Ngorongoro · Lemala

Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp

LocationNgorongoro, Tanzania

AccommodationTents and a two-bedroom family unit

Our take

About Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp

Lemala Ngorongoro is a traditional tented camp in acacia forest near the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Its proximity to the Lemala access road makes it convenient for early crater drives. The forest setting provides a different atmosphere to open Serengeti grassland, with cool highland evenings and a sociable shared camp centre.

The tents are placed among trees, with the aim of maintaining privacy and limiting the camp’s impact on the forest. The nearby crater access route is a practical reason to stay, allowing the wildlife day to begin without a lengthy approach from farther afield. Back at camp, the main tent has sofas, lamps, bookshelves, rugs and wooden cabinets rather than a polished hotel lobby. A lounge and bar adjoin the dining space, and an evening fire gives guests somewhere to gather after a day on the crater floor.

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Inside Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp

A closer look at the accommodation and setting.

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Accommodation

Rooms

The current room breakdown lists nine standard tents and one two-bedroom tent, for ten accommodation units. Standard tents have two double beds, wooden floors, storage and outside decks with loungers looking into the forest. Bathrooms provide a shower and flush toilet. The family tent has two bedrooms with bathroom facilities for both, making it a more practical arrangement for families or friends than squeezing everyone into one bedroom. Warm duvets, hot-water bottles and heaters help with the cool nights, while solar lighting supports the essential camp comforts.

Food & drink

Dining

The dining tent looks into the acacia forest, with a table for each travelling party within the shared space. A rotating set menu provides different meals through the stay, and the kitchen can accommodate dietary needs when advised in advance. The atmosphere encourages conversation with other guests while leaving room for a private family dinner. Drinks in the adjoining lounge or around the fire provide a relaxed transition between the safari day and the evening meal.

What to do

Activities

Crater game drives are the main focus, using closed safari vehicles. Guided forest and rim walks provide another way to experience the highlands, subject to the appropriate arrangements. We would normally protect an early start for the crater visit and avoid putting a long onward journey immediately after it. A private vehicle can also be worth discussing if you are travelling with children or want greater control over how long you spend at individual sightings. Forest walks shift the attention from vehicle-based sightings to the landscape, with the route and guiding arrangements confirmed separately before your stay.

Planning your stay

How Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp fits your journey.

Two nights is a useful starting point for a relaxed arrival and a full crater day. Add a Serengeti camp next rather than trying to compress the crater and a long onward transfer into the same day. Warm highland evenings and the canvas atmosphere are part of the stay.

Northern ParksCombine northern Tanzania’s parks; we adapt the sequence and camps around your preferred pace.The Great Migration & Big 5A northern safari starting point, with the Serengeti location chosen around the season.

When to go Plan your stay

The right fit

Would Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp suit you?

Who it suits

Travellers who want a tented camp close to the eastern crater access route. It suits those who value a practical safari base and traditional canvas atmosphere over a large lodge’s facilities.

Things to consider

The forest setting is not the same as an uninterrupted crater-view terrace. High-altitude nights can be cold. We check the family tent, heating arrangements and crater-day plan for your party.

Compare your options

Other stays to consider.

Entamanu Ngorongoro

Compare cottages on the northern crater rim.

Explore Entamanu Ngorongoro

Lemala Osonjoi Lodge

Choose a more substantial suite-style lodge near eastern access instead.

Explore Lemala Osonjoi Lodge

Useful to know

Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp FAQs.

What is the camp’s main location advantage?

It is in acacia forest close to the eastern Lemala crater access road. We plan the excursion around that route rather than promise a precise advantage over every other lodge.

Does the camp have ten tents?

Yes. The current official inventory lists ten tents, including a two-bedroom option for families or friends.

Will our tent have a direct crater view?

The camp is forest-set near the rim. We would not promise an uninterrupted caldera view from every tent simply because it is a Ngorongoro property.

What should we pack for this stay?

Bring warm layers for cool mornings and evenings on the highlands. Your complete safari packing guidance should account for both this altitude and warmer Serengeti or beach stays.

Tailor-made Tanzania

Would this suit
your journey?

We will help you compare the setting, rooms and activities with the alternatives for your dates.

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