Elewana the Manor Ngorongoro

I found the team to be amazing. We were welcomed by the assistant manager, Mr. Basil. The receptionist, Said, was very nice and helpful. Not to mention, the food was delicious! The room was extraordinary and clean. I highly recommend this place.

There are many, many good hotels in the world, but many of them fall into the trap of generic luxury. Open your eyes in the morning, and it can be hard to remember where you are. This is not a problem when you are at The Manor at Ngorongoro. Instead, you are likely to feel like you have taken a giant step back into a world of European elegance nestled on a coffee farm in East Africa. Start with the setting. While being only a few hundred miles from the equator, the hotel sits at 5,700 feet (1,740m), so the daytime temperature in August rarely exceeds 75F (24C). Then layer in the unique architecture, comprised of cabins and larger building modeled on South African vineyards. Add in extraordinary cabins, featuring separate sitting and sleeping areas which share a wood burning fireplace. (NB: You’ll want to have the staff light you a fire: it gets cold at night.) Finally, set the whole thing in the midst of a large coffee plantation. It’s very easy to harken back to another time. Then there is the service. General Manager Altus du Toit and his wife run a very tight ship, one which is luxuriously accommodating to guests. In a previous life, Altus was an award-winning chef, which may explain why the kitchen does such spectacular work. Equally, service is very personal. During our stay, we have had the same dedicated server and butler, both of whom are present at every meal. They are friendly, attentive and detail oriented. (Thank you John and Beatrice!) To the extent that there are downsides… The internet can be a little precarious and the power sometimes go out. That said, electricity is usually restored in a minute or two. And if you’re looking for a television, look elsewhere. However, there is a theatre in the main building (which primarily shows soccer). The location is remote and over some challenging roads that give a good ‘African Massage’. But for all of that, I cannot think of another property that has taken me so out of time. If you are visiting Ngorongoro, The Manor is not to be missed.

The Manor is such a beautiful and peaceful place to stay. The property and rooms /cabins are immaculate. The staff is very warm and friendly and always greeted us with a smile. Peter was incredible! He went above and beyond for us and truly made our stay unforgettable. Every evening we came back from a delicious dinner to our room where a warm fire was lit for us which made it easy to relax after a long day. I also came back from a long day of visiting the Crater and there was a hot bath complete with fresh flowers and a side of pastries waiting for me! On our last night Peter completely surprised us with a private dinner beautifully set up for my husband and I. He hand decorated the table so beautifully with fresh flowers from the gardens and coffee beans. We were completely taken back by this lovely gesture and loved every minute of it! Peter truly made our stay magical and unforgettable. On our last morning it was raining a bit and we told the manager and staff even the weather was sad we were leaving. Both he and Peter accompanied us to our jeep with umbrellas and a warm farewell. We stopped in the gift shop for one more bag of coffee to bring home with us ( these made delicious gifts for friends back home) We will always remember our stay here and think of it fondly. It was one of our favorite places we have ever stayed at. I highly recommend staying at The Manor because it checks ALL the boxes and then some! Staff, cleanliness, presentation, food , drinks ( Baraka is a fantastic bar tender) management, all A+++++++! Thank you again for a wonderful time! We hope to one day visit again. Gonga! Maisha Marefu!