Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp. Lemala is nicely positioned (though don’t be deceived; the views are not into the Crater itself because the camp is on the other side of the rim, looking out into the Conservation area rather than into the Crater itself) and there is some game in the surrounding region. Overall, it is a high-quality offering that provides a refreshing breath of fresh air along the Ngorongoro rim, complete with real tents and rustic comfort.

Lemala Ngorongoro: The Facts

This camp is situated on the eastern side of the Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Northern Tanzania. The tented camp is located on the Crater rim in a natural indigenous forest, however it faces east rather than down into the crater. There is no view of the Crater bottom from anyplace in the camp. Lemala Ngorongoro’s nearest airfield is in Lake Manyara, which is slightly over an hour’s drive away. There is an airstrip atop the Crater Rim, but it is not on scheduled airline itineraries and is frequently shrouded in clouds, making it impossible to use.

The camp has twelve tents and a separate lounge area in front of a fireplace. Lemala Ngorongoro offers accommodation in nine roomy tents, including one family tent, located in a remote concession for seclusion. Each tent contains two spacious single beds or a king size double bed with thick duvets for warmth and comfort, a gas heater to keep the tent warm, and a private bathroom with a dressing area, flush toilet, shower, and basin with running water. It is worth mentioning that the Lemala tents are now the company’s oldest, with a restoration scheduled for around 2013. All other Lemala properties are of a far higher grade than this.

The mess area is tastefully decorated with sofas, lamps, books, and old-wood corner cabinets, as well as chandeliers, chests, and rugs. Meals are served either outside or within the mess, and all guests are invited to sit together for dinner. The price includes laundry and house beverages such as wine, beer, spirits, soda, water, tea, and coffee.

The proximity of Lemala to the crater’s low-traffic access path gives it an advantage over the majority of the other sites. Guests can begin their game drives early, avoiding traffic bottlenecks and queues that are common at the Seneto entry route utilized by the majority of lodges on the rim or in the Karatu area, making it an excellent stop on your Northern Tanzania safari.