Ridge collection · Ngorongoro Crater
Kitela Lodge
A leafy highland lodge with verandas, a good kitchen and crater access
- Collection
- Ridge · Mid-range to upper mid-range
- Destination
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Area
- Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
- Style
- Former coffee estate lodge
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
About Kitela Lodge
Kitela Lodge began as a coffee estate in the Karatu highlands, and the mature gardens still give it a settled, lived-in air. It sits at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment, close enough to the Ngorongoro crater rim road to make early starts easy. For many guests it is the comfortable stop between the Serengeti and Tarangire.
The lodge is built of thatch and warm timber, with a pool tucked in among the palms and guest cottages that glow gently after dark. Suites have draped canopy beds, and bathrooms have a freestanding clawfoot tub alongside a glass-block shower. The mood is calm and rather elegant, without any fuss.
Food matters here. The kitchen has a following of its own, and the full restaurant is a good reason to spend an evening in rather than rushing back out. Wide verandas face the escarpment, so it is easy to sit with a drink and let the highland light settle.
- Wide verandas facing the Rift Valley escarpment
- A kitchen that guests talk about long after the trip
- Suites with draped canopy beds and warm evening light
- Clawfoot tubs and glass-block showers in the en-suite bathrooms
- Swimming pool and thatched main house among palms
- Close to the crater rim road for early starts
Setting
Kitela stands in the green farmland around Karatu, at the gateway to the Ngorongoro Highlands. The old coffee estate has left the lodge with generous gardens, shade trees and open lawns, and the escarpment forms the backdrop. It is cooler here than on the plains below, so evenings can be crisp and the air carries a pleasant, fresh edge.
Rooms and tents
Guests stay in thatched cottages set around the gardens, which glow with interior light at dusk. Suites are furnished with sheer-draped canopy beds, and the en-suite bathrooms include a freestanding clawfoot tub and a glass-block shower. Expect a classic, comfortable country feel rather than a canvas camp, with warm lighting and good space to spread out.
Dining
Dining is a highlight in its own right, and the full-service restaurant is a place to linger. Guests can expect carefully prepared dishes, often drawing on the produce of the fertile Karatu area, and attentive service in the lit main house. Packed lunches for crater days are usually available. Tell us about any dietary requirements and we will pass them ahead.
Things to do from here
- Day trips down into Ngorongoro Crater
- Garden walks and birdwatching on the grounds
- Relaxing by the pool between drives
- Coffee-related and farm visits in the Karatu area, arranged by Lemala
- Veranda sundowners looking over the escarpment
When to stay
The Ngorongoro Highlands are usually at their best from June to October, when roads are drier and the crater floor is easier to drive, and again from January to March, when the landscape is green and bright. The long rains typically fall from March to May, and the short rains in November and December. Highland nights can be cool in every season.
Good to know
- The lodge is outside the crater itself, so Lemala arranges early drives to the rim and down into the crater.
- Highland evenings can be cool. Pack a warm layer for dinner and early mornings.
- Ask us to confirm child policies and family room arrangements for your dates.
- Wildlife in the crater is wild, so sightings cannot be promised, though viewing is often rewarding.
Gallery
Inside Kitela Lodge
On these itineraries
Trips that include Kitela Lodge
7 days
Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in Seven Days
Baobab elephants, a pair of Serengeti days and a full morning-to-evening descent into the crater.
10 days
Bush to Beach: Northern Parks and Nungwi, Zanzibar
Six days of wildlife in the north, then three barefoot nights on Zanzibar's northern shore.
5 days
Fly-In Serengeti Escape: Five Days, No Long Drive
Be on the plains by lunchtime, then finish with the crater and Lake Manyara.
5 days
Serengeti and Crater Fly-In Getaway
Skip the long road, land on the plains, and spend your short break watching lions and crater wildlife.
10 days
Ten-Day Family Safari Across Northern Tanzania
Giraffe on day two, a crater full of animals on day five, and a Serengeti pace that suits every age at the back of the vehicle.
8 days
Eight Days at the Mara River Crossings
Tarangire and Ngorongoro to warm up, then two full days at the river waiting for a million hooves to decide.
14 days
Lemosho Summit, Then Serengeti
Eight days to Uhuru Peak, a proper rest, then a flight into the plains and a day in Ngorongoro Crater.
More partner stays
Other stays in Ngorongoro Crater
- Summit
Ngorongoro Crater · Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
Gibb's Farm
Farm estate lodge
- Spa
- Scenic views
- Organic farm-to-table dining
- Summit
Ngorongoro Crater · Ngorongoro Conservation Area, eastern rim
Lemala Osonjoi
Crater-rim lodge
- 20 suites with wood stoves
- Heated indoor pool
- Spa suite
- Trail
Ngorongoro Crater · Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands
Ngorongoro Farm House
Coffee farm lodge
- Restaurant
- Gardens
- WiFi
Stay at Kitela Lodge
Tell us your dates, group and budget, and we will build the trip around this stay.