NgoroNgoro Lodge, Member of Melia Collection: On the Rim of the Crater

NgoroNgoro Lodge, Member of Melia Collection, sits on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater within the conservation area, one of the great wildlife theaters on earth. The caldera below holds one of Africa's densest concentrations of animals, and the lodge is positioned for both the sweeping views and the short descent to game drives.

The dining takes the crater as its theme. The Crater Lounge is the main restaurant under chef Nicolás Alvarado, fusing African cuisine with Asian influences; The Crater Grill cooks over fire and coal for lunch and dinner; and The Crater Bar pours post-safari drinks with what may be the best views of the crater in the area.

As a base for the Ngorongoro and the wider northern circuit, the lodge is hard to better on location alone.

Planning Tanzania's north? Book your stay with me for preferred-partner perks.