Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge Hotel is located on Lemala Hill on the eastern rim of Ngorongoro Crater at 3°10’ S and 35°42’ E in the volcanic highlands of Northern Tanzania. The Sopa Ngorongoro Lodge is situated on Lemala Hill on the uppermost, eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site, in the volcanic highlands of northern Tanzania. The crater forms part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which covers 8,300sq kms (3,200 sq. miles). This World Heritage Site has been set aside to preserve and integrate the diverse values and interests of wildlife, local people, archaeology, flora, tourism and the area's environment and ecology.
The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is, and will remain as , the only tourist development on the eastern rim of the crater and thus offers our guests unique and spectacular views down into the crater floor and of the sunsets over the western horizon. Another major advantage of this site that guests can enjoy is the fact that their crater safari begins within five minutes of leaving the Hotel. From Arusha on the tarmaced main Dodoma road for 80 kms, turning off at Makuyuni and proceeding on all-weather roads via Mto wa mbu, Manyara and Karatu. Climbing up the mountainous slopes to the crater rim at View Point, the all-weather road to the lodge is 20kms of scenic delight along the crater rim. The journey from Arusha to the Ngorongoro lodge is approximately 4 hours.
The flight to Ngorongoro is approximately 40 minutes. The air strip is located on the west side of the crater approximately 45 minutes away by road. Cloud conditions can sometimes affect the availability of the air strip at Ngorongoro causing diversion or rescheduling to Manyara or Olduvai.
The entrance to Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is like that of almost any international style hotel in Africa your car can drive right to the door, into a sheltered bay, where “Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge” is embossed on the wall in large gold letters. The reception, a broad semi-circular desk attended by a uniformed concierge, is dark red and polished dark wood. The central areas continue in the dark red theme, as does the lounge and bar.
The separate restaurant is a large spacious room, with a central fire place, where buffet meals are served. In front of the building, on the outside lawn is a large kidney-shaped swimming pool with sun loungers dotted around. Due to the altitude, it can be a little cool here for much of the year, though during the day in the warmer months of November through to March this is a lovely spot to relax. Whilst staying Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, travellers might also want to spend a day visiting Empaki Crater, which is only a 90-minute drive from this side of the Ngorongoro Crater.
With a diameter of only 6km, Empaki Crater is smaller than the 'Ngorongoro crater, but it is equally beautiful. Head here for a full day of walking down onto the crater floor, to look out for birds and monkeys in the forests on the way down, and on a clear day to look out across Lake Natron and Mount Kilimanjaro. Most people spend two nights here and the main safari activities are half-day or full-day game drive tour into the Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is close to the very quiet eastern road into the Crater. This road can be used for decents and ascents, but it sees very little traffic compared to the road on the western side of the Crater.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge Hotel Accomodation
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge opened in 1992, is an all-suite lodge having 96 suites most enjoying magnificent views into the Ngorongoro Crater. Each suite is fully carpeted and heated by oil fired central heating radiators in the winter months. The spacious bedrooms contain two queen sized beds with deep sprung mattresses to ensure a comfortable nights rest. The fully tiled bathrooms are equipped to a high standard with bath, shower, WC, bidet, wash hand basin, hair dryer and shaver socket. Each suite has a solarium with comfortable rocking chairs, the perfect place to relax.
A small private lounge with writing desk provides extra privacy to each suite and mini bars are available on request.The bedrooms at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge are all largely the same, however 91 of the rooms are doubles/twins with two queen sized beds and there are 6 single rooms, which each have only one queen-sized bed. Furthermore, the double rooms are all set at the front of the property with views out over the Ngorongoro Crater, whereas the single rooms are set slightly back, within the lodges grounds, and so don't have a special view.
The rooms at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge don't have fans or air-conditioning; the temperature on the rim of the Crater is always cool due to the altitude. In the evenings it can actually get quite cold; hence there are radiators in the rooms which can be controlled in the rooms. There are no mosquito nets in the rooms at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge – the cool temperatures and altitude mean that there is not a problem with mosquitoes in this area. That said, you are advised to continue taking your anti-malarial medication whilst staying here.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge Hotel Restaurant
The dining room is dotted with tables and chairs and is able to seat around 220 people. The chairs are comfortable cushioned dining chairs that match the blue of the carpet. In the centre of the rooms is an open fire place to make the room cosy on cooler evenings. Over half of the room is glass-fronted, ensuring that most is made out of the spectacular location.
The lounge and bar at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is exactly the same shape as the dining room, and shares its views through the glass front. The lounge has a central fireplace, polished wooden floors, a long wooden bar and red-and-cream sofas clustered around coffee tables; it's spacious and cosy, yet like the rest of the lodge feels dated.
In front of the main building is the outside swimming pool which is surrounded by well manicured lush green grass. The pool occupies a lovely spot, with a view right out over the Ngorongoro Crater. There are wooden sun loungers dotted around the pool, faced to look out over the Crater.
There are no age restrictions at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Children of all ages are welcome at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Child-minder can be arranged from house keeping
Laundry is an extra Charge at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge – the costs vary per item but the prices are reasonable.
Conferences - A 2500sqft conference facility is available for conferences, meetings, presentations, private lunches or dinners and cocktail parties. Situated on a level above the main lounge it enjoys the most spectacular views of the crater.
The lodge is connected to Arusha by radio link. Satellite telephone, video and satellite television is also available. The guest shops stock a wide selection of curios, gift items, clothing, film, sweets, postcards, personal requisites and toiletries
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Central Reservations for Sopa Lodge’s hotels resorts call 254-2245023
