Nearly three million years old, the ancient caldera of the once-volcanic Ngorongoro shelters the most beautiful wildlife haven left on earth. Some of Africa's last breeding black rhino are protected within its rim, black-maned lions stalk the grasslands, flamingos crowd the soda lakes and giant-tusked elephants wander the forest. Towering euphorbias cling to the crater walls and on the floor, fever and fig tree forest give shade to an awe-inspiring array of creatures.

As if in a land before time, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is built into the rim of a dormant and collapsed volcano (known as a caldera), the plant and ivy-covered native stone blending masterfully with its surroundings. Close by lies the Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge, the "birthplace of man". Today the volcano and surrounding landscape are part of a vast conservation area inhabited by the Maasai tribe, as well as an extraordinary variety of big game and birdlife. Most guest rooms have private terraces with views of the crater floor where countless animals make their home. At Ngorongoro Serena Lodge visitors co-exist in perfect harmony with the natural environment and the wildlife that inhabits it. A trip to Ngorongoro is a pilgrimage you should make at least once in a lifetime.