Perched on the rim of the ancient Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is your gateway to an unforgettable African adventure. Our stunning location provides the perfect starting point for a diverse range of activities.
Experience thrilling game drives on the Crater plains, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its incredible wildlife concentration. Beyond the safari, you can enjoy guided nature walks, unique bush dining experiences, and cultural visits to local Maasai villages and cattle markets. We offer a variety of excursions designed to immerse you in the beauty and culture of this spectacular region.
Ngorongoro
152
75
En-suite bathrooms
Not allowed
Non-smoking rooms
The 74 guest rooms and signature suite at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge harmonize the Crater’s majestic scale with impeccable standards of discretion. Cloaked in river stone and native vines, your sanctuary clings to the rim, seamlessly integrated to ensure you feel entirely at one with the primeval landscape.
The interiors evoke a sophisticated heritage, featuring brass accents, embossed leather, and artisanal Maasai carvings. While the aesthetic reflects the “cradle of mankind,” your experience is elevated by modern essentials and 24-hour in-room dining. From your private stone balcony, you overlook the vastness of the Crater floor—a rare, silent vantage point at the edge of the world.
Often referred to as a “Lost World,” the Ngorongoro Crater remains a pristine sanctuary, shielded from the outside world until the late 19th century. As a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient caldera serves as a secluded stage for over 25,000 large animals, offering you one of the most exclusive wildlife encounters on the planet.
Your descent down the forested walls reveals a theater of Africa’s most charismatic residents, including the legendary Big Five. Between morning and afternoon game drives, you may find yourself enjoying an idyllic picnic shaded by acacias, watching as lions—possessing “an arrogant authority unique among animals”—patrol their kingdom. From the delicate grace of gazelles to the wonder of hippos wallowing in the highland waters, every moment within these steep walls captures a mystique that has remained unchanged for centuries.
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge has 30 beautiful stilted suites that are celebrated for their unique design and luxury. But the lodge is just the start of an extraordinary African adventure to the famous Ngorongoro Crater—a natural wonder that every traveler should see.
Long ago, the Ngorongoro was a volcano as mighty as Mount Kilimanjaro. Today, it’s a lush and peaceful remnant of a huge eruption that may have been seen by our early ancestors in the nearby Olduvai Gorge, where humanity began.
The crater remained undiscovered by outsiders until the 1890s, which is why it’s still so rich with wildlife. The Maasai people, however, knew it well for its abundance and called it El-Nkoronkoro, meaning “Gift of Life.”
The Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club offers a rare, heartwarming feature not found elsewhere: a remarkable Wildlife Rescue Center. Managed in partnership with the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, this facility is dedicated to the compassionate rehabilitation of animals found abandoned or injured in the wild. Many of the resident creatures are remarkably gentle, providing guests with the extraordinary privilege of interacting with them, including direct hand-feeding, petting, and supervised handling. This is an unparalleled opportunity for a close, meaningful encounter with resilient wildlife that has been given a second chance through the Club’s commitment.
The allure of this estate extends far beyond conservation. Established half a century ago by the legendary screen actor William Holden, the Club quickly became an exclusive destination for the world’s elite. Its continued magnetism stems from its perfect setting: a tranquil, temperate haven located at the majestic base of Mount Kenya. For decades, it has served as a glamorous retreat for political icons and cinematic greats, with esteemed members like Sir Winston Churchill, Clark Gable, and John Wayne seeking respite in its luxurious embrace. The Club’s history is interwoven with fame, offering a truly distinguished escape defined by natural beauty and a powerful, enduring legacy.
Lemala Osonjoi Lodge stands as the crowning jewel of Lemala’s prestigious circuit, seamlessly linking Arusha and Tarangire to the legendary Serengeti. Perfectly positioned near the Lemala Gate, the lodge offers exclusive access to the eastern quadrant of the Ngorongoro Crater—a world-renowned sanctuary of wildlife. By staying in this secluded sector, guests enjoy a private vantage point during the critical dawn and dusk hours, far from the crowds, in the heart of the world’s largest volcanic caldera.
