Meliá Hotels International expands its portfolio of luxury African properties with the opening of Ngorongoro Lodge, Meliá Collection, in northern Tanzania. The property lies within the protected, UNESCO World Heritage site Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and features 60 guestrooms with views of Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera.

Designed to honor and preserve the historic location, Ngorongoro Lodge seeks to preserve the culture of the Maasai tribe, a Nilotic ethnic group residing across Kenya and northern Tanzania. The lodge manages energy consumption in the heat transmission of the systems themselves, with 95 percent of all products used across the property coming from neighboring villages. Additionally, the hotel plans to produce its own water through a bottling plant.

Ngorongoro Lodge features 60 guestrooms, including six suites, one Crater Suite with three bedrooms and a lounge, one Enkaji Junior Suite and more. Inspired by the Maasai culture, guestrooms and public spaces include earthy furnishings, a neutral color palette, natural lighting and details of traditional patterns and artwork from neighboring villages. All guestrooms and suites also include local bathroom amenities and unique features like traditional Sanaa wall art. On-site food and beverage offerings draw inspiration from the surroundings. The Crater grill, lounge and bar offers intimate dining with traditional African cuisine with Asian influences. The Crater Lounge invites guests to enjoy a glass of the best East African wines, long drinks and local fruit cocktails.

The lodge provides a wide variety of immersive experiences, from unique tours to exhibitions and shows to fun excursions. Guests can embark on a full-day game drive and observe Tanzania’s wildlife and Ngorongoro Crater up close. On this experience, guests are transported in their own safari vehicle with an experienced guide and full picnic lunch. Guests can also learn about local Tanzanian culture by entering the boma, a traditional Maasai house, to see and participate in cultural activities. Amenities at The Spa provide guests with a wide range of treatments and massage techniques.