Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

🌍 Tanzania

📍 Ngorongoro Crater

Embalakai Tented Camp sits tucked in the acacia woodland near the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, offering a mid-range tented experience with unbeatable access to one of Africa’s most famous wildlife habitats. High-season rates average around $500–545 per double per night, with low-season discounts bringing that closer to $300–325.

The real strength of Embalakai is its location: you’re just minutes from the crater descent road, which means if you leave with the gate opening you can be on the floor by 6:30 am. This gives you the advantage of seeing lions and hyenas still active, or even leopards descending from their night hunts, before the majority of vehicles from Karatu arrive.

Compared with Karatu mid-range lodges like Marera, Simba, or Tloma, Embalakai is more rustic but grants you that extra half-hour of prime game-viewing. Against Serena or Sopa lodges on the rim, it’s less polished, but it delivers a more intimate bush-camp feel at a lower price point.

Attributes:

Outside National Park, Large Lodge, Scenic View Location, Family-Friendly

Rooms

Around a dozen safari tents set under acacia trees, each with wooden flooring and canvas walls. Includes a minibar, coffee maker, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
En-suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot bucket showers.
Each tent includes a private veranda looking into the forest, giving a true bush atmosphere.
The camp has a central mess tent for dining and a lounge tent for relaxing in the evenings.
Atmosphere: cozy, rustic, and intimate — more “under canvas” safari than lodge luxury.

Around a dozen safari tents set under acacia trees, each with wooden flooring and canvas walls. Includes a minibar, coffee maker, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
En-suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot bucket showers.
Each tent includes a private veranda looking into the forest, giving a true bush atmosphere.
The camp has a central mess tent for dining and a lounge tent for relaxing in the evenings.
Atmosphere: cozy, rustic, and intimate — more “under canvas” safari than lodge luxury.

Meals

Full-board with meals served in the mess tent.
Early breakfasts arranged to maximize crater time.
Picnic lunches packed for full-day game drives into the crater.
Dinners are served communally, often with a campfire setting, making the experience feel authentic and sociable.
Food is hearty and simple, in line with the property’s bush style, but consistently praised for freshness.

Full-board with meals served in the mess tent.
Early breakfasts arranged to maximize crater time.
Picnic lunches packed for full-day game drives into the crater.
Dinners are served communally, often with a campfire setting, making the experience feel authentic and sociable.
Food is hearty and simple, in line with the property’s bush style, but consistently praised for freshness.

Accessibility

Ngorongoro crater descent road: ~15–20 minutes after gate opening.
Karatu town: ~40 minutes.
Lake Manyara NP & airstrip: ~70–75 km; about 1h15.
Serengeti (Seronera, central): ~140 km; 4–5 hours by road via Naabi Hill.
Arusha city: ~160 km; ~3.5–4 hours.
JRO airport: ~190 km; ~4.5 hours.
Flights: Nearest scheduled flights via Lake Manyara (~1h drive) to Serengeti (35–45 min) or Zanzibar (~1h30).

Safari context: Embalakai is perfect for safari-goers who want a true tented bush experience with rim-side access to the Ngorongoro Crater. It’s simpler than Serena or Sopa, but closer and more intimate than Karatu lodges, making it an excellent balance between cost and access.

Ngorongoro crater descent road: ~15–20 minutes after gate opening.
Karatu town: ~40 minutes.
Lake Manyara NP & airstrip: ~70–75 km; about 1h15.
Serengeti (Seronera, central): ~140 km; 4–5 hours by road via Naabi Hill.
Arusha city: ~160 km; ~3.5–4 hours.
JRO airport: ~190 km; ~4.5 hours.
Flights: Nearest scheduled flights via Lake Manyara (~1h drive) to Serengeti (35–45 min) or Zanzibar (~1h30).

Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

🌍 Tanzania

📍 Ngorongoro Crater

Rooms

Meals

Accessibility

Tour Packages with Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

Tour Packages with Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

Tour Packages with Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

Other Mid Range Accommodations in Ngorongoro Crater

Other Mid Range Accommodations in Ngorongoro Crater

Other Mid Range Accommodations in Ngorongoro Crater

Mid Range Accommodations in the rest of Tanzania

Mid Range Accommodations in the rest of Tanzania

Mid Range Accommodations in the rest of Tanzania

Tour Packages with Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

Tour Packages with Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

Tour Packages with Embalakai Tented Camp Ngorongoro

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Get 3 TANZANIA Safari Quotes

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