The Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is set on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, only 8km from the descent road. There are stunning views from all of the bedrooms and many of the public areas. On a clear day, looking through the lodge telescope it is even possible to see the wildlife roaming around! Due to this spectacular location, the Ngorongoro Serena is a very popular lodge – it can accommodate up to 165 people at one time.
The lodge sits off the main road, below its car park. Despite its size, it blends in quite well with its surroundings. It is made from stone and wood and has dense, green creepers clinging to its outside walls.
The lodge has 75 bedrooms – all of which are fairly small and ordinary. Their best feature is undoubtedly the French doors which open out to a view of the Crater; otherwise they're very unremarkable.
The bedrooms are linked to the public areas of the lodge by wide walkways built of wood and polished stone. There is a huge restaurant (buffet is the norm), a bar, a TV area, decked, outside seating areas and a curio shop. The TV area, bar and restaurant all link into each other and are furnished in much the same way – rust, green, burgundy and blue is the colour theme. There is also a splash of brass and wooden beams on the ceilings.
Stone fireplaces have been built into some of the rooms – there is one in the reception area and in the dining room – which are welcome in the evenings as it does get cool up here, especially at night. (The altitude here is 2,326m – or 7,633 feet.)
The Ngorongoro Serena Lodge doesn't pretend to be anything other than a large and impersonal lodge. Its design lacks any personal touches or style, and feels very dated. Its bedrooms are small and unimaginative, and the public areas lack any real atmosphere.
That said, it is comfortable, functional and one of only a few lodges on the edge of the Crater. It is a fairly reasonable cost for a location that is both breathtaking and very convenient for safaris into the Crater.
Because of the large groups that often use this lodge, overbookings here are common. If you would like to include the Ngorongoro Serena in a trip, please understand that Expert Africa can take no responsibility for any overbooking. In such an event, we'll do our best to help make alternative arrangements for you – but we will not take responsibility for any additional costs or any resultant changes to your itinerary.
Central facilities: The busy reception area at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge has white, painted walls with stencils of stampeding wildebeest, an exposed stone fire place, a high ceiling and polished, wood floors. There are high backed, dark wood and leather benches - reflecting the wall art - they are also decorated with stampeding herds of animals - wooden tables and iron spears hang on the walls. Off the main reception area there is a small curio shop which stocks a few toiletries as well as a good range of souvenirs.
As you make your way through reception, there are two computers, beneath hanging batiks, which are connected to the internet and can be used at extra cost.
There are wide, wood and stone walkways, amongst the tall tress, leading to the different areas of the lodge. There are 75 bedrooms, a bar, a dining room, an outside deck and a TV area. The dining room, bar and TV areas are all linked together and the space they cover is quite extensive. As you walk through the large wooden doors, the first thing you see and hear is the TV area. There are a few comfy chairs placed around a TV which is on all day in the corner.
The bar follows on from the TV area. It has a dark, polished stone floor and plenty of wood. There are dark wood beams on the white painted ceilings and the bar is made up of polished wood paneling. Wicker lights hang from iron light fittings and a stone fireplace warms the room from under a circular brass chimney flue. Brightly-striped wooden chairs are placed around small, wooden tables but if you prefer you can sit in one of the high leather backed chairs at the bar. This room is large and although uninspiring, makes the best of the space that it uses. There are a few low, stone walls with tables and chairs behind them which try to add a cosy feel to the room.
There is also a self-service tea and coffee stand tucked into one of the corners of the bar. This is available all day and is generally accompanied by a few biscuits and cakes at tea-time.
The restaurant is up a few wooden stairs and, in keeping with the rest of the lodge, is very large. There are large glass windows allowing for beautiful views over the Crater. There are many wooden tables and cushioned chairs surrounding the buffet 'islands'. These 'islands' are laden with all sorts of hot and cold foods during breakfast and lunch. Both the bar and the dining room have a 70's feel to them with their décor. There are solid white and orange pillars in the dining room supporting the ceiling, exposed stone fire places and carved wood.
Glass doors lead out from the dining room to an outside deck area. This is mainly used for drinks and for viewing the Crater through the large telescope. There are a few wooden directors' chairs which you can relax in with a sundowner and get away from the madding crowds indoors.
Food quality:Breakfast – 6:30 – 9:00, consists of choosing what you would like from a hot and cold buffet.
Lunch - 12:30 – 2:30, is also a hot and cold buffet. You can choose from a large selection of food, including, salads, cold meats and vegetarian options. The hot meal changes daily.
Dinner - 7:30 – 9:30, is the only a la carte meal served at the lodge – although a buffet is also available. Again, there is quite a large choice here and it will all be served to your table. As with the hot lunches, the dinner menu also changes daily.
The food here isn't gourmet, but there is a lot of choice and plenty of it.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor Dining
Room service: Yes
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: No drinks are included at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. The last time we were there, (September 07), a beer cost roughly $4 and a bottle of water cost about $2.50
Special interests
Photographic: The views of the Crater from the top of the descent road, on a clear day, are spectacular. Once inside the crater there is a large amount of wildlife and diverse landscape. Photographers will find this a real gem as the colours, in the right light, are varied and contrasting.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for photographic in Tanzania
Wildlife: The Serena is in an ideal location for a visit to the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater – which is home to perhaps Africa's greatest concentration of wildlife, including lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo. The Crater is also the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, and a World Heritage Site.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for wildlife in Tanzania
Children
Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.
Age restrictions: There are no age restrictions here.
Activities: The lodge can arrange babysitters.
Equipment: There are cots and highchairs here.
Generally recommended for children: Yes
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: There are telephones in all of the bedrooms. There are two computers linked to the internet that guests can use. The last time we visited, this cost $5 for 15 minutes or $10 for half an hour. Reception will burn photographs onto CD's for $10 per CD.
TV & radio: Most rooms do not have televisions, but the 'executive suite' does, and there's one in the hotel's lounge.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: There is a first aid kit at the lodge and some of the staff are trained to use it.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: There is 24 hour security. 4 guards are on shift at one time.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in all rooms. Some of the staff are trained to use them.
Extras
Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Laundry is not included at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. Items cost roughly between $1 - $5. The lodge also has an express service at no extra cost – if you hand your laundry to reception in the morning, you will get it back the same evening.
Money: The lodge accepts US$, Sterling, Euros, Tanzanian Shillings and Kenyan Shillings.
They also accept travellers cheques.
There is a safe in reception that guests can use.
Accepted payment: Ngorongoro Serena accepts Visa, American Express and Mastercard. They will use the lodge's daily exchange rate for billing.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge review
Worth staying just for the location. We were able to be down in the crater shortly after 6.30 am as our guide arranged 6.00 am breakfast for us - so we had a good 3 - 4 hours before we started to enco...
