Spanish hotel chain Melia Hotels International has expanded its footprint in Africa with the fully renovated Ngorongoro Lodge, Melia Collection, a property with an eye on sustainability located in northern Tanzania. This is the brand’s fourth in Africa.
“Throughout the redevelopment of this impressive property, we were inspired by the natural beauty of Ngorongoro and its native wildlife,” said Cesar Martínez Torrecillas, general manager of the hotel, in a press statement. “With the goal to preserve the Tanzanian environment, we carefully implemented practices to reduce our footprint and honor the traditions of the Maasai tribe. Each aspect of the hotel was created and sourced with the intention to craft big experiences with the smallest environmental impact.”
Ngorongoro Lodge: New and Improved and Focused on Conservation
Ngorongoro Lodge’s privileged location in the heart of the protected Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s 3,202 sq mi in size and home to the Ngorongoro Crater (one of the Seven Natural Wonders) and more than 25,000 large animals.
The property’s top-to-bottom renovation was done keeping the brand’s sustainability values in mind, which meant paying close attention to protecting the area’s natural ecosystem and the culture of the local Maasai tribe. The hotel uses an infrared system which makes the buildings 90 percent self-sufficient, and 95 percent of the products used across the property are locally sourced. It will also produce its own water.
The family-friendly Ngorongoro Lodge is boutique in size, with only 56 guestrooms that will expand to 60 by Jan. 1, 2024, with the addition of the expansive 3-bedroom Crater Suite, the Enkaji Junior Suite and two Rim rooms. The design takes inspiration from the Maasai culture with touches of traditional patterns and local artwork. It’s the experiences, though, that will leave your clients wanting repeat visits time and again. Think tours, exhibitions, shows and excursions, full-day Game Drives and wildlife viewing of the best kind. Transportation around the crater is private, with their own experienced guide and a full picnic lunch. Those looking for a fuller immersion can visit Maasai homes, or boma, where they can participate in dances, house making, handicrafts and cooking. Something more adventurous? Book them on a Balloon Safari for a bird’s eye view of the highlands and Lake Victoria and its many denizens.
F&B at Ngorongoro Lodge also takes its cue from its surroundings, with menus offering traditional African cuisine with an Asian twist. Cocktails and East African wines are served at The Crater Lounge with a side of sunsets. Wellness means relaxation at The Spa with traditional and locally-inspired treatments and natural beauty products.
Melia Hotels International has also prepared an itinerary that can take your clients on a 5-night/6-day exploration across Tanzania that begins at the Gran Melia Arusha in between the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks, followed by a 2-night stay in Ngorongoro Lodge where they’ll enjoy a Game Drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater. From there, the voyage ends at the Melia Serengeti Lodge unless they want to add on a stay at the Melia Zanzibar for some R&R on the beach.
For more information, visit melia.com.
