Crater Forest Tented camp was a perfect stopover for those wanting to get into Ngorongoro early. We were self driving South Africans travelling in a hired landcruiser. The tented accommodation was spotlessly clean, spacious and very comfortable. Crater Forest is situated in rural farmlands with fabulous view over the forest and farmlands. Elephant were spotted in the forest from our tent when we arrived. Food was delicious and lunch packs provided very good. We spent 2 nights at the camp as we wanted to do Crater one day and Oldupai (a MUST!) the next day on our way into Serengeti. Camp is secure with night patrols and an escort for walking to the lounge and dining area provided. Lovely HOT showers once the pipes from the 'donkey' boiler have heated up - just give it time and enjoy the showers. We prefer tented camps for the safari experience and the lodges available in Ngorongoro itself are anyway unaffordable for many. A few reviews complain about the 9km road to the camp. (African Massage road) It does require 4x4 in places and I can imagine more difficult in the wet season, but is is NO worse than the southern Ngorongoro crater rim road passed Sopa Lodge OR Ngorongoro - Serengeti road which is 70km of slippery corrugations that even shook the nuts off our cruisers front axle / leaf spring Ubolts. It is all part off the Tanzanian safari experience. Africa is not for sissies! We would definitely stay there again.