Reviews of Entamanu Ngorongoro

"We had a good drive to camp, a wonderful welcoming, and a cozy and beautiful lodge and room.

The camp location is a big advantage for getting to the crater early and avoiding the afternoon crowds. We had a clear sunny drive down that was outstanding.

We had breakfast and lunch down in the crater, and spent a rainstorm pulled over watching lions frolic.

The staff were very smart and engaging, genuinely interested in our well-being, thoughts, and experiences.

The smiles are very good in Tanzania.

We loved the Entamanu family and home." See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania

"Rowland Ngowi from the NOMAD team picked us up from the Manyara Airstrip. Unfortunately Steve got airsick the second time on the small flights, but Rowland had plenty of Krest Tonic Water in the cooler and snacks if needed for the two hour+ trip to the camp. He was very pleasant sharing interesting facts about the villages we were traveling through.

Once we arrived at the camp we spoke to Robert during our camp orientation regarding a possible change in transportation to our next camp to avoid further air sickness for Steve. He suggested that we talk to Moody Kassim, who immediately started working on a plan and later that evening shared that the plan, if we so chose, would work and it did! Without a doubt Moody is a problem solver and great manager. Robert, who is in management training, did a great job assisting us as well and was a pleasure to get to know.

The accommodations exceeded all expectations! We were told they were newly built and we would say job well done! The main lodge and the cottages were beautifully decorated and made to feel at home The heaters were also a very nice warm touch as well as the hot water bottles placed in our bed after dinner.
The service was excellent and prompt when asking for escorts to the lodge and for coffee/tea delivery. We specifically loved the dumbwaiter!
Rowland made our day in the crater a spectacular experience. His knowledge of the area and the animals was excellent. We enjoyed our day with him." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania

"The drive from the gates of the conservation area to the lodge was impressive. First, the steep climb up through dense tropical forest; then our first breath-taking view of the enormous crater from the viewpoint (we were lucky the it was quite clear and, with the help of powerful binos, we spotted two rhinos in the far distance); and then the journey round the contour of the crater, the scenery now much more open, like moorland ringed by mountains.

Approaching the camp we saw a tower of giraffes - appropriately towering above us on the hillside against the sky. The camp is set in a beautiful grove of mature acacia trees, with no sign of any other camp. We received a warm welcome before an excellent late lunch in the dining room with its fantastic view over the crater. We immediately loved the feel of the camp with its tasteful decor in the entrance hall, dining room and lounge.

Our room was just as beautiful and had the same wonderful view. A huge bed, lovely sitting area, complete with a writing desk, high quality wooden furniture and flooring, and a wood burning stove. Much as we enjoyed the safari camp, it was a treat to have the contrast of a luxury room with a well appointed bathroom.

We enjoyed all the meals very much. The same attention to breakfast as at the Serengeti; very imaginative and tasty dishes for lunch and dinner; and, again, the sense of dinner being a special occasion. Pre-dinner drinks in the lounge by the fire felt very cosy.

A perfect place for the last two nights of our holiday, - many thanks to all the staff." See all these reviews: 6n in Tanzania; 4n in Rwanda

"Great camp with great people who really fussed over every detail" See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar

"The camp at Entamanu is very comfortable; the rooms are large and well appointed with all amenties. The rooms have efficient heaters which are turned on in the evening to heat them, which made the room a little too warm for us, but following our request, the heater was not turned on the next day.

The manager, Mohammed, runs a great team and the food and service in the camp was excellent. The location on the crater rim is perfect; the views across the crater at dawn and dusk are truly spectacular and the proximity to the descending road allows you to get down to the crater floor before the crowds arrive." See all these reviews: 10n in Tanzania; 4n in Zanzibar

"Entamanu Ngorongoro was a unique and wonderful part of our Tanzanian safari journey.

The drive from the airstrip to the lodge was eventful as we meandered our way along the park road that ascended the crater. The view from the rim of the crater was magnificent and only a microscopic prelude to the wildlife we saw the next day during our game drive through the crater. The lodge was stunning - a view of the crater and vastness of the country. Staff and accommodations were superb with the art of attentiveness and kindness at every corner.

Our guide was knowledgeable and personable with a quiet and respectful nature to his personality. We saw many, many animals and learned a great deal about animal behavior from him. The nature walk with a Maasai and ranger got us out in the bush for a much-needed walk with stories of the bush and discoveries of skulls. Our visit to the local Maasai village was a highlight as they welcomed us with dances and contests inviting us to join them. Kind and welcoming people...I would have enjoyed meeting the children and seeing more of their village and way of life.

Overall, our few days here were very enjoyable." See all these reviews: 13n in Tanzania

"We were pleased to get to Entamanu after the drive from Tarangire and be welcomed into our next home for 2 nights by the team there.

We had been expecting tents but the accommodation had been recently changed to wooden cabins. These were stylish and comforatble .... and quiet. The communal lounge and dining area is still a semi solid structure so the wind was much more audible there.

As this is another Nomad property, some of it felt familiar (friendly faces, great food and service) but the location and design was a contrast to Kuro. Nevertheless we were very content with our choice. The meals were good. The camp manager was around to speak to guests at meal times.

