&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

We thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience and the blend of socializing with other guests and having private meal times.

The food was fresher, lighter and more locally inspired than what we experienced at Asilia properties. By having private meals, we were able to have a more personalized experience versus communal dining and also develop a closer connection with the people on property. For example, at our last dinner, our server Andrew spelled out our names on the table with small handwashed stones — we were stunned by that attention to detail.

We stayed at the Crater Lodge which was stunning, though I realize it's closing next year for renovations.

The crater is worth seeing once before you die, that's certain. We did three camps in seven nights which was ambitious with lots of time spent traveling from place to place, but the Crater Lodge itself was absolutely stunning. The views and the experience made up for the logistics challenges.

The accommodations offer stunning views and luxurious amenities, but the dining experience fell short given the high price point of $3,980 per night.

At lunch for our picnic, the food quality was very disappointing. For nearly $4,000 per night, I expected much better culinary standards throughout the stay. The lodge itself delivers on luxury and location, but the food service doesn't match the premium pricing.

African palace in the bush — truly outstanding place to stay with service that is exceptional.

Food is like having fine dining in the middle of nowhere, and rooms are beyond five-star standard. Game drives in Ngorongoro Crater are still at their best. The experience must be part of your bucket list — it's absolutely unbelievable and do not stay just one night here.

We've traveled all over the world and stayed at many nice places — this makes the top five nicest places we've been.

We were only here for one quick night, but the room was simply amazing with the best views. The staff were superb and the one meal we had was delicious. They made our stay even more special with an arrival bubble bath ready and dinner flowers. Special thanks to Saibel our waiter and room attendant.

From the moment we were picked up from the airport, all four of us were in awe of the beauty, the animals, but mostly the people.

We felt so welcome and truly thought everyone was going out of their way to make our three-night stay an experience we would never forget. Daniel was frequently checking in on us with a smile, Upendo went above and beyond with our meals, and Twalib was an expert game driver providing an unforgettable experience. I'm getting tears in my eyes just writing this — such a unique and special place.

I was never offered a wine list, the food was inedibly bad, and I wasn't treated as a guest — I was subsidizing someone else's honeymoon.

The whole day was spent chasing what the other couple wanted to see, and the guide never asked me what I was interested in. When I finally burst out asking for lunch at 3pm because we hadn't eaten, the guide reluctantly agreed. The second night was even worse — I was told I couldn't sit outside and had to go to dinner with still no wine menu or water service.

I just spent three nights here and it was one of the best hotel experiences I have ever had.

The attention to detail is next level and the lodge itself is very unique. Upon arrival you are greeted by song and smiles, and all the staff seem genuinely happy for you to be there. Our butler Msisi was wonderful and attentive, and our private guide TEMU was as good as it gets — very knowledgeable and knew exactly where to go for sightings.

After going to a travel trade show for safaris, all other companies agreed that we had chosen the best and no reason to look further.

The location is perfect, the rooms and dining area are amazing, and the staff is first class all around. Our guide Keytoi really impressed us with his knowledge of the animals and timing to best see them — never a rush. The best service, food, area, and staff we experienced.

We strongly suspect my friend got bacterial food poisoning while staying there, and the facility is very tired and in need of renovation.

While the staff is friendly and helpful, they're closing for two years at the end of this season which would have been nice to know before booking. My first time at an andBeyond property and likely my last. I've stayed at around ten other properties on three trips to Africa — there are better places to stay for the money.

This place is absolutely stunning — I cannot say enough positive things about our experience here.

The staff were five star all around. The accommodations have a rustic feel but the lodges are as elegant as anything you will ever find anywhere. The food and dining experience was worthy of a Michelin Star, and our guides put us on animals all day. Let me tell you though, it was cold — I'm a Georgia boy but it shocked me how cold it was at the lodge and in the crater.

Pictures really don't do this place justice — when I arrived, first thing I thought was this must be how colonizers in the past wanted to live.

The uniforms the waiters were made to wear at dinner service were also reminiscent of this colonial feeling. The lodge opened in 1996 and the decor has stayed the same throughout the years. After checking into my room I noticed it has a stale smell, and lots of moths and bugs fill the room even though we never opened windows. The food served is western style to cater to western clientele, but when we asked for local Swahili food it was really good.

Just the most beautiful experience ever — don't be fooled by the simple looking mud houses, the interiors are completely opulent.

The designs and drapery are sure to leave a lasting impression on any guest fortunate to stay here. Waking up to an unblocked view of the crater was so perfect. They even decorated my room with a surprise romantic bath filled with rose petals and candles. Our ranger Alex was an excellent guide who knew where to find the wild animals with his friendly and modest personality.