📍 Location: 3°9’14.9″S, 35°40’33.5″E
🌟 Rating: 88% (Based on 23 reviews)
About Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Perched on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge offers unmatched views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike the busier western routes, our quiet and scenic location provides exclusive access to the less crowded eastern descent road, ensuring a serene safari experience.
While the lodge may not be the most intimate or boutique-style option, it offers expansive spaces, warm hospitality, and breathtaking views. With quick access to the crater floor, a family-friendly atmosphere, and budget-conscious pricing, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is an excellent choice for both adventurers and families alike.
Accommodation & Amenities
🏨 97 Spacious Rooms with en-suite bathrooms
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly – Suitable for all ages
🏊 Swimming Pool – Perfect for relaxation after a game drive
🍽️ Restaurant & Bar – Serving delicious local and international cuisine
📅 Open Year-Round – Experience Ngorongoro in every season
Activities & Experiences
🚙 4WD Safari – Explore the crater’s diverse ecosystem
🦜 Birdwatching – Spot over 400 bird species
🌍 Cultural Excursions – Visit a traditional Maasai village
🥾 Guided Walking Safaris – Experience the wilderness on foot
With an early start, you can descend into the crater floor and have a high chance of spotting the Big Five, including the rare black rhino.
Wildlife Sightings from Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
✅ 100% Chance – Buffalo, Elephants, Lions, Spotted Hyenas, Wildebeest, Zebras
✅ 80% Chance – Black Rhinos
✅ 33% Chance – Leopards
❌ Rare Sightings – Eland (25%), Aardvark, Pangolin, Wild Dogs
Our travelers have reported incredible wildlife encounters, making this an ideal base for your safari adventure.
Guest Reviews
🌟 “The views from this lodge are breathtaking. Waking up to a sunrise over the crater is an unforgettable experience. The staff was friendly, the rooms were spacious, and the safari was outstanding!” – Alex M., United Kingdom
🌟 “Perfect for families! Our kids loved the pool, and the access to the crater was fantastic. We saw lions, elephants, and even a black rhino on our morning game drive!” – Sarah K., United States
🏆 88% Positive Reviews | Rated Excellent by Travelers
Best Time to Visit Ngorongoro Crater
☀️ Dry Season (June – October) – Best for wildlife spotting as animals gather near water sources.
🌧️ Green Season (November – May) – Lush landscapes, fewer crowds, and fantastic birdwatching opportunities.
No matter the season, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge remains open year-round, ensuring you experience the magic of this natural wonder whenever you visit.
How to Get Here
✈️ Nearest Airport: Arusha or Manyara Airport
🚗 Drive from Arusha: Approximately 3.5 to 4 hours
For airport transfers and safari packages, contact us in advance to arrange seamless travel.





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EXCELLENT Based on 580 reviews Frederic C2025-11-20Verified great experience go eye to eye close We... had an exceptional 7-day family safari of 6 people. Nothing to say everything was perfect from the food to the lodge. The tenon guide who speaks French which explains very well. We've seen all the animals. Leo, giraffe, zebra, etc. Thanks again to this tour local operator. Trippor2025-11-12Verified Amazing! The tour was absolutely incredible! The first three days were with our guide Peter and chef Richard, and everyone in the group absolutely loved them. They make a fantastic duo — authentic, passionate, and truly exceptional at what they do. You can really tell they love their work, and that kind of charisma just can’t be replicated.I’ve done many tours around the world, but I’ve never felt such genuine nostalgia for a group as I do for this one.I also want to give a special mention to Geoffrey Samwel, who handled my airport transfers both ways. He’s a wonderful person and honestly should be leading safaris too — I found his explanations and local insights even more engaging than those of the guide on the last day (who was still very good, just not as detailed).Points for improvement:The Nyani Campsite really needs to be replaced with another option — it doesn’t meet basic conditions.The tour itinerary would be better if it ended with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. I did it the other way around, and while it was still great, the last two days didn’t feel as thrilling as the first ones.I’ll definitely be recommending your agency to all my friends and family!Thank you so much for an unforgettable experience! Martine