Just wondering if the Ngorongoro Serena is just as good as the Ngorongoro Crater. There is a large gap in price, but is what you get really that much better? Serena Hotels have done exceptionally well on Travel + Leisure Top Hotels list...is this just bias info? Please advise!

I'm also thinking of Serena Selous Tented...any thoughts?

We are booked in there because our travel agent thinks the view is the best and every room has a view into the crater. So, we are staying here for the view. It's one of the only lodges we will be staying in on our safari. I think if you prefer absolute luxury, this may not be it.

{bookmarking}


my only comment
Ngorogoro Crater muast be good as it gets excellent reviews by the people who pay those prices. I couldnt justify the cost for my upcoming safari, but did try to make it fit.

We chose to upgrade our Serengeti experience to a luxury camp for less money but I want to see what people who have done both say.

Serena Ngo is not in the same league as the Crater Lodge, and is one step down from Lemala tented camp, yet on a recent trip we stayed at the Serena. My rationale was as follows: Crater Lodge at $1,200 pppn is one of the most if not the most expensive lodging in Africa- no way I could justify that. Lemala is a great tented camp but has no views of the crater and is obviously unheated, plus 1.5x the cost of the Serena. My conclusion was the Serena gives you the best bang for the buck at Ngo. The Sopa on the other end of the crater is not as nice from a lodging perspective BUT has a big advantage in an east access road up and down from the crater. Read my recent trip report for more info on Serena Ngo.
In general larger lodges cannot compare to smaller ones on Safari especially at the upper end. However, we loved Kirawira camp which is Serena's highest-end property in TZ and it had about 30 tents which is considered medium size (Most Serenas with 70+ rooms are considered large) and most high end camps have under 12 tents/rooms (I'm obviously generalizing but you get the picture).

We stayed at the Sopa, it's was the closet entry point to the Crater, dont know if that applies.
Dont know how it compares with the Serena, but the food was very enjoyable, the staff delightful and our room more than adequate.
Someone here will be able to tell you the time difference I'm sure.

AKR1 - Lemala Camp at Ngorongoro does have heat! Each tent has heaters which is a plus at the 7,000-ft altitude where it's nippy at night.

Lionlove - Serena is the nicer over the Sopa and more expensive. Actually, most feel the view from Sopa is better as it is located on the East side of the crater rim and thus has the western sunset. Also, the Sopa is often preferred for it's access road which Lemala Camp shares. Lemala Camp though is more expensive than Serena or Sopa Lodges.

Crater Lodge is very expensive, but not quite the most expensive in Tanzania; those on Grumeti/Singita Reserve are higher. It's a personal choice for those who have the funds to pay for crystal chandaliers, velvet draperies and rose petals in their bubble bath. Different strokes for different folks.

sandi...Once again, your candor is much appreciated. At Londolozi I had bougainvillaea petals in my bath and a plunge pools. It's been done. what I look forward to more than anything is the coffee tray and biscuits delivered to my door in the mornings when I wake at dawn. simple but dignified!

I will look up Lemala Camp as it sounds like it's a good option. I will pay the outrageous price at Crater Lodge if i can keep the other camps at less. so far i have Tortillis chosen and now one of the crater lodges. my budget is open (somewhat). i am looking for the best experience above all.

One more stop to go on the itinerary... Selous a good choice?

Selous in May? No! Most all the properties are closed Apr/May and don't re-open till early June, others mid-June. Besides the fact that unlike the Serengeti or Mara with open plains, Selous is lots and lots of brush and thus high grass till the area dries out, so best July-Oct.

Lemala at Ngorongoro gets excellent reviews. As do their other camps. These are seasonal, open during the dry seasons and do relocate depending on where best game, i.e., their Ndutu Camp from Dec-Mar, moves to the North from Jun-Oct. Their Tarangire camp (Jun-Oct) alternates with Lk. Manyara (Dec-Mar). The Ewanjan Camp stays in Central.

Does Lemala Camp really have no view of the crater? Does this matter?

I am now (I think!) travelling in June. So much to think about!!

Lionlove, check out DRJO's report and photos of his recent trip to Selous in June. Might help you sort it all out.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rip-report.cfm

Good luck!

Lionlove,

I've stayed at the Sopa. I felt it was quite adequate and the view is wonderful. I really liked the access to the crater. It was easy to get down to the crater. I'm sure Lemala is quite a step up but as you normally only spend a day or possibly two at the crater, my opinion FWIW is spend your money on your Serengeti lodging.

one2travel2
approx how much time does it take to get to Sopa from the nearest airstrip? Is it quite and ordeal getting there and getting out? how many nights does one generally stay?

The closest airport/airstrip to Ngorongoro where scheduled flights land is Lake Manyara. This is then a 2.5/hr drive to the crater.

While there is an airstrip at Ngorongoro, it's rarely used, even for private charter flights, due to there often being fog.

Sandi,

Thanks for replying to Lionlove as I drove into the crater area and didn't even know there was an airport. The Sopa is an extra 20-30 minute drive in I do remember that. But then to get into the crater in the morning is a breeze - close by and not as busy as the other access road.

I don't know if this is relevant to your question, but we stayed at Plantation Lodge and visited the Crater from there....looked long and hard at Serena and Sopa (dismissed Crater due to cost) and in the end we were very happy at Plantation....but it was for a more extended period. Trip report comments here.....

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...t-174346-2.cfm

You have to scroll down (way down) for the Plantation Lodge comments.....

Thank you all for your replies. I can't deal with a 2.5 hour drive to camp from any airstrip, not after flying 22 hours to get to Africa from Canada. I will skip Ngorongoro lodges for this trip. I may follow the advice of Elizabeth_S and find a grond lodge and venture in. I'll check out Plantation.

Sandi. I back to one confirmed lodge (Tortilis), one lodge pending (Governor's in MM) now I need one more lodge to round off my trip! Too much to choose from. I think based on your advice it's Samburu or somewhere close to Kili(?) i think I would like to find a riverside lodge to change it up a bit. As you recall, I was ready to fly down to Phinda, but it's too much of a hassle and expense.

I think Manyara may be the third. If I can do a fourth, I'll venture to the beach.

Plantation Lodge is at Karatu, a town about 1-1.5/hrs from the crater (midway between Manyara and Ngorongoro), though Plantation is probably about 30-40/min from the crater entry. The lodge is lovely, but if you plan to spend more than a day at the crater, know that everytime you return, you have to pay another daily park entry fee @ $50/person; every entry into the crater for the tour is $200 per vehicle (or $100/person if you're 2/paxs).

In the Masai Mara, if you want to stick with the Governor properties, consider Little Governor's with only 17/tents vs Main which has 30/tents. But, if you had been considering Phinda and the price that comes with that, why not look at Serian Camp (Ngare) who provide a private vehicle per tent or group. There are, of course, others at varied prices, though I'd go with "small" of 15 or less tents total. More intimate and personal attention.

Have you looked at Elsa's Kopje in Meru? Not in Samburu but similar travel times etc?

I can't recall how pricing compares with the others you mention, but the views from the camp were phenomenal and the staff and guiding excellent. Game is less dense/ easy to view in Meru but sightings are rewarding and you have some game that's not common elsewhere - gerenuk, grevy zebra and reticulated giraffe (or is it the other giraffe, I always get them mixed up?) Plus very good ele and rhino viewing and hippos too. And bushbabies. In the day time. Most fantastic.