The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Tanzania
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is located on Lemala Hill, which is on the eastern rim of Ngorongoro Crater in the Volcanic Highlands of Northern Tanzania. The Crater forms part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, an area of 8,300sq kms set aside to preserve and integrate the diverse values and interests of wildlife, people, forestry, archaeology and tourism.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is the only tourist development on the previously undisturbed Eastern access road to the Ngorongoro Crater. The descent to the Ngorongoro Crater floor commences within five minutes of leaving the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. The lodge is situated at 7,800 feet (2,375 meters) above sea level and is therefore, cool and even cold at certain times of the year.
The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge features a central glass atrium, while the central lounge presents hand-painted murals of local wildlife.
The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
Often referred to as ‘the eighth wonder of the world' the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's best-known wildlife arenas. A World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater is also one of the largest volcanic craters in the world (almost 20 kilometres wide, 610-760 metres deep and covering a total area of 264 square kilometres). Due to the high concentration of wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater, close-range viewing opportunities and striking scenery the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania's most visited sites (400,000 visitors in 2007). The Ngorongoro Crater is part of the larger Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.
Tanzania luxury safari lodge: location
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge stands on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater within the larger Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, which lies south-east of the Serengeti National Park, 165 kms from Arusha.
Your Tanzania lodge safari
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) was established in 1959, most of it having previously belonged to the now contiguous Serengeti National Park. The Ngorongoro Crater is only one of many natural attractions that are contained within the vast boundaries (8,300 sq km) of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. These include both dormant and active volcanoes, soaring mountains, archaeological treasures, rolling plains, rivers, forests, lakes and shifting sand dunes whilst almost half of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is made up of vast tracts of open grassland, which swing in a vast arc stretching from the Serengeti in the northwest through the Gol Mountains to the Salei Plain in the northeast.
Olduvai Gorge
Close (20kms) to the centre of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is Olduvai Gorge, the ‘Cradle of Mankind', where the remains of our earliest ancestors, the hominids, were found.
Ngorongoro Crater wildlife safari highlights
The Ngorongoro Crater hosts a large population of ungulates and high numbers of predators, particularly lion. The only absentees from the usual East African large mammals are the giraffe, impala and female and young elephants.
Tanzania luxury safari lodge: accommodation
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge opened in 1992, is an all-suite lodge having 96 suites most enjoying magnificent views into the Ngorongoro Crater. Each suite is fully carpeted and heated by oil fired central heating radiators in the winter months. The spacious bedrooms contain two queen sized beds with deep sprung mattresses to ensure a comfortable nights rest. The fully tiled bathrooms are equipped to a high standard with bath, shower, WC, bidet, wash hand basin, hair dryer and shaver socket.
Each Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge suite has a solarium with comfortable rocking chairs, the perfect place to relax. A small private lounge with writing desk provides extra privacy to each suite and mini bars are available on request. Laundry services are offered.
Tanzania luxury safari lodge: dining and bars
Built within a traditional rondavel, the high-roofed central Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge dining room features enormous windows with stunning views over the crater. Meals are served buffet style and feature local and international cuisine. The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge also offers its own coffee bar while drinks and snacks can be enjoyed on the pool deck. The panoramic and well-stocked bar centers around a blazing logfire.
Conference and event facilities at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
The lodge offers conference facilities and packages. The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge also makes the ideal setting for small wedding ceremonies and a series of packages are offered. Tanzania lodge incentives can also be arranged within the Ngorongoro Crater or the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Weddings and honeymoons at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
This Tanzania lodge makes an ideal Tanzania wedding destination. The lodge also offers wedding and honeymoon packages.
Child-friendly facilities at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge welcomes children and will be pleased to supply additional beds and babysitting services.
What to see and do at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
The lodge has its own gift shop and internet café. It also features a spectacular pool and sundeck. Activities include:
• Sundowners on the rim of the crater, full English breakfast on the floor of the crater.
• Picnic lunch by the hippo pools on the crater floor.
• Early morning breakfast on the crater floor
• Maasai dance and theatre nightly
• Visits to Maasai villages and cattle markets
The lodge works closely with the surrounding Maasai community and offers visits to Maasai manyattas and handicraft centres. Traditional Maasai dance displays are held regularly. The Lodge is also within easy reach of Ol Duvai Gorge, the paleolithic site and reputed ‘birthplace of mankind'.
• Day wildlife watching and game driving Tanzania safaris on the Ngorongoro Crater floor.
• Ornithological Tanzania safaris.
• Wildlife movies are shown on certain evenings. Acrobats also display their talents to the visiting guests.
• Morning wildlife walks around the crater with the resident naturalist.
• A day trip to Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind, and site of one of the most important and controversial Paleolithic finds in recent history.
• A visit to neighboring Empakaai Crater, a 300-meter deep crater dominated by a flamingo-frosted soda lake.
• Visits to a selection of authentic Maasai villages.
• Relax on your chair on the veranda gazing between trees, or enlighten yourself with some reading, or noting down a journal on your sketchbook.
Safari lodge experiences in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Typical Tanzania safari experiences at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge include: morning or afternoon tours of the Ngorongoro Crater, safari game drives in especially adapted 4WD safari vehicles (with professionally trained Tanzania safari guides) around the crater rim, safari bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners; cocktails around the lodge safari campfire and guided safari walks around the crater rim, visits to view ancient rock art. Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge also offers ornithological tours, cultural performances and visits to the local Maasai people of Tanzania.
Tanzania safari lodge experiences around the Ngorongoro Crater
Wildlife and cultural venues in the vicinity of the lodge and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area include:
• Ol Duvai Gorge - world renowned paleolithic site
• The Serengeti National Park
• Lake Manyara National Park
• The nearby Empaki volcanic crater
• Tarangire National Park
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge • Tanzania Wildlife Safari Lodges
To enquire about booking this Tanzania safari hotel, please Contact Us!