The individual stone-and-thatch Maasai-inspired manyattas at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge are dotted along the hillside, all looking out over the Ngorongoro Crater. From the outside the rooms look delightfully rustic, with red mud packed walls, thatch roofs and chunky wooden beams struts raising them about a metre off the ground.

Once inside, rustic charm gives way to shear indulgence and luxury. The rooms have plenty of space, yet feel very warm and cosy due to the dark wood floors and walls, and deep-coloured soft furnishings.

The first thing you see as you enter is the bed: a vast (and incredibly comfortable) four-poster bed. For cool evenings your butler will also turn on your electric blanket to make it all the more inviting.

The bedrooms also have a lounge area, with two leather chairs placed beside a fire, which is lit at your request. We particularly enjoyed relaxing here, sipping on a glass of sherry after a long day on safari – and nibbling on the sweets that were placed out on the coffee table.

Beautifully carved wooden doors divide the bedroom from the bathroom area which is also delightfully over-the-top. A chandelier hangs above a freestanding bath, which will (on request) be filled to the brim with a warm bubble bath. A wonderful array of soaps are set beside the bath and in the evenings, there is plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing soak.

The bathrooms also have a shower, two sinks and a flush toilet. The toilet sits behind a door for privacy – but has a window in front so that even from here you can look out over the Crater.

Between the bathroom and the bedroom is a small vestibule area. Here there is some space for storing your clothes, as well as a little vanity table for getting ready. There is a mirror and also a hairdryer here for you to use.

All of the rooms have phones from which you can call room service, and there is also access to an outside line. International calls cost $10 a minute and will be billed to your room. There is also a safe for any valuables.

The rooms don't have air-conditioning or fans – however as the lodge sits at a high altitude this is not necessary. In fact the warm fire and electric blanket in the evening are much more appropriate for the cool evening temperatures.

The 'butler' system at Crater Lodge

It's worth noting here that every room has its own 'butler' – who is responsible for looking after you during your stay. Before we travelled, we heard about this we felt that it was unpleasantly Colonial; we don't need servants or constant supervision.

The reality was far from it. Robert was in charge of our room and he looked after us incredibly well, bringing surprise drinks just when we wanted them, lit a fire for us before we got back on a cold afternoon, ran a amazing bubble-bath as a surprise, and even switched on our electric blanket! Basically – he did a very good job, seemed almost telepathic at times, and was a great chap to talk to about the lodge and the local area.

So whilst we still don't like the connotations of the word 'butler' – we loved the way that Crater Lodge works.

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