Quick poll - which of the following options would you choose:

Option 1:
1 night at the Lake Mayanara (Gibbs Farm)
1 night at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Option 2:
1 night at at Ngorongoro (Serena)
1 night at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Option 2 would allow us to visit the crater on day 1 and 2 as opposed to trying to fit everything into one day. I guess the main question is how you would rate Lake Mayanara vs. Ngorongoro?

Thanks in advance...

Eiremon
Gibbs farm is not a Lake Manyara it is at Karatu about 1 hours drive from L.Manyara on the edge of the Ngororngoro Conservation area.
You can have a three hour visit to Lake Manyara on your way to Ngorongoro Serena for night 1
BUT one question why stay at two different lodges on the crater rim why not stay at one
option 2 anyway is far better

The Lodge is booked on the 3rd. I am waitlisted, just not sure if a spot will open up. So my travel agent was recommending Gibbs Farm. I have decided that staying two nights in the crater will allow me to wake up early the first day to see the morning activity. Then we can sleep in on the second day and enjoy the Lodge. If I am going to pay to stay there I don't want to wake up at 5 am and leave...

I think you're making a good choice, although I like Manyara. If I were spending highway-robbery $ to stay at Crater Lodge, I'd want to enjoy the atmosphere, too. You could also arrange for a hike or walk your second afternoon.

Get up and down into the Crater as early as possible. It's much nicer before it gets crowded.

Have a lovely trip.

I agree with the former post. You can visit Manyara on your way to the Crater. If I had to choose, I would go for 2 nights in the crater, but preferably at the same lodge.

Eiremon
If you can get Serena for one night and the Crater lodge for the next this is a far beter option than Gibbs farm

Also ask your agent what chance is there that the W/L will clear

Do the 2/nts at the Crater, one at Serena the other at Crater Lodge. If there is confirmed space at Crater Lodge and our budget can handle it, grab it. It's not likely that waitlists will be released, and how many people are on the list ahead of you?

Even if the Crater Lodge is the 2nd night, I'd do the morning crater visit leaving Serena, as this is the best time to be down there. Then you can spend the afternoon at Crater Lodge in total decadence and dinner after.

Eiremon
It doesnt hurt to ask
I would email the Crater Lodge directly
and find out what chance your first night has of clearing
then make a decison based on their reply
a lot depends on your time of travel