Reviews of safaris to Ngorongoro Crater
304 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ngorongoro Crater.
"My Mar 2025 trip"
A few recommendations for future travelers:
• If you have heat sensitivity, make sure you mention it and ask for tents in shaded areas, if it all possible.
• Bring extra money to tip at the lodges – not just drivers, guides and housekeepers – the entire lodge staff expects to be tipped.
• Luggage size and restrictions are not quite as limited as mentioned in the itinerary. As a note: Maruska was so very helpful in tracking down information directly from the airline providers… and, that helped to relieve the stress of restricted weight/size limits, especially, for a six week long trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I will be contacting Maruska in the near future to plan another trip to Africa, it was a fabulous experience!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
"My Feb 2025 trip"
We were paired with an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and who went above and beyond to ensure we had great mammal and bird sightings. Especially in the Ngorongoro crater and Ndutu area, the abundance of wildlife was mesmerizing.
We stayed mostly in the parks and we could really feel the proximity of the wildlife during our stay. Especially, one member of our party had a very close encounter with a lion one morning when going to breakfast (it was after sunrise and the night guards seemed to have finished their shift). We found out later that lions liked to use the path near our cabin very frequently.
More information on how to react and deal with this sort of encounter could have been helpful (not just saying there could be 'wildlife' passing by). Luckily, they managed to make it back to the cabin unharmed and live to tell the tale! Had something bad happened, our trip would have turned out very differently." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
"My Jan 2025 trip"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
This was my second trip with Expert Africa. I’ve been more than impressed with the service and assistance I’ve received. I love your website and how easy it is to research properties and locations. I often surf your site just for fun! I have very much appreciated the care I’ve received pre-trip and upon arrival to my destination. Knowing assistance is waiting to shepherd me through customs and to my ground transportation is highly valued, especially as I often travel solo. Upon arrival in Tanzania, we were whisked through a separate, empty line while other travelers waited in a crowded cue. Given the long travel from the US to Africa, it’s nice to have the arrival expedited. I’m now planning a third trip with you to Zambia and know I will be taken care of. Thanks so much for opening up a whole new world for me. In my opinion, there is no better place to vacation than in Africa!" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
"My Jan 2025 trip"
Logistics were very smooth from landing in Kigali to drop off at JRO.
Expert Africa even had someone greet us at Kigali to escort us through customs, see us to a lounge while waiting, gather our bags, and direct us from the lounge to our driver.
Our driver in Rwanda was incredible. Just a fantastic experience." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
"My Dec 2024 trip"
We really enjoyed every minute of it, from the flights to the accommodations to the game drives, all was perfectly organised and it felt like a true holiday, thank you!" Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
"My Nov 2024 trip"
We would not hesitate to recommend Expert Africa to freinds, and would wholeheatedly recommend any of the places we stayed at: Gran Melia in Arusha, Lemala Nanyukie, The Highlands and Zuri Zanzibar" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
"My Sep 2024 trip"
You were smart listeners, patiently crafting a great trip that matched our best hopes." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
"My Sep 2024 trip"
We were placed with Jessica Plumb based on the area we desired to travel. She guided us with care and precision answering any and all questions we had. The attention to detailed planning was felt throughout the trip! We could not have asked for anything more!
The Nomad team was top notch. You can tell by talking to them they are a wonderful company with little turnover. They are a family and value their guest. The accommodations, although all different were excellent and the service was first class. The food was AMAZING. We really had no idea what to expect but it was delicious. The guides take ownership in making sure their guest see everything they possibly can. Wifi was a pleasant surprise and much appreciated to communicate briefly with those back home. Without a doubt we will assist in talking to anyone about our trip and the excellent service we received!
It's hard to say what was our favorite because we loved each and every minute! We have said again and again we could not have been treated any better any where else! We hope to return and WILL use Expert Africa.
Feel free to use any of our quotes!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
can not think of one thing
Just make sure we have another excellent person next time and please let the Nomad team know how wonderful they were!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
"Our Sep 2024 trip"
When we embarked on this journey, we reached out to several outfitters with written questions. Richard stood out as the only one who replied in writing, addressing each of our queries. We appreciated that, as it showed he was willing to take the time to provide thorough answers instead of opting for a quick phone call. Through our exchange of preferences, we eventually set up a phone call to finalize the country and initial park selections. It was clear that Richard was truly listening when he suggested swapping Amboseli for Samburu to enhance our animal encounters. His recommendation, based on the unique features of each park, convinced us that the switch was the right choice. Additionally, we decided to include another park and lodge based on our combined ideas.
As our travel date approached, we both felt a bit anxious, being detail-oriented individuals who thrive on precision. Richard managed to provide some additional details, but he urged us to trust him with the finer points. He assured us that from the moment we landed in Nairobi until our return flight home, we would be well taken care of. Although this level of trust was outside our comfort zone, we agreed. Now that we're back, we can confidently say Richard was right—every detail was meticulously handled. Wahoo! Everywhere we went, people were expecting us, from the pilots to the lodges and guides, seamlessly coordinating our journey at each transfer point.
Our trip as a whole met our expectations and went way beyond. We have done nothing but rave about it since we returned home. We have told everyone we have talked to about the trip what a great experience it was and how great it was to work with Richard. Given the opportunity to plan another trip like this, we would certainly be comfortable working with Richard and would highly recommend him and Expert Africa to friends.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
On our trip, we experienced both communal and solitary dining. We thoroughly enjoyed the communal meals with the General Manager, Assistant General Manager, and other lodge guests. These gatherings offered us a valuable opportunity to learn about each person's culture and experiences. We believe that offering a communal dining option could enhance the overall experience, making it more enriching and engaging." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 15 on a Kenya safari
"My Aug 2024 trip"
Everything went very smoothly. Many thanks to all concerned, and especially to Lyndsey.
She always understands really quickly what we want, provides suggestions on timing and accommodation, and goes on to build a brilliant holiday.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No - you do a great job. Just keep on providing lovely holidays." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
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Inspire meWhere to stay in Ngorongoro Crater
Our suggestions for safari camps in Ngorongoro Crater
Plantation Lodge
A relaxed base between Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara, Plantation Lodge has lush grounds and offers good value and high standards.
Gibbs Farm
Located not far from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Gibb's Farm has comfy rooms, homegrown food and strong community links
Lemala Ngorongoro
Lemala Ngorongoro is a small, comfortable tented camp on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater with lovely walking in the vicinity.
Entamanu Ngorongoro
Opened in 2016, Entamanu Ngorongoro is a small camp high on the Crater rim with views towards the crater and the plains of the Serengeti.
Crater Lodge
The ultra-luxurious Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is perched in a spectacular location on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater.
The Highlands
The Highlands is a unique camp near Olmoti Crater, north of Ngorongoro, offering drives, walks and cultural visits from a beautiful remote setting.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Situated on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, with outstanding views, the Sopa Lodge is a somewhat dated, international-style hotel.
Rhino Lodge
Rhino Lodge is a simple, good-value lodge with a great location near the crater rim, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Farmhouse Lodge
Ngorongoro Farmhouse Lodge is set on a 750-acres working farm. Close to the NCA gate, it makes a great base for exploring the Crater.
Rhotia Valley Ttd. Lodge
Rhotia Valley is a simple lodge with a strong commitment to the local community, including a children's home, which guests may visit.
Ngorongoro Serena
The large, hotel-like Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge sits on the western rim of Ngorongoro Crater and has stunning views of the caldera.
Bougainvillea Lodge
Bougainvillea Safari Lodge provides an economical base from which to visit Lake Manyara or the Ngorongoro Crater.
The Manor
The Manor is a smart, family-friendly Cape-Dutch-style lodge, offering high-quality service and food in very comfortable surroundings.
Neptune Ngorongoro
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge is a smart hilltop lodge with log-style cottages set close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Wildlife Lodge
Stay at the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge while on road safari in Northern Tanzania's spectacular Ngorongoro Crater area.
Crater's Edge
Craters Edge is an intimate luxury property on the north-eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Lion's Paw
Located on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, this camp has stunning panoramic views down onto the crater floor. A five minute drive to the nearest descent gate allows for early access into the crater, maximising on avoiding the large crowds
Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
A small tented camp, located on the eastern side of the Ngorongoro Crater rim, with a five minute drive to crater descent gate.
Ngorongoro Fly-Camp
Explore the remote northern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater on a two-day hike and spend the night in this small fly-camp.
Country Lodge
Country Lodge is conveniently located on the edge of Karatu and provides a comfortable base for exploring Ngorongoro Crater or Lake Manyara.
