Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
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#18 of 39 Specialty lodging in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
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Rhino Lodge is ideally located on the edge of the Ngorongoro crater rim. The Lodge was originally the home of Ngorongoro’s first conservator, and its developers have maintained the house’s original rustic, low-impact style and natural setting. Rhino Lodge offers a perfect base from which to explore the Ngorongoro crater and its surroundings. Game drives into the crater, and, for the more adventurous, walking safaris in the forest reserve and visits to nearby Maasai villages, can all be arranged from the lodge. And, on return after a long day, 24 comfortable en suite rooms with forest views, a cozy living space, friendly local staff and generous African-inspired meals offer guests a warm welcome home.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Internet
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Laundry service
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Kids' meals
Sun terrace
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Room features
Fireplace
Private balcony
Bath / shower
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
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HOTEL STYLE
Mountain View
Great View
904Reviews11Q+A69Room tips
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Rhino Lodge is great value for money. It is an ‘old fashioned’ rustic lodge, perfect for a night or two. One of the reasons for its affordability is this lodge is not right on the Ngorongoro crater rim, so it does not have sweepingly, spectacular crater views. That said, its views are none too shabby! From the light and airy, central relaxation areas and from my room’s private deck, there are infinite vistas of Mt Oleani rising from the cloudy mists and the 50 shades of green forest, complete with a resident birdsong playlist. The room interiors are basic, it’s an above average three-star lodge, with all the creature comforts I needed, a powerful, hot shower, soft clean sheets, power to charge up and a cosy wood-burning chimney for the cooler nights here, well above 2000 feet. Loved the quick and easy access to the crater floor, the cooler climate (just you wait and see it is sublimely cool after the warm humidity soup, elsewhere!). Loved the warm hospitality and attentive service from the whole lodge team specially Katuni & Phillipo. The food is yummy. Highly recommend Chef Juma’s divine lightly-battered Nile Perch served with lime butter, fresh local veggies and a crisp salad, all washed down with a cold glass of Rose. Good Covid measures are in place here, to protect both guests and staff alike. Among the misty clouds in the filtering forest canopy and the epic mountain views, the air is pure and my vibe is well-chilled.…
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Date of stay: January 2021
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Room Tip: the east wing has a resident herd of waterbuck that graze in there lush grass
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Response from Willem Du Toit, General Manager at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Responded 6 days ago
Dear SingleOnsafari Thank you for your lovely review of your recent stay at Rhino Lodge. You have summed up the essence of what makes Rhino such a special place to stay at, and it humbles me that our hospitality met your expectations, and then some :) I could not have described the Lodge's ambiance any more perfectly myself. Rhino Lodge is a very closed knit team, and we strive to ensure both our staff and guests alike stay safe, and secure, especially in these 'testing times' We wish you a safe and blessed rest of your safari and looking forward to your next visit Karibu Sana
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+1
Absolutely stunning lodge on the Ngorongoro crater rim! The staff were so welcoming and couldn't have been more hospitable. The food was excellent and catered very well for vegetarians. Rooms were very clean with wonderful balconies overlooking the forest. The best bit about the lodge was the buffalos and waterbuck that come to visit in the evening - it's a fantastic experience and close for early morning drives in the crater.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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Response from Willem Du Toit, General Manager at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Responded 6 days ago
Dear Amyt Thank you for taking the time to write a review of your stay at Rhino Lodge. It is always such a pleasure to read that our guests enjoyed their stay, and that we were able to meet your expectations. Indeed perfectly situated for getting into the Crater for the first rays of the sunrise, and of course, that also means one can stay down there till quite late, as you only a 15 min drive back to the Lodge, just in time for a sundowner on the deck, before dinner :) We wish you a safe and blessed year and looking forward to your next visit. wild wishes
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+1
