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Tanzania safari destination

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

A vast volcanic crater filled with wildlife, from black rhino to lion prides, under a misty forested rim.

Ngorongoro safaris
Plan your trip

Location

Arusha Region, Tanzania

Best time

June to October

Ideal stay

One to two nights

Famous for

Big Five in one crater

Location

Arusha Region, Tanzania

Best time

June to October

Ideal stay

One to two nights

Famous for

Big Five in one crater

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Go down early

Enter the crater at first light for the best wildlife and fewer vehicles.

A whole world inside one crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera, about 600 metres deep and close to 20 kilometres across, in the highlands of northern Tanzania.

Its floor holds grassland, swamps, forest and a soda lake, home to a dense population of animals that rarely leave. It is one of the best places in East Africa to see black rhino, and Maasai herders still share the wider conservation area with the wildlife.

Where your guide will take you

  • Crater floor
  • Lake Magadi
  • Lerai Forest
  • Ngoitokitok Springs
  • Crater rim viewpoints
  • Olduvai Gorge

The animals you came to see

A dense, resident population makes the crater one of Africa’s most reliable game viewing areas.

Black rhino

The crater is one of East Africa’s best places to see black rhino in the wild.

Lion

Large prides patrol the crater floor, often close to the road.

Elephant

Old bulls with huge tusks feed in Lerai Forest and the swamps.

Hyena

Spotted hyena are common and often seen at dawn.

Flamingo

Flamingos feed in the shallows of Lake Magadi.

Zebra and wildebeest

Herds graze the open grassland all year.

More than game drives

Hover or tap a card to see how each experience fits into your time at Ngorongoro.

Crater floor game drive

A day inside the caldera.

Crater floor game drive

Descend at dawn and spend the day exploring the grassland, swamps and lake with your guide.
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Rim walks

Forest trails on the rim.

Rim walks

Walk with an armed ranger along the forested rim for views into the crater and the highlands.
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Maasai village visit

Living culture.

Maasai village visit

Visit a Maasai homestead to learn how families live alongside wildlife in the conservation area.
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Lake Magadi birds

Flamingos and waders.

Lake Magadi birds

Stop at the soda lake on the crater floor to watch flamingos and other water birds.
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Olduvai Gorge

The cradle of humankind.

Olduvai Gorge

Visit the gorge and museum where fossils of some of our earliest ancestors were found.
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Picnic at the hippo pool

Lunch with a view.

Picnic at the hippo pool

Enjoy a picnic at Ngoitokitok Springs, where hippos wallow in the pool nearby.
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When to visit Ngorongoro

The crater’s wildlife stays put, so it is good all year. The season shapes the weather and the crowds.

January to March

Calving season

Calves are born on the nearby Ndutu plains, inside the conservation area.

April to May

Long rains

Green crater, misty mornings and very few vehicles.

Best time

June to October

Peak dry season

Clear skies and easy game viewing, though the crater is busiest. Book early.

November to December

Short rains

Short showers and fresh grass on the crater floor.

Planning your trip

The practical details, so you can decide how to travel and where to stay.

Getting there

Between Arusha and the Serengeti.

  • By road: about three to four hours from Arusha, passing Lake Manyara on the way.
  • On the way: the crater sits between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, so most safaris stop here.
  • Combined routes: pairs naturally with Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Serengeti.

Where to stay

Lodges on the crater rim.

  • On the rim: lodges with views straight into the crater, ideal for an early start.
  • In Karatu: farm lodges and hotels among the coffee estates nearby.
  • Any budget: we match lodges to your style, from comfortable mid-range to luxury.

Entry and crater fees are set by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority. Nights on the rim are cold, so pack a warm layer.

Ngorongoro safari tours

Ready-made trips that include the Ngorongoro Crater, usually with Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Serengeti.

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Ngorongoro FAQs

Can’t see your question here? Our Nairobi team is available 24/7.

Talk to Serval Tours and Travel

It is in the highlands of northern Tanzania, between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, about three to four hours’ drive from Arusha.

One to two nights is ideal. A single day on the crater floor is enough for the main game drive.

Yes. Lion, elephant, buffalo and black rhino are all seen on the crater floor, and leopard live in the forests around it.

Yes. It is one of East Africa’s best places to see black rhino, usually from a distance on the open grassland.

The wildlife stays in the crater all year. June to October is driest but busiest, while the green season is quieter.

The rim is over 2,000 metres high, so mornings and evenings are cold. Bring a fleece or warm jacket.

It is an archaeological site between the crater and the Serengeti, where fossils of early human ancestors were found. There is a small museum on site.

Yes. It sits between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, so it fits naturally into a Northern Circuit safari.

Start planning your Ngorongoro safari

Tell us your dates, group size and budget. We’ll come back with a Northern Circuit itinerary built around the season and the experiences you want most.

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