Rhino Lodge is ideally located on the edge of the Ngorongoro crater rim. The Lodge was originally the home of Ngorongoro’s first conservator, and its developers have maintained the house’s original rustic, low-impact style and natural setting.

Rhino Lodge offers a perfect base from which to explore the Ngorongoro crater and its surroundings. Game drives into the crater, and, for the more adventurous, walking safaris in the forest reserve and visits to nearby Maasai villages, can all be arranged from the lodge.

And, on return after a long day, 24 comfortable ensuite rooms with forest views, a cozy living space, friendly local staff and generous African-inspired meals offer guests a warm welcome home.

The Maasai Community Project

The Maasai arrived in the Ngorongoro area about 200 years ago, and today there are more than 42,000 Maasai pastoralists living and roaming freely inside the conservation area with their cattle, donkeys, goats and sheep. Although they are not allowed to live or cultivate inside the Crater, they can descend during the day to graze their animals.

Rhino Lodge is operated in conjunction with the Pastoralist Council of Ngorongoro. This is the governing body of the Maasai communities which live in the Conservation Area. The council works to ensure that the Maasai may continue to live a traditional life in harmony with their natural environment.  Each paying guest at Rhino Lodge is therefore directly supporting these communities and contributing to the maintenance and protection of the unique balance between pastoralism, conservation and tourism.