Norongoro Crater Lodge: A Stay in the Garden of Eden

What a gorgeous place awaits ! Perched on the lip of this Garden of Eden is &Beyond’s flagship lodge in Africa.

Opulent luxury, So unique with surprise hidden nooks and crannies everywhere , crystal chandeliers, Persian rugs and silk curtains framing windows that overlook the breathtaking vistas of the Crater. An additional advantage of staying at Crater Lodge is that you are already in the National Park so you are among the very first vehicles to reach the floor of the Crater itself.

Off on our very first game drive, we rise before dawn and head for the road that descends into the Crater. Watching the sun rise while descending as the mists clear is a breath-taking experience.

Animals roam freely across the huge expanse of grasslands on the Crater floor and it is very easy to spot multiple herds of grazing animals. We saw zebra and various antelope species and rounding a corner treated us to the sight of a hippo out of water right near our vehicle with a giant raft of hippo lounged in a large pond not far away.

A huge bull elephant walked straight past us and continued on his way to greet another younger male. A magnificent pair of mating lions also dozed near the road. Literally millions of pink flamingo stand in the shallow waters of a lake while hunting for the shrimp that gives them their color. Juxtaposed with herds of striped zebra, it was a colorful scene. A pastoral scene with thousands of other grazing animals roamed nearby including several species of antelope, wildebeest, and Cape buffalo. Bird species were also plentiful including a few of our favorites: the splendid Starling & the black bellied bastard. Hyena made an appearance, loping by and all the animals appeared well fed and healthy, just as we were as we snacked on delicious treats provided by the hotel.

A time of plenty for sure and lots to behold in the Crater!