Very well poitioned lodge on the edge of the Crater. Fantastic views from the room. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was very good considering the isolated location, Always make allowances for minor problems: you are in the middle of Africa.
Try for a very early start to descend into the crater..leaving before 6am is good. We saw Lion and Rhino, and much more.
Recommended.

We have recently returned from a trip to Kenya and Tanzania including a 12-day safari during which we stayed in a number of different lodges including Sopa and Serena Lodges. We were nervous about one particular booking - being the 2 night stay at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, in part because the description of it given in the Fodor safari planner was not brilliant and stated that it was shabby with outdated furnishing, dim lighting, a limited hot water supply and large noisy public areas.

Well, the reality of the lodge was so different. From the moment we arrived the atmosphere was friendly and peaceful. The reception and lounge area was tastefully furnished with elegant ethnic furniture and decor. Our request for a room with a view was instantly processed and we were taken to a room with a spectacular view of the crater. At first we thought there had been a mistake, because the room was more of a suite, with an entrance lobby, a vast bedroom, large bathroom and an enclosed patio overlooking the crater with rocking chairs. The room was immaculate and the furnishings were colourful and beautiful. We discovered that this was a standard room.

Still with the words of the guidebook ringing in our ears, we belated took a shower (outside of the hours when hot water was promised) and found it was in plentiful supply and then went to dinner. The restaurant was not big and noisy at all. The staff led us to the table of our choice and proceeded to serve up a banquet. No buffet meals here. Later we sat in the comfortable bar and relaxed to the sound of authentic African music (we did find that the Serena hotels tended to play western style music over their music systems). Nature put on a display of a lighting storm over the far rim of the crater and we felt that we arrived in a small paradise.

While we were at dinner, staff placed hot water bottles on the beds and turned back the covers. The manager of the lodge was a very friendly man who had time to talk to guests and like all the staff there made us feel genuinely welcome.

All the public areas at this lodge had a view of the crater (including from the swimming pool). The lodge shop had a useful array of products and the curios on sale were not over priced, as was the case in some places. The staff were happy to charge up my camera battery and my husband's ipod.

We cannot recommend this lodge highly enough. Our next stop was at the Tarangire Sopa Lodge, which really was shabby and outdated and where the management and staff were not so helpful.

Marion Chester and Alan Rogers

We did enjoy the Sopa Lodge- it is in fairly good condition compared to other African hotels we stayed at. The staff is very friendly, and the hotel is pretty. There is a nice pool, and the view from the lawn of the crater cannot be beat- one of the best views in the world I would say. We had done more luxury camping safari's and this was a good place to have unlimited showers, and a more traditional bed and bathroom for a couple of nights. The food was very good in the dining room. The only negative for this hotel was that it reminded me a lot of a cruise ship or a Vegas hotel. Which have their clientele, but its not really me. If you like those kinds of experiences, then it is probably perfect for you. Safe, clean, and full of Americans on vacation. Personally I enjoyed the smaller camps and lodges, that were a lot less touristy. If you do stay at Sopa, try and add a smaller tented camp or lodge to your trip to get a more "African" experience. But for a nice place to stay on the edge of the crater it really can't be beat.

This hotel is about 10-15 years old, and while it's showing its age, still delivers a decent experience. It's one of about 8 hotels owned by a chain. There are over 100+ rooms, so it can get crowded, especially in the dining room... which will remind you of a Carnival Cruise. But the staff is friendly and helpful, and you'll never have trouble getting someone's attention for a drink by the pool or a fresh towel. In true Tanzanian fashion, they aim to please. The rooms are dark and dated with thin walls that will let you hear your neighbor's every cough and snore, but the shower is hot and some rooms offer great views. The location is great... a short, easy drive to the crater. The food is average, but we were easily able to make special requests for a sick grandmother and picky children. Laundry is unbelievably cheap. This is a solid "basic" choice - so don't expect anything extraordinary.