We had a day to explore the crater and it was nice that Felix our guide from Kuro remained with us and we again benefitted from his extensive knowledge. Making an early start in the morning meant we were ahead of the crowds and we were rewarded with lion sighting almost as soon as we reached the crater floor. As well as the wildlife, we were taken with the scenery and changing terrain and landscapes. The picnic breakfast beside a lake, was delightful." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania

"Entamanu completely took us by surprise. At the time of our booking this was a tented facility that looked very nice but rustic. By the time we arrived they'd renovated much of the lodge and to our great delight the rooms were some of the best we found in both Kenya and Tanzania. At night the crater rim is quite windy and cold but the rooms were so comfortable, the modern fireplaces so warm and the views so spectacular that we enjoyed the benefits of life on the crater without the drawbacks. The common areas are still tended and blow a bit in the wind but the staff do a great job of keeping it warm and comfortable inside.

It's a reasonable drive from the entry to the crater, meaning we were able to be one of the first cars entering the park when it opened. This made a big difference as the early part of the day had some of the best - and least crowded - moments in Ngorongoro. The driver we had was simply world class; every detail was thought of in advance, his knowledge of the crater was limitless, and what must have been a long and exhausting day and drive for him were handled with ease.

The lodge itself puts you in short distance to Masaai villages and other experiences of note, but the crater is a highlight and not to be missed. It's also worth noting that Entamanu has a few surprises up its sleeves; our final dinner was authentic local cuisine and some of the best food of the trip, even though they don't heavily advertise or promote their dining. And the management and staff took excellent care of us from the moment of arrival until departure. For anyone visiting the crater this is a place I'd easily recommend, particularly given their recent upgrades." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 8n in Kenya; 3n in Zanzibar

"Okay, so I knew I would to write this and I'm not fond of writing bad reviews, but to be fair, this was least favorite camp. I don't think it's all on Nomad, it's more about the location than anything, but also it's about the service and rooms and management.

I won't get too into....I'll just say that it felt like a camp in transitional phase, which it is. They are in the process of updating the main area, which desperately needs to be updated with a stone structure of some sort. Right now it's a tent. And if you didn't know this, Ngorongoro camps located on the rim are exceptionally windy camps.

I was moved from a tent to one of their newer private bandas, which was a good thing, but even these rooms are less than inspiring when compared to the other camps I stayed at.

On the plus side- The food was very good, and the small Masai Village experience was pretty cool and did not feel exploitive." See all these reviews: 16n in Tanzania

"Everything about our stay at Entamanu Ngorongoro was fabulous. It was just such a wonderful experience. My wife and I have stayed at many lodges/camps in Kenya and Tanzania (and I have stayed at many in South Africa and Mozambique) and this is one of the best.

The location definitely sets the tone for the whole experience. The camp is located on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater at the end of a long, rough road. As a result, it has an isolated feeling to it. The views over the rim of the crater, with the mountains on the far side of the crater, are spectacular, especially at sunrise. Our tent was sited such that you felt that you were in your private wilderness, with only views over the crater. This feeling of being in your own wilderness was reinforced one morning when a giraffe walked in front of our tent, not more than 20 to 30 meters away from us. How awesome!

The tent itself was spacious, tastefully furnished, and very comfortable. A portable gas heater and hot water bottles placed between the sheets (amazingly, they were still warm in the morning) were very welcome as it became quite chilly at night due to the 7,500 feet elevation of the crater. Even though the Expert Africa web site indicated that the crater rim would be cold at night, we were surprised by how cold we felt, especially because it already was winter when we left home.

The lounge and dining areas also were comfortably furnished - we especially liked the local art displayed throughout - with fireplaces in each room. The lounge/living room was very inviting with comfortable couches, the art on the walls, and the warmth emanating from the fireplace.

The tables in the dining area were comfortably spaced, reflecting the challenges created by Covid. The food was excellent at all of our meals - a selection of very interesting, healthy salads at lunch and a choice of excellent entrees at dinner. I was especially pleased that the chef prepared tasty options - including bread products - to accommodate my need for a gluten-free diet.

Staff throughout the camp - the wait staff at dinner, the people assigned to clean our tent, and the security guards - all went out of their way to make us feel welcome. The manager set the tone by greeting us every morning as we set off on our activity and greeting us when we returned, He also joined us for a few minutes every night as we sat in the lounge with a pre-dinner drink.

Finally, the activities offered in addition to the game drives were excellent. We went on a 12 kilometer round trip walk to the crater rim - accompanied by a Maasai guide and an armed park ranger - which provided an opportunity for exercise and to see the local flora and the view over the crater. An added bonus during the walk was a chance encounter with three Maasai men who were returning a large group of cattle to their village and four giraffes who walked within 60 to 70 meters of us. We also took a 6 kilometer walk one-way (we drove back in a safari vehicle) to a local Maasai village where relatives of the camp's Maasai guide lived. We greatly enjoyed learning about the Maasai culture and their traditions. Their welcoming dance was fun to watch.

The Maasia guide - Kiseka - was especially helpful during both of our walks with him. He brought a walking stick for my wife, who was unaccustomed to walking on uneven terrain, pointed out very interesting facts about many of the plants that we saw, explained aspects of the Maasai culture, and described how he had become a guide. We greatly enjoyed talking with him." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania; 1n in Kenya