The Ngorongoro Crater is a massive, ancient volcanic caldera in Tanzania, renowned as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders for its breathtaking scenery and incredible wildlife density, housing the famous “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) and thousands of other animals in a unique ecosystem, making it a top safari destination within the broader Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There are five airports that will connect you conveniently to the Ngorongoro Crater location.
Below, we have highlighted the airports in sequence from nearest to furthest away to help you decipher which airport or airstrip is the best for you.
1. Ngorongoro Crater Airstrip
Distance to the crater: 1.8 miles / 3 km
Drive time: 20 minutes
Notes: Closest airstrip to Ngorongoro Crater and only available for private charter flights – there are no scheduled domestic flights that fly here.
2. Lake Manyara Airstrip
Distance to the crater: 37 miles / 60 km
Drive time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Notes: Lake Manyara Airstrip is the second closest airstrip to fly to in order to get to the Ngorongoro Crater location. There are plenty of scheduled domestic flights that operate all year round.
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3. Lake Ndutu Airstrip
Distance to the crater: 55 miles / 85 km
Drive time: 2 – 3 hours
Notes: Ndutu is located within the greater Ngorongoro Conservation Area and is an ideal airstrip to fly into if you are also visiting the Serengeti.
4. Arusha Airport
Distance to the crater: 112 miles / 180 km
Drive time: 3.5 – 4.5 hours
Notes: Arusha is renowned for its reliable domestic flight connections within Tanzania.
5. Kilimanjaro International Airport
Distance to the crater: 170 miles / 270 km
Drive time: 6 – 6.5 hours
Notes: The main international airport hub in Northern Tanzania. From here, you can get to the crater by air or by land.