We loved our stay at Rhino Lodge - a gorgeous peaceful oasis with stunning forest views from the room balconies and restaurant. Sure no view of the crater but to get that one should expect to have a much bigger budget! The rooms are simple, spacious, clean and cosy (especially if you ask to have your log burner lit at night). Good hot water shower. Stunning view from our balcony with the added bonus of having a local buffalo lying underneath it chewing his cud when we checked in. After an hour or so he got up and started eating more grass in front of us before wandering off into the forest. Apparently he does it a lot! Very cool experience. The restaurant with deck in front is lovely - a central log fire gives it a lovely ambiance. Buffet dinners and breakfasts are good and the staff friendly and welcoming. Good WiFi in the restaurant - not available in the rooms. They rely on a generator for electricity which is available between 5am-9pm though the residual power after it is switched off meant we still had lights in the room until 10pm - although that may depend on how many guests are staying. There were few guests when we were there so no noise issues but we were told by our safari guide that when the lodge is full it can be noisy as the walls are thin. We wish we could have stayed longer and would definitely come back!…
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Response from Willem Du Toit, General Manager at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Responded 3 weeks ago
Dear Alisam Thank you for taking the time to write a review of your stay at Rhino Lodge. I must admit I love the way you describe the Lodge, being a 'Forest Oasis' as it sums up the surroundings pretty well indeed :) We are very fortunate to have the view of a lush green mountainous forest, basically all year round, in any direction you look. What makes this even more special is the birdlife that comes with it, and waking up to the peacefulness of the forest and birds chirping never stops to entertain... Rhino Lodge prides itself in being an Eco-friendly Lodge and is completely off the grid, so to speak. I can assure you that it does not matter whether we have 2 or 60 guests (yes, it is that popular) there is sufficient power for lights, etc. all evening long. Rightfully so as mentioned, we have generators that supply power for the charging of Phones, Camera batteries, Laptops, etc, and we make sure we run these at the times most convenient to our guests, whilst in Camp. Again thank you for the lovely review, and make sure when you planning on visiting us again, to book for a longer period than one night :) Sitting out on the restaurant deck, or your pvt balcony, sipping on a drink, and watching the sunset over the mountains is what an end to a day on Safari is all about, trust me! wild wishes
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I spent one night in the lodge and enjoyed it very much. The room is furnished in style, everything is clean and well maintained. The restaurant plus terrace has a great view and there is always something to watch along your breakfast or even dinner. Buffalos were dining in front of the lodge at the same time. Service and food quality is excellent.
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Date of stay: December 2020
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Response from Willem Du Toit, General Manager at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Responded 3 weeks ago
Dear Airman Thank you for taking the time to write a review of your stay at Rhino Lodge. Super glad to hear that you had a memorable stay with us and that everything was to your satisfaction :) From the Rhino Team, we would like to wish you and your nearest a blessed and prosperous 2021! Looking forward to your next visit... Karibu Tena
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This lodge is close to the entrance to the crater but does not overlook it. I'll tell you what it does have. The lodge is single story arranged around a grassy courtyard. Individual room doors are facing the courtyard. In the room is a wood stove for colder nights and a comfy bed. The rear of the room has windows facing out onto a small balcony facing a mountain in the distance in my case. Sitting there in the evening animals graze in the meadow right in front of you while the sun sets. The dining room is at the far corner of the lodge. Outside there's a firepit to sit around. Inside there's a warm dining room serving fine food and beverages. In the morning there is a made to order breakfast. You don't need someone to walk you after dark because the walk thru the courtyard is closed at night. The staff is amazing and friendly. I'll be back for sure.…
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Date of stay: October 2020
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Response from Willem Du Toit, General Manager at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Responded Dec 19, 2020
Dear ScottS Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely and detailed review of your stay with us at Rhino Lodge. Very happy that you enjoyed our hospitality and to hear that you had some time to enjoy the views from your balcony. We also love watching the animals as they graze peacefully around the lodge. On behalf of the Rhino Lodge team, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you and your nearest a blessed festive season and looking forward to your next visit. wild wishes
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ALSO KNOWN AS
ngorongoro rhino hotel ngorongoro conservation area
LOCATION
TanzaniaArusha RegionNgorongoro Conservation Area
NUMBER OF ROOMS
24
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Does Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.