A safari in Tanzania is only complete with a trip to the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. The natural wonder was created when a volcano exploded and collapsed on itself two to three million years ago. The world-famous site offers a chance to view some of the densest mammal populations in Africa.
To travel to the Crater, we flew on Tanzania’s premier airline, Coastal Aviation, from Kilimanjaro to Lake Manyara. A friendly driver with Foot on Earth Adventure greeted us at the airstrip and drove us to the Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge. The gorgeous, all-inclusive resort features 20 spacious private log cabins set amongst perfectly manicured gardens filled with palm trees, hibiscus, and roses reaching for the sky. Our luxuriously appointed private cabin included a large bedroom, living room, fireplace, and terrace overlooking the expansive hillside. For meals, we enjoyed the delicious Accacia Restaurant, which featured a delightful outdoor terrace.
One evening, we savored an elegant meal by the pool under a star-filled sky. In the afternoons, we relaxed at the pristine pool and visited the Earth & Rain Spa, where we had the best massages of our lives. Throughout our stay, the hotel’s staff led by gracious Resort Manager Manoj Shah provided first-class service.
For our much anticipated game drive, Malicky Adam, our wonderful private guide with Foot on Earth Adventure, drove us to the crater floor where we saw herds of elephants, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, lions, and flamingos. Nearby the Crater is the Olduvai Gorge, the symbolic birth place of mankind. In 1929, Louis Leakey mounted an expedition there and discovered hundreds of fossilized bones and stone tools dating back millions of years.
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge is part of the highly respected Neptune Hotels, a true East Africa brand. The company operates 7 fabulous hotels in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. Their motto is, “We promise African memories.” The brand certainly delivers as we will always remember the remarkable time spent at their exquisite property while exploring one of the world’s most magnificent natural wonders.
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge: neptunehotels.com
Foot on Earth Adventure: Malicky Adam, footonearthadventure.com
Coastal Aviation: coastal.co.tz