S2025-11-11Verified Amazing Safari We’re so happy that we chose Serengeti African Tours. Our driver Peter was first to spot alot of the wild animals and had so much knowledge about them. He made the game drives and the campsites very fun. Our chef Richard made delicious food! Our group was fun to hang around with. All in all a 10/10 experience! Ines K2025-11-11Verified Breathtaking experience It was absolutely perfect. Our guide Peter was very dedicated and did his best to give us the best possible safari experience with many animal sightings. He knew the parks extremely well and was able to tell us a lot about them and the animals living there. In addition, he was very open-minded and had a great sense of humor. Our cook Richard made sure we were always well taken care of, providing a delicious selection at every meal.We are completely happy and very grateful for this experience. Kris L2025-11-07Verified 10/10 safari experience with Assad What an unforgettable experience! Every moment of the 4 day trip felt like we were living inside a National Geographic documentary. We started the trip in Tarangire, continued to Serengeti and wrapped up in Ngorongoro crater. Due to the different landscapes, each of the parks offers a completely unique experience. Seeing the animals in their natural habitat is extraordinary.The entire trip was made even better by our amazing guide Assad. He was kind, patient, funny, calm, extremely knowledgeable and great at finding different animals. He kept us engaged by sharing a lot of interesting information and fun facts about the parks, the landscape and the animals. If we ever come back, we would for sure pick Assad as our guide again! Another highlight of the trip was the amazing freshly cooked food. It was above our expectations. The tour operators were extremely helpful in arranging the trip and all airport transfers. They were extremely proactive, kind and responsive. Checking in every evening to make sure everything is going as planned and our experience was enjoyable. All in all a 10/10 experience. marjorie m2025-11-07Verified Amazing expérience ! Thanks to our guided Assad ! It was a really Nice trip ! A moment out of Time, we Have seen a lot of animals… always friendly, with good tips and advices, really good drive too… it Will be on memory for ever ! cristiano p2025-11-07Verified Beautiful days on Safari I had a wonderful experience with Serengeti African Tours. We spent amazing days filled with incredible wildlife encounters and breathtaking views of the parks. Everything became a truly perfect experience thanks to our guide, who was very attentive and kind to us. Without our guide, Assad, it wouldn’t have been as perfect as it was.A big thank-you to Assad — he was an excellent professional and driver! Without him, the experience wouldn’t have been the same.Thank you for everything Andrea M2025-10-29Verified Trip of a LIfetime Our safari experience was amazing! Our tour guide, Peter Mmary, was knowledgeable, interesting, and entertaining. He was very experienced and successful in finding animals for us to see. He explained their habits, movements, and diets. He took us on one game drive in the evening and one in the early morning, which allowed us to see a lot of animal activity. Our chef, Dennis, prepared three delicious hot meals each day. I am gluten-free, and he always made sure that there was plenty for me to eat. Alexander J2025-10-23Verified Amazing! The tour with Assad was amazing! He has a big knowledge of the animals and their habitat! We were amazed by his instict of the needs of the group and he gave us enough time to enjoy the beautiful moments with the animals. If we come back, we would be happy to do the safari again wirh Assad! Asante sana! Pedro P2025-10-23Verified The Best Experience of Our Lives! We had the most amazing time with African Safari Tours! Everything from start to finish was just perfect. Our guide Assad was absolutely incredible — super knowledgeable, fun, and really went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience possible.The food was sooo good – every meal was delicious and way better than we expected out in the wild!We saw so many animals up close, the scenery was stunning, and every day felt like a new adventure. Honestly, it was the best trip of our lives, and we can’t thank the team enough.If you’re thinking about doing a safari, go with African Safari Tours — you won’t regret it!
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We are true experts when it comes to Tanzania. We live, work and travel here. Serengeti African Tours arranges lodge and camping safaris, trekking and hiking tours and beach holidays. We carefully select our well-trained guides, drivers, cooks and porters.