As the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a unique and spectacular place. With an abundance of ‘Big 5’ game and astonishing scenery, it is a world-famous location to view wildlife. Any Northern itinerary in Tanzania should include a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater.
The small size of the Crater and its world-wide reputation means that it is very busy in there for most of the year. For this reason, we wouldn’t suggest spending more than two days in the area before flying to the Serengeti. The lodges and camps are not based in the Crater itself, a number are based on the rim with others falling into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
This area encompasses the Crater, and was established in 1959 as a multiple land use area where wildlife could co-exist with the semi-nomadic Masai pastoralists. In this conservation area and in the highlands nearby, walking and cultural experiences are permitted, but only driving is allowed in the Crater.
The accommodation by the Ngorongoro Crater varies hugely, but all have their own quirks and luxurious assets. There are those lodges which are based on the Crater rim and all boast spectacular views of the crater itself, however the choices here are limited and are normally located in the higher price bracket. Although if you can afford the prices, then the lavishness of the lodges are certainly worth it.
If you’re happy to sacrifice the views from the lodge, then away from the rim, the camp prices tend to become cheaper with the warm and charming Plantation Lodge in the Ngorongoro Highlands being a favourite of ours.
Ngorongoro Travel Guide
Ngorongoro Crater – Overview
A visit to the Ngorongoro Crater is an experience of a lifetime. As the world’s only intact caldera, the crater is the top attraction of the 8,292km²/3,202mi² Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There are few places that have comparable wildlife densities. It is not unusual to see the Big Five in one day here. And all this is in the most amazing setting with a backdrop of the 600m-/1,968ft-high crater wall.
Wildlife & Animals in Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is without a doubt Tanzania’s most productive Big Five destination. The crater floor teems with wildlife, and predator sightings tend to be exceptional. It harbors the world’s densest lion population and spotted hyenas are equally common.
Look out for smaller carnivores, such as golden and black-backed jackals and bat-eared foxes. If you’re lucky, you might also see a serval hunting small rodents or birds.
Birds & Birding in Ngorongoro Crater
There is excellent birding to be had in the Ngorongoro Crater. Even from a great distance, you’ll see flocks of pink flamingos in Lake Magadi. Come closer, and you’ll also spot ducks, herons, storks and waders.
The crater’s most noticeable grassland residents include ostrich, kori bustard, grey crowned crane, secretary bird and rosy-throated longclaw. Be careful at the picnic spot: black kites are adept at swooping down to steal people’s lunch out of their hands. The forested crater rim has its own birdlife.
Specials include white-eyed slaty flycatcher, Schalow’s turaco and several high-altitude sunbird species. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
Best Time To Visit Ngorongoro Crater
Wildlife viewing inside the Ngorongoro Crater is superb at all times. However, the grass on the crater floor is short in the Dry season (June to October) and this makes animal spotting easier. The scenery is lush and spectacular in the Wet season (November to May).
How To Get to Ngorongoro Crater
Most people visit the Ngorongoro Crater as part of a Northern circuit safari. Conveniently, Ngorongoro lies en route to Serengeti National Park and is only a 3-hour drive* (180km/112mi) on tarred road from the town of Arusha, which is the starting point of all safaris in northern Tanzania.
From Arusha, you can hop around the parks of the Northern circuit by small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights. Alternatively, you can drive and do the whole circuit, or parts of it, by safari vehicle. A popular option is to fly into Serengeti and make your way back by safari vehicle via the Ngorongoro Crater, or the other way around. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and make all further arrangements for you.
Coming from the Seronera area in Serengeti, the distance to the crater is about 140km/90mi and the driving time is about 3 hours*. This can obviously take much longer allowing for wildlife viewing along the way. The 80km/50mi drive from Lake Manyara National Park to the crater takes about 2 hours*, and the 180km/110mi drive from Tarangire National Park takes about 4 hours*.
The best option to get to Arusha is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 50km/31mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
Weather & Climate in Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater has a mild, temperate climate. The area experiences a Wet season with two rainy periods: the short rains from November to December, followed by the long rains from March to May. Rain usually falls in the form of short showers. The crater never gets very hot during the day, but the crater rim gets cold. Warm clothing for early morning is a necessity.
Staying at Ngorongoro Crater rim hotels—is ideal for securing immediate morning access to the crater floor before the daytime crowds arrive. This strategic location minimizes travel time compared to staying in the town of Karatu, ultimately maximizing your safari and photography time
Ngorongoro trips/safari Options
Ngorongoro trips / safaris by areas
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtakingly beautiful setting and the best place in East Africa to see the Big Five. It is a great way to start your African safari adventure. However, as one of the world’s most astonishing and renowned natural wonders, the Crater does get busy, and at times very busy.
Due to the crowds we recommend a two-night stay only here, then moving on to the Serengeti for a quieter, more private safari experience. Any Northern Tanzania Safari should ideally include a visit to Ngorongoro Crater: it is one of the most beautiful natural wildlife safari sites in the world and an exceptional place to interact with people from the Maasai tribe.
A visit to the Ngorongoro Crater is an experience of a lifetime. As the world’s only intact caldera, the crater is the top attraction of the 8,292km²/3,202mi² Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There are few places that have comparable wildlife densities. It is not unusual to see the Big Five in one day here. And all this is in the most amazing setting with a backdrop of the 600m-/1,968ft-high crater wall.
Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is the place where the first human remains were found. It is a steep ravine located right between the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park and it can be visited on your way to or from Serengeti. The ravine is 100 meters deep and 50 kilometers wide and it is one of the most famous archaeological locations in East Africa. Besides the remains of the earliest humans, hundreds of fossils (bones) were discovered here that date back millions of years.
Ndutu Plains
The Ndutu plains is an located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the outskirts of the Southern Serengeti plains. These plains are enriched with tremendous acacia trees, providing a panoramic view across Lake Ndutu and Masek at the other end. It is one of the best places in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to spot predators and enjoy the stunning landscapes. Standing here means you’re in the midst of a calving ground for migratory wild animals, specifically the wildebeest migration. It is typically composed of vast swaths of short grassland, soda-lake Masek, marshes, and woodland vegetation that support both residents and migratory animals.
Empakaai Crater
The Empakaai crater is one of the multi-volcanic calderas in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, probably with the highest rim of all and a beautiful lake that makes up more than 75% of its crater floor. Among the main attractions inside the crater is the large number of Flamingoes spotted around this Crater’s Lake coastline. The crater rests on the Ngorongoro highlands and is surrounded by steep-sided wooded cliffs of about 300m high, characterized by lush-green natural vegetation, wildlife, and a variety of bird species. The crater is almost 8 kilometers wide, yet about half of its floor is covered by a deep soda lake, home to flamingoes and other water birds.
Northern Highland forest reserve
The Northern Highland Forest Reserve (NHFR) is a thick forest with an abundance of attractions, including Endorro waterfalls, Elephant caves, flora and birds such as turaco, robin chat, bee-eater, honey guide, warbler, flycatcher, weaver, sunbird, buzzard, cuckoo, hornbill, bulbul, guinea fowl, to name a few. The common wild animals in the area include elephant, buffalo, leopard, hyena, duiker, waterbuck, baboon, blue monkey, bushbuck, duiker, bush pig and many more. It is an excellent place for nature walks, hiking, bird-watching, flora identification or research, and game viewing on foot.
Ngorongoro Crater Lodges
There is a wealth of choice from numerous lodges located by the Ngorongoro Crater or further afield in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for the start of your safari. Below we have listed our favourites:
