Explore below ↓Our take
The Highlands offers one of Tanzania’s most unique safari experiences, set high on the slopes of the Olmoti Volcano in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Combining striking contemporary design with the rich traditions of the Maasai, The Highlands is a stylish, secluded retreat for those looking to explore this extraordinary region in comfort.
The Highlands reimagines the traditional safari camp with its distinctive domed suites inspired by the shape of traditional Maasai bomas. Positioned deep in a forested area away from the more heavily visited parts of Ngorongoro, the camp offers exclusivity and intimacy with nature, along with access to both the Ngorongoro Crater and more remote landscapes. Guests enjoy a warm, welcoming atmosphere where luxury, sustainability and authentic cultural experiences come together seamlessly.
Gallery
A closer look at the accommodation, atmosphere and setting.
Swipe to explore
Accommodation
Each of the eight domed suites at The Highlands offers spacious, stylish interiors with en-suite bathrooms, wood-burning stoves and panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows that frame spectacular views of the wilderness. The tents blend cutting-edge design with natural materials, ensuring a cosy, luxurious stay even at high altitude. A family suite and a special honeymoon dome provide even more private and tailored options for couples or families.
Food & drink
Dining at The Highlands is an elegant yet relaxed affair, with hearty, freshly prepared meals served in the communal dining area or around the campfire under the stars. Menus change daily, incorporating locally sourced produce to create a delicious blend of international favourites and African-inspired dishes. Mealtimes are social and atmospheric, often accompanied by stories from the day’s adventures or lively conversations with fellow guests and guides.
What to do
Activities at The Highlands include unforgettable game drives into the Ngorongoro Crater, home to Africa’s densest concentration of wildlife, as well as walks across the Olmoti Crater, and more challenging hikes to the Empakaai Crater. Guests can also visit local Maasai communities for an authentic insight into traditional life, or simply relax at the camp, enjoying the stunning views and the rare sense of solitude offered by this unique and beautiful location.
Planning your stay
The crater rewards an early start, but accommodation on the rim and in the nearby highlands offers different trade-offs in journey time, setting and price. A longer stay can add highland walks or time on a working farm.
We plan the crater descent alongside the rest of the northern circuit, allowing enough time for the drive and for a more relaxed onward move.
Continue exploring
Compare a few alternatives, or open the full regional guide to see every property in this part of Tanzania.
Ngorongoro
Entamanu Ngorongoro is an intimate, high-quality safari camp set on the remote northern edge of the Ngorongoro Crater rim in Tanzania, offering breathtaking views over both the crater and the vast Serengeti plains beyond. Its unique position provides a quieter, more exclusive alternative to camps on the busier southern rim, while still allowing excellent access to one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations.
View property
Ngorongoro
Laba Ngorongoro Lodge is a design-led safari retreat set within the lush Ngorongoro Highlands, combining contemporary African art, immersive nature experiences and refined hospitality. Surrounded by volcanic landscapes and rich cultural heritage, it offers a creative and tranquil base for exploring the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
View property
Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is one of Africa’s most iconic safari lodges, perched dramatically on the rim of the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania. With breathtaking views over the wildlife-rich caldera nearly 600 metres below, the lodge combines one of the continent’s most extraordinary locations with lavish design and world-class service, creating an unforgettable safari experience.
View propertyTailor-made Tanzania
We will explain how it compares with the alternatives and whether it fits your preferred dates, route and pace.
Start planning