Lemala Osonjoi, scheduled to open in July 2025, is being built on the quiet eastern side of the Ngorongoro Crater, a short drive past the Lemala Gate in northern Tanzania.
The lodge's main area enjoys impressive views of the crater floor below. Each guest suite includes a small seating area and a slow-burning log stove.
The property's communal pool is heated using specially developed solar panels and sits behind floor-to-ceiling windows with expansive views over this picturesque wildlife territory.
Osonjoi is conveniently located close to the quiet Lemala crater access road on the eastern side of the Crater Wall, a key advantage of staying at here is the quick and easy drive down on to the crater floor with the opportunity to get into the crater as early as possible.
We like to include this lodge on itineraries because of this access which allows you to be down on the crater floor in less than 20 minutes with the advantage of enjoying the crater floor before it gets busy.
About This Area
Ngorongoro crater is a vast, perfect, complete caldera 2,000 feet deep and 10 miles across. The highlands where it sits rise to over 9,000ft and are covered in lush and varied forests fed by moisture-laden clouds. The area sits within the 3,200 square mile Ngorongoro Conservation area, bordering the vast Serengeti National Park. You can descend into the crater for a drive amongst many large numbers of various wildlife. Wildebeest, Zebra, Grant's and Thomson gazelle abound, and you can almost always see elephants, flamingos, rhinos and lions. It can give one the sense of being in a picturesque, magical Eden. It truly deserves to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's eighth wonder.
However, the area can be very crowded with tourists, and game drives are best here during the low season. We suggest avoiding game drives here during the high season, as the masses can detract from the beauty of the place. One of the finest things you can do here is hike along the crater rim or through the surrounding highlands. Not only do you avoid the crowds by walking, but it is one of the nicest ways to see the incredible views, feel the surroundings, and also encounter some of the local Masai who live in the area and go about their daily lives in this beautiful landscape.