Reviews of safaris to Ngorongoro Crater
290 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ngorongoro Crater.
"My Jul 2017 trip"
"My Jun 2017 trip"
Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti was an excellent combo with diverse landscapes and different scenery. Zanzibar is a very nice resort location and Stonetown was an interesting surprise with the slave museum well worth at least an hour.
Tarangire was originally our "backup option" but turned out to be our favorite of the trips as we love elephants and the local staff and walking guides offered a fantastic experience, not only in the jeeps but also on foot walking which is well worth promoting as not all parks do guided walks." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
"An Unforgettable Journey !"
Thanks to the way Expert Africa helped us to choose among the various possible destinations, we could benefit from an itinerary that led us to variable parts of Tansania and we enjoyed entirely different landscapes and surroundings. Each of the camps and lodges we stayed at had their own charm and asset. Obviously James Denny was able to empathize our wishes and preferences so well that we really got what we wanted.
There is only one small critical item we would like to mention:
What we did not know beforehand (and what we could have been told when planning) was the distance from Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha, which is a car drive of about three hours, not really very much longer than the flight together with the time for waiting and transfer to and from the airport. In addition to this we flew to Kilimanjaro Airport instead of Arusha AIrport, which would have been much nearer to the hotel, although the plane did actually got to Arusha Airport." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 21 on a Tanzania safari
"My Mar 2017 trip"
The game drives, including the vehicle, were wonderful.
Stanford was a great guide--knowledgeable and well-suited for our family.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I was amazed by how easy and efficient everything was, especially since we were traveling through multiple time zones while planning the trip and often did not have access to the internet." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
"My Mar 2017 trip"
It was a truly memorable trip that hopefully is the first of many trips to Africa." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
"Safari Kenya & Tanzania + Zanzibar"
"Northern Tanzania trip February 2017"
Initially I was operating under the delusion that I could self drive, while that is not a type of tour that Expert Africa helps with she was still quite helpful making some suggestions. As it became obvious that we would need more help with both the driving and the booking at Ndutu Lodge, she was able to step in and work with our available dates.
I would wholeheartedly recommend them based on our trip and experience with them.
These travellers commented about their guide:
John was incredible!
I could go on and on about John. He was punctual and courteous and all that. He was very well informed, very knowledgable and very personable. He was both a very skilled driver (and in certain circumstances with some very rainy weather this was tested) as well as a very knowledgable guide.
What my wife and I both felt that was after driving for an hour or two up from Arusha he was like an old friend. He had great insight into the local area, his knowledge of the flora and fauna in the parks were amazing, his ability to drive, spot animals and give us information on what we were seeing was superb." Read full review: 4 nights in Africa; 4 on a Tanzania safari
"My Feb 2017 trip"
I would also recommend Nomad Tanzania to anyone going to Tanzania. Expert (Eleanor and Olivia) did a great job during the lengthy period of planning the trip, answering questions, responding by email in a timely fashion, alerting me to details that I needed to complete, nudging where appropriate, offering unbiased advice.
In short, our two week trip to Arusha, Gibbs Farm, the Ngorongoro Crater, Southern Serengeti, Northern Serengeti (Lamai), Stone Town and Zanzibar beaches was terrific and I would do it again. Especially the Serengeti. And no question that Serengeti Lamai was the highlight of the trip. A unique spot. I found it very moving to contemplate the origins of our species a million years ago arising from the very same surroundings, surviving the challenges of hunter and prey, and literally standing up on two feet and becoming the dominant species of the planet. Really powerful.
Well done, Expert Africa!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
"Asilia trip exceeded our expectations"
We would recommend Asilia camps because you can expect high standards across the board and also in the knowledge that they are involved in and contribute towards local communities. They employ as many local people as possible: at Highlands for instance there are Masai community guides. Asilia also have impressive training programmes: while at Sayari we saw this in action as a new batch of trainee guides was being selected.
Overall the balance of the trip was very good: the camps were in very different landscapes and the wildlife viewing exceeded our expectations." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Tanzania safari
"My Jan 2017 trip"
I wish to thank James Denny for working with me all year and making the recommendations that he did. I put this trip together for 3 of my friends but could not have done it without James/Expert Africa. I used Expert Africa for a trip to Botswana and found their planning and the companies that they work with to be reliable and was so glad to work with them once again. They are my Go-To experts for Africa.
My friends were totally delighted with the trip and sincerely loved all of the different pieces that made this a successful, perspective shifting, travel experience.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, I really don't. I feel blessed to have found this company. Thank you all so much." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Where 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.
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.
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.
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.
Wildlife Lodge
Stay at the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge while on road safari in Northern Tanzania's spectacular Ngorongoro Crater area.
Neptune Ngorongoro
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge is a smart hilltop lodge with log-style cottages set close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Kirurumu Ngorongoro
Kirurumu Ngorongoro is a tented camp situated near the Ngorongoro Crater, with seven guest tents.
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.
