Ngorongoro Crater budget safari Tour : Ngorongoro Crater is one of my favorite places anywhere in Africa, and if I had to choose one place to go on holiday, Ngorongoro would always be near the top of my list.
No matter how many times I descend into the crater at Ngorongoro, I still feel the same sense of anticipation, as if I’m entering a hidden world alive with possibility and with wildlife.
Every time I’ve been in the crater I’ve seen lions, elephants and black rhinos, but these are just the start in this beautiful place. Ngorongoro is also well-suited to a budget safari, with plenty of camping places around the crater rim, and lots of affordable tours to choose from.
Ngorongoro Conservation area
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.
Wildlife Highlights
Most safari heavyweights are well represented in the crater. Black rhino is the star attraction and big numbers of buffalo sweep across the grassy plains. Elephant herds rarely come through, but many lone bulls carrying massive tusks have made the crater floor their home. Although giraffes are common in the greater conservation area, you won’t find any inside of the crater. Presumably the steep walls form a natural barrier for them.
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).
June to October : Dry Season
- Wildlife is easier to spot since the grass is shorter
- There is little rainfall and lots of sunshine
- It gets crowded
- Mornings and nights get very cold so you’ll need winter clothes
November to May wet:
- Wildlife viewing is excellent, even in the Wet season
- The scenery is green and beautiful
- April and May are low-season months so there are fewer visitors
- Birding is in its prime due to the presence of migratory birds from November to April
- Wildlife viewing might be more difficult when the grass is long
- March to April is the peak of the Wet season
- It is cold during the nights and mornings, so it is important to pack warm clothing
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 game drives is a necessity.
Dry Season June to October:
There is lots of sunshine on the crater floor, but the rim is often covered in mist. It tends to be chilly and you’ll need warm clothing for game drives.
- June, July, August & September – Afternoon temperatures are usually around 19°C/66°F on the crater floor. Sunny, cloudless skies are normal. It gets cold at night, and it can freeze on the crater rim.
- October – It is usually sunny, but if the short rains arrive early, they could start in late October.
Wet Season November to May
It gets warmer during the day when compared to the Dry season, but mornings are still cold. Afternoon temperatures are usually around 23°C/73°F on the crater floor, while nighttime temperatures are around 6°C/43°F on the crater rim.
- November & December – ‘Short rains’ – These rains are highly unlikely to impact your safari as it won’t rain all day. Showers usually happen in the afternoon. The short rains last about one month and can occur anytime in November to December.
- January & February – It isn’t possible to guess when it will happen with accuracy, but there is usually a time of dry weather between the rains.
- March, April & May – ‘Long rains’ – It often rains, but it rarely lasts the entire day. April and May could experience very chilly conditions due to cold fronts.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Olmoti Crater
Olmoti Crater is situated at the northern end of the Ngorongoro Crater, from where Mount Lolmalasin, Tanzania’s third tallest mountain, can be viewed. Gorgeous wild and lonesome landscapes emerge as they go through the eastern highlands, which stretch from Olmoti Crater to mount highlands. The crater is about 6.5 kilometers in diameter, and the highest point above sea level is approximately 3,080m.
The Olmoti Crater is named after the Maasai word, ‘Olmoti,’ meaning a big cooking pot due to its shape. Unlike the Ngorongoro Crater, Olmoti Crater is a shallow sunken caldera covered with grass and bisected by a river valley which provides a reliable water supply and suitable grazing pastures for wild animals throughout the year.
Its great vantage point offers a spectacular view of the environs, blended with grazing animals such as antelopes and elands. A beautiful view combined with protruding rocks strewn around the highest point and the end of the trails.
A spectacular view of Munge Waterfall from the famous Munge River, which drains into the Ngorongoro Crater, can be seen from the viewpoint. A pleasant stroll through the forest leads up to the crater rim before descending to the crater floor at Olmoti. The crater is covered by water streams, varieties of plants and wild species.
Walking through this well-developed trail takes approximately half an hour to forty minutes ascension and twenty-five minutes to a half an hour descent. This attraction can be visited any time of the year with much emphasis during the dry season (June through December). Visiting can be part of the long walking safari to Empakaai Crater and beyond the NCA.
Ngorongoro Luxury Safaris
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