PRESS RELEASE
Crystal Announces Name of New Ship: Crystal Grace
A New Era Begins with the Line’s First New Ocean Ship in 25 Years
12 min read
A&K Sanctuary, the boutique luxury lodge, camp and riverboat collection from Abercrombie & Kent, announces the relocation of its longstanding Ngorongoro Crater Camp to a carefully chosen new setting within the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Alongside the move, the camp has been entirely redesigned, creating a more immersive guest experience that reflects the landscapes, cultures and craftsmanship of East Africa.
The relocation and redesign reflect A&K Sanctuary’s enduring approach to creating exceptional camps and lodges in destinations where the company has operated for decades: selecting remarkable locations, investing thoughtfully in the guest experience, and ensuring every development is shaped in partnership with local communities and with deep respect for the surrounding environment.
The announcement follows the recent opening of Kitirua Plains Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary bordering Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, which welcomed its first guests on 1 June. Together, these developments represent the continued evolution of the A&K Sanctuary collection across East Africa, guided by a long-term commitment to conservation and community partnership.
While Ngorongoro Crater Camp has long offered access to one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations, its newly elevated location within the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area delivers an even more immersive connection to the landscape.
Positioned on an expansive hillside with sweeping views across the Serengeti plains, the camp sits just 25 minutes from the crater descent road, making it an unbeatable springboard for game drives in one of Africa’s most diverse landscapes. Home to more than 25,000 animals, including all of the Big Five, the Ngorongoro ecosystem is the largest inactive volcanic caldera in the world and remains one of Africa’s most significant natural and archaeological treasures.
The camp's new setting makes it ideal for both fly-in and overland itineraries and also creates opportunities for a broader range of experiences beyond traditional Crater game drives. These include seasonal visits to the Great Migration calving grounds at Ndutu Plains, excursions to the ancient rock art site of Nasera, explorations of the Shifting Sands, visits to Olduvai Gorge Museum and meaningful encounters with local Maasai communities.
"The relocation of Ngorongoro Crater Camp presented an opportunity to thoughtfully reimagine the guest experience while remaining true to the essence of the destination,” said A&K Sanctuary Operations Senior Vice President Vasco Baselli. “From the carefully chosen setting to the craftsmanship woven throughout the camp, every decision was guided by a respect for the landscape, the local community and the enduring spirit of Ngorongoro."
The camp has been completely redesigned in collaboration with East African studio JPN Interior Design, creating a sophisticated yet understated safari retreat that celebrates the artistry, materials and traditions of the region.
Across the property, 97% of the interiors have been locally made and custom designed, with furniture handcrafted by workshops in Arusha and decorative elements sourced from artisans and social enterprises across East Africa. Female-led businesses and community organisations have been particularly championed, including Women Craft, whose fair-trade basket collections support more than 600 Tanzanian artisans.
The design language draws inspiration directly from the surrounding landscape. A palette of earthy greys, warm browns, charcoal tones and muted sage greens reflects both the crater’s dramatic terrain and the verdant hills that surround it. Curved architectural forms echo the contours of the crater itself while also referencing traditional Maasai design.
Among the standout features are a dramatic three-metre-wide chandelier crafted from painted jacaranda seed pods, handwoven sisal screens created on site by Tanzanian artisans, sculptural wooden artworks inspired by East African forms and custom-made decorative pieces that bring texture, movement and a distinctly contemporary perspective to the camp.
The ten newly built tented suites have been significantly upgraded in both size and design. Each features polished hardwood floors, muslin-draped king-size beds, spacious ensuite bathrooms, and private viewing decks positioned to maximise the camp’s panoramic setting.
The relocation was guided by a long-term vision for responsible tourism within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Materials from the previous camp were repurposed wherever possible, reducing waste and minimising environmental impact. Existing furniture was restored and reimagined, while locally sourced materials, including hand-cut Tanga stone from northern Tanzania, were incorporated throughout the new design.
Maasai community members played an integral role in the construction process, reinforcing A&K Sanctuary’s commitment to ensuring tourism delivers meaningful local benefits. This approach aligns closely with the work of A&K Philanthropy, which supports community-led conservation and development initiatives throughout East Africa.
The reimagined Ngorongoro Crater Camp forms part of a broader period of growth and investment for A&K Sanctuary. Following the opening of Kitirua Plains Lodge in Kenya in June, the collection continues to evolve while remaining anchored in the destinations and communities that have shaped Abercrombie & Kent’s legacy for more than six decades.
Guests can stay at Ngorongoro Crater Camp, an A&K Sanctuary as part of an A&K Tailormade journey or Small Group Journey. Nightly rates from $855USD per person per night (based on two people sharing) include all meals, beverages including premium spirits, game drives, transfers to and from the nearest airstrip, emergency medical evacuation and laundry.
A&K itineraries including Ngorongoro Crater Camp, an A&K Sanctuary include A&K Sanctuary Tanzania Safari | Tanzania (Africa) | Private Ready-to-Book | Abercrombie & Kent and Ultimate Tanzania Safari | Tanzania (Africa) | Small Group Journeys | Abercrombie & Kent
# # #
High resolution logos and imagery are available for use here, please credit A&K
James Treacy, Global Communications Director |jtreacy@abercrombiekent.com
India Roche, Communications Manager | iroche@abercrombiekent.com
Janice Yu, PR Director | jyu@abercrombiekent.com
Jean Fawcett, Senior Manager, Media Relations | JFawcett@abercrombiekent.com
Michelle Mickan, VP Marketing | mmickan@abercrombiekent.com.au
A&K Travel Group is a global lifestyle and travel company that sets the standard for refined and personalized travel experiences. These include Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal, Cox & Kings and Ecoventura as well as investments in other travel companies.
Abercrombie & Kent pioneered luxury adventure travel with its first African safaris in 1962, founded on an ethos of adventure by day, luxury by night. Today, A&K’s award-winning travel services extend around the globe to more than one hundred countries on all seven continents. A&K’s bespoke itineraries and escorted small-group tours offer one-of-a-kind inspiring experiences, from expedition cruises and tailormade trips to exclusive villas, safari camps and private jet journeys, unlocking a world of possibilities for a Life Well-Travelled. Behind every journey is an international network of more than 3,000 staff, in over 70 offices and 83 countries, ensuring invitation-only access to the people and places that make every destination unique. www.abercrombiekent.com. Join the world of A&K by following us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook
A&K Sanctuary, part of the A&K Travel Group family, owns and operates luxury safari camps and lodges across Eastern and Southern Africa, riverboats in Egypt and Peru, with an expanding portfolio of exceptional properties planned across key destinations. Each property is designed to provide guests with an authentic and immersive travel experience, showcasing the natural beauty and cultural heritage of its destination. A&K Sanctuary is committed to sustainable tourism practices and actively supports local communities through conservation and development initiatives.
IG: @aksanctuary | LinkedIn | Facebook
© 2026 AKTG Group. All rights reserved.
Registered in England & Wales