Ngorongoro crater experience Safaris & Experiences
Private trips • Local guides • Custom itineraries • Safari extensions
Typical duration
Destination
Best for
Couples, singles, Groups
Best season
June-October, Jan-Feb
Trip style
Private & custom
A richer way to experience East Africa
Ngorongoro crater in details
When is the Best Time for the safari?
June to October is the dry season, which is the best time for wildlife viewing. The animals congregate near water sources as water becomes scarcer, and vegetation is less dense, making game spotting much easier. The rainy season from December to February is still a good time to visit; the lush landscapes are a sight to behold, and it’s calving season for many animals, so this time of the year has the cuteness factor.
It also presents great birdwatching opportunities from November to May is the perfect time to see large swathes of flamingos at Lake Magadi.
Ngorongoro Crater is a must-visit while on a Tanzania safari, as it offers one of the best opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife in a single day, all against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes.
Top Destinations in the Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater floor: the main Wildlife hotspot
The crater floor, with a radius of 260 square kilometres, is the main attraction, home to abundant wildlife and beautiful nature views. Open grasslands make up most of the crater floor; here, elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, zebras, warthogs, and wildebeest wander freely.
There are a large number of prey species that predators can thrive on. Lions (the crater has arguably one of the highest densities of this big cat in the world), hyenas, and leopards can all be found while on a Ngorongoro Crater safari.
Lerai Forest: Ideal for Birdwatching
The Lerai Forest is a lush ecosystem within the crater, ideal for birdwatching. This habitat provides the perfect area for many bird species to get food and build their nests. Some bird species here include hoopoes, cuckoos, and weavers.
During a Ngorongoro safari in this ecosystem, you may also spot massive bull elephants, and if you look up in the trees, you may just see a leopard.
Lake Magadi: A Flamingo Paradise
“Magadi” means soda in Swahili; this alkaline lake attracts many bird and animal species, including flamingos. The abundant blue-green algae found here is the main food source of these pink birds.
This lake’s swamp areas host hippos, while other animals will come to the lake to drink and hunt. While on a Ngorongoro Crater safari, you may spot golden jackals on the outskirts of the lake waiting to pounce on flamingos.
When is the Best Time to Go on Safari at Ngorongoro Crater?
June to October is the dry season, which is the best time for wildlife viewing. The animals congregate near water sources as water becomes scarcer, and vegetation is less dense, making game spotting much easier. The rainy season from December to February is still a good time to visit – the lush landscapes are a sight to behold, and it’s calving season for many animals, so this time of the year has the cuteness factor.
It also presents great birdwatching opportunities; from November to May is the perfect time to see large swathes of flamingos at Lake Magadi.
Animals Found in Ngorongoro Crater
Elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and critically endangered black rhinos are all found here, making Ngorongoro a Big Five destination. You will also find large populations of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, making it a prime area to witness interactions between predators and their prey. Besides lions and leopards, other predators that hunt these grounds include hyenas and cheetahs.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area hosts over 500 species of birds, both migratory and resident, making it a fantastic birding safari destination.
When to Go to Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro is a year-round safari destination with great game viewing at all times. To combine the Ngorongoro with the Serengeti Migrations, it is best to go between January and March when the herds are in the southern plains of the Serengeti and spilling over into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
How to Get to Ngorongoro Crater
The easiest way of getting to Ngorongoro is via Arusha by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport and then driving the fascinating route through some of Tanzania’s most dramatic landscapes. The Crater is usually done in combination with the Serengeti and other parks.
Once you’re at Arusha Airport, it’s just a two-and-a-half-hour road transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Introduction
The Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania is the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. Formed roughly 2.5 million years ago when a massive volcano collapsed inward, it now serves as one of Africa’s premier wildlife sanctuaries. The crater floor spans 260 square kilometers and sits 610 meters below its steep rim.
Located in northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s most famous parks. Two to three million years ago, this ancient volcano, supposedly as high as Kilimanjaro, imploded, leaving the world’s largest intact caldera, complete with 600m-high walls.
Over the years, the fertility of the volcanic soil and year-round water supply have attracted one of the highest concentrations of game in Africa. Today, Ngorongoro is a truly stunning site and has some of the best wildlife anywhere we operate safaris. Where else can you go on safari in an extinct volcano packed with the Big Five?
The Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania is the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera.
Today, long since having collapsed and eroded, it is an extensive highland area with the famous 600 m deep Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point. Nearly three million years old, the ancient caldera shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on earth.
Key Facts and Size
It was formed 2 to 3 million years ago when a massive volcano collapsed after an eruption and is roughly 610 meters deep with a floor covering 260 square kilometers.
The crater basin sits about 1,700 meters above sea level.
Wildlife and Nature
The Big Five. This is home to dense populations of lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and endangered black rhinos. This makes it one of the most interesting areas to visit since it has the Big Five animals, and it is a major attraction to the many visitors
Nearly 30,000 large animals live inside the natural enclosure of the walls.
Giraffes and impalas do not live in the crater because the steep walls and lack of open woodlands make it hard for them to travel there.
Because of its unique, enclosed bowl structure, the crater has developed a self-sustaining ecosystem that hosts over 25,000 large mammals.
The area has a high Predator Density, with the flat, nutrient-rich grassland floor supporting thousands of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles, which in turn feed the highest density of lions in the world.
The caldera floor features diverse landscapes including the soda waters of Lake Magadi, the lush Lerai Acacia Forest, wetlands, and fresh springs.
Cultural and Historical Significance
The crater is part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO heritage site. It is unique because it promotes a pioneering multi-use land model where semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists live and graze livestock alongside protected wild animals. Additionally, it borders the famous Olduvai Gorge, an archeological goldmine holding some of the earliest footprints and remains dating back millions of years.
Best ways to experience Ngorongoro crater experience
No results found.
Ngorongoro crater experience in short.
Typical duration
Setting
Activity style
PRIVATE / GUIDED
Best for
Solo, Couples, Group & Family.
How the experience unfolds
When is the Best Time for the safari?
June to October is the dry season, which is the best time for wildlife viewing. The animals congregate near water sources as water becomes scarcer, and vegetation is less dense, making game spotting much easier. The rainy season from December to February is still a good time to visit; the lush landscapes are a sight to behold, and it’s calving season for many animals, so this time of the year has the cuteness factor.
It also presents great birdwatching opportunities from November to May is the perfect time to see large swathes of flamingos at Lake Magadi.
Ngorongoro Crater is a must-visit while on a Tanzania safari, as it offers one of the best opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife in a single day, all against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes.
Top Destinations in the Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater floor: the main Wildlife hotspot
The crater floor, with a radius of 260 square kilometres, is the main attraction, home to abundant wildlife and beautiful nature views. Open grasslands make up most of the crater floor; here, elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, zebras, warthogs, and wildebeest wander freely.
There are a large number of prey species that predators can thrive on. Lions (the crater has arguably one of the highest densities of this big cat in the world), hyenas, and leopards can all be found while on a Ngorongoro Crater safari.
Lerai Forest: Ideal for Birdwatching
The Lerai Forest is a lush ecosystem within the crater, ideal for birdwatching. This habitat provides the perfect area for many bird species to get food and build their nests. Some bird species here include hoopoes, cuckoos, and weavers.
During a Ngorongoro safari in this ecosystem, you may also spot massive bull elephants, and if you look up in the trees, you may just see a leopard.
Lake Magadi: A Flamingo Paradise
“Magadi” means soda in Swahili; this alkaline lake attracts many bird and animal species, including flamingos. The abundant blue-green algae found here is the main food source of these pink birds.
This lake’s swamp areas host hippos, while other animals will come to the lake to drink and hunt. While on a Ngorongoro Crater safari, you may spot golden jackals on the outskirts of the lake waiting to pounce on flamingos.
When is the Best Time to Go on Safari at Ngorongoro Crater?
June to October is the dry season, which is the best time for wildlife viewing. The animals congregate near water sources as water becomes scarcer, and vegetation is less dense, making game spotting much easier. The rainy season from December to February is still a good time to visit – the lush landscapes are a sight to behold, and it’s calving season for many animals, so this time of the year has the cuteness factor.
It also presents great birdwatching opportunities; from November to May is the perfect time to see large swathes of flamingos at Lake Magadi.
Animals Found in Ngorongoro Crater
Elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and critically endangered black rhinos are all found here, making Ngorongoro a Big Five destination. You will also find large populations of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, making it a prime area to witness interactions between predators and their prey. Besides lions and leopards, other predators that hunt these grounds include hyenas and cheetahs.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area hosts over 500 species of birds, both migratory and resident, making it a fantastic birding safari destination.
When to Go to Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro is a year-round safari destination with great game viewing at all times. To combine the Ngorongoro with the Serengeti Migrations, it is best to go between January and March when the herds are in the southern plains of the Serengeti and spilling over into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
How to Get to Ngorongoro Crater
The easiest way of getting to Ngorongoro is via Arusha by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport and then driving the fascinating route through some of Tanzania’s most dramatic landscapes. The Crater is usually done in combination with the Serengeti and other parks.
Once you’re at Arusha Airport, it’s just a two-and-a-half-hour road transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Ngorongoro crater experience planning Guide
