By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
The Highlands is one of the most original safari lodges in Africa. High on the slopes of Olmoti volcano, in the Ngorongoro highlands of northern Tanzania, its eight geodesic dome suites, inspired by the circular bomas of the Maasai, look out over a vast, misty landscape of volcanic craters and grassland. With wood-burning stoves, sweeping views and the Ngorongoro Crater an hour away, it is a striking alternative to the classic crater-rim lodges.
The Highlands is one of the most original safari lodges in Africa. High on the slopes of Olmoti volcano, in the Ngorongoro highlands of northern Tanzania, its eight geodesic dome suites, inspired by the circular bomas of the Maasai, look out over a vast, misty landscape of volcanic craters and grassland. With wood-burning stoves, sweeping views and the Ngorongoro Crater an hour away, it is a striking alternative to the classic crater-rim lodges.
Location: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
The lodge sits north of the Ngorongoro Crater, on the slopes of Olmoti, one of the extinct volcanoes of the Crater Highlands. The crater floor, home to lions, elephants, buffalo and one of the last populations of black rhino in Tanzania, is about an hour's drive away. Lake Manyara airstrip is around two hours away, with flights from Arusha and the Serengeti. This is Maasai land, and the herders and their cattle share the highlands with zebra, buffalo and eland.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, its floor around 600 metres below the rim, formed when a giant volcano collapsed millions of years ago. It is one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five in a single day. The wider Crater Highlands are just as remarkable: Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey family made some of the most important discoveries in human evolution, is nearby, and to the north lie the Serengeti, with the great wildebeest migration, and Lake Natron, beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only active volcano in the world that erupts natrocarbonatite lava.
Dome suites at The Highlands
There are eight dome suites: three standard domes, three with mezzanine floors, a family suite and a honeymoon suite. Each is a light-filled geodesic dome with panoramic windows, a wood-burning stove lit during dinner, a comfortable bed and an en-suite bathroom. At this altitude the nights are cold, and the stove and hot water bottles are very welcome.
The domes are designed to sit lightly on the land, with minimal impact on the volcanic slopes, and their curved walls and huge windows make the most of the views across the highlands. The family suite has two bedrooms, and the honeymoon suite is the most secluded, with especially wide views.
Facilities at The Highlands
Three communal domes hold the lounge, bar and dining room, each with a wood-burner. The Asilia Spa, in its own spa boma, offers massages and body treatments, and there is a private barrel sauna, the perfect antidote to the cold highland air. Meals and most drinks are included, with lunch often taken as a picnic on the crater floor. Beyond the crater game drives, guests can hike into the Olmoti crater, walk to the rim of the deep, lake-filled Empakaai crater, visit Maasai communities and enjoy superb birdwatching.
The mountain moment
The Highlands moment is the descent into the Ngorongoro Crater at dawn, as the mist pours over the rim and the floor of the caldera, 600 metres below, comes alive with wildlife. Or, just as memorable, standing on the rim of Empakaai, with flamingos on the lake below and the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai rising on the horizon.
Why The Highlands is one of the best mountain hotels
The Highlands earns its place for its design, its setting and its sense of adventure. Its domes are beautiful and original, the volcanic landscape is spectacular, and the walking in Olmoti and Empakaai adds something few crater lodges offer. It is cold at night, the paths are steep at altitude, and the crater floor is an hour away. But for a highland safari with a difference, it is outstanding.
For gorillas in the mountains of Rwanda, see Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
Two or three nights allows a full day in the crater, a hike to Olmoti or Empakaai and time with the Maasai. Many travellers combine The Highlands with the Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara on a classic northern Tanzania safari, finishing on the beaches of Zanzibar. Pack warm layers, a hat and gloves for the cold evenings and early-morning game drives.
When to go to The Highlands
The Ngorongoro Crater is good for wildlife all year. The dry season, from June to October, brings the clearest skies and is the busiest period, while December to March is greener, with calving season on the nearby plains of the Serengeti. April and May are the long rains, when some lodges close or offer lower rates. Pack warm layers in any season, as the highlands are cold at night.
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Questions, answered
- How far is The Highlands from the Ngorongoro Crater?
- About an hour's drive to the crater floor.
- How many domes does The Highlands have?
- Eight bedroom domes, including a family suite and a honeymoon suite.
- Is it cold at The Highlands?
- Yes, the nights are cold at this altitude, but every dome has a wood-burning stove.
- What can you do at The Highlands besides game drives?
- Hike into Olmoti crater, walk the rim of Empakaai crater, visit Maasai communities and go birdwatching.
