local materials – stone & timber from fallen trees or those killed by the depredations of the elephant population. The high thatched roofs allow for cooling breezes to access from the open, verandah side of the cottage to circulate in the room. Traditional African prints, soft bush toned fabrics & the large generous beds add to the glorious river views. Each cottage has an enclosing mosquito bug net that envelopes each bed in the evenings & when drifting off to sleep, or in the early mornings as the dawn is breaking you are likely to hear the grunts of hippo, wallowing in the shallows. Each cottage has a private bathroom en-suite with an open air shower, piping hot running water, soft towels & bathrobes for guests use.

The central heart of the Lodge is the guest lounge where bar & dining room are located in one great open expanse, filled with light reflecting off the river, yet with shady nooks to relax & read, or sip your favourite beverage.

Sometimes frequented at night by the locals ( hippo ) the swimming pool is more often than not free for guest use during the day ! All safari game drives, taken in 4 x 4 custom designed vehicles are accompanied by an experienced professional guide who will have a high powered weapon for added security. Your guide will be keen to share their extensive knowledge & bushcraft with you. One of the better ways to gain an educational insight into the bush is to take one of the guided safari walks that provide for a more intimate relationship between terrain, wildlife, insects & plants. Sand River Lodge certainly brings you as close to nature while you are pampered by an ever attentive & charming lodge staff in this magical location.

Sands River Lodge provides :

• 8 secluded cottages all with private bathrooms, piping hot running water, separate open air private shower & Rufiji River views
• Guided game drives in open 4 x 4 safari vehicles
• Guided bushwalks
• Bush setting breakfasts
• Private dining by request
• Lake fishing for Tilapia
• River fishing for Tiger fish
• Guided river cruises
• Guest swimming pool & changing area
• All inclusive of meals, accommodation, beverages & game drive activities daily
• The Lodge is CLOSED from mid-March through May annually.

The Selous Safari Camp is located very close to the grave of Frederick Courtenay Selous, the big game hunter, turned naturalist, ecologist & explorer for whom this wonderful legacy, the Selous Game Reserve is named.

Elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, African wild dog & a wide range of antelope species make this region home as with the abundance of natural water, they have little if any reason to migrate from here. The camp itself is located on the edge of Lake Nzerekera & game viewing from ones tent is often as spectacular as from a game drive vehicle or boat. Each large tent is located for privacy & built above the ground on a raised wooden platform. They have generous viewing decks & each unit looks out over the lake. The main guest area includes dining room & bar mounted on a high platform & each evening a bonfire is lite so guests can sit around, exchanging stories while enjoying their sundowner beverages, prior to the three course silver service dinner being served.

Breakfasts feature amazing platters of freshly baked breads & fruit with ever imaginable way eggs can be cooked at your behest. During the heat of the day, a swimming pool is there for relaxation & a cooling dip.

The attraction to Selous River Camp is indeed the game viewing. Both land based & guided 4 x 4 safari vehicle game viewing & water based boating cater to all manner of expectations. The water based guided trips will bring guests to the closest yet safest distance from hippo & crocodile & for the bird lovers, to birds of prey & water fowl.

Selous Safari Camp provides :

• 12 separate an spacious tents ; 5 with double beds, 7 with twin bed configuration & set on raised platforms looking out across Lake Nzerekera. Each tent has solar powered lighting, private bathroom & private verandah
• Guided game drives in 4 x 4 safari vehicles
• Guided boating safaris conducted in aluminium outboard motor propelled vessels
• Guided game walks conducted with Reserve Game Scouts
• Guest swimming pool
• Camp is CLOSED mid-April until the end of May