Asilia The Highlands
Olmoti Volcano Slopes, Ngorongoro Conservation Area — Asilia Africa
The Highlands sits on the forested slopes of Olmoti Volcano, at roughly 2,700 metres above sea level. This makes it the highest-altitude camp anywhere in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Eight domed suites make up the camp, each built from canvas and stone, with a distinctive shell-like roof shape that has become something of a signature design.
Location and Landscape
The camp sits well outside the crater itself, in genuinely different terrain. Misty, highland forest replaces the crater’s open grassland, and the surrounding area sees considerably fewer vehicles than the busier crater floor. As a result, the atmosphere here feels closer to a cloud forest retreat than a conventional safari camp.
Accommodation
Each domed suite includes a wood-burning stove, given the genuinely cool highland climate, alongside an en-suite bathroom and a private veranda overlooking the forest. Interiors lean toward a warm, textured style suited to the altitude. The main lounge and dining tent, in addition, centres on a large fireplace, a welcome detail on cold highland evenings.
Safari Experience
Guided walks through the surrounding highland forest form a central part of a stay here, alongside visits to nearby Maasai communities. Game drives, in addition, descend into the crater itself for a more conventional safari day. The combination gives guests a genuinely different pace from camps positioned directly on the crater rim.
When to Visit
The Highlands works well year-round, given its position above the crater’s main wildlife concentration. However, the cooler, misty climate at this altitude suits travellers who specifically want a change of pace from the heat and dust of the plains below.
Practical Information
Guests typically reach the camp by road from Arusha, roughly three to four hours, or by light aircraft to nearby airstrips followed by a transfer. Warm layers are essential year-round, given the camp’s genuinely cold highland climate.
Combining The Highlands with Other Tanzania Destinations
The Highlands pairs naturally with a stay closer to the crater rim, for travellers wanting both the highland forest experience and more conventional crater access. Serengeti and Tarangire, similarly, both extend into a wider northern Tanzania circuit.
Our Tanzania Safari Guide covers wider planning. For nearby options, see Ngorongoro Safari Lodges.
If you are considering The Highlands as part of a Tanzania safari, we would be glad to talk it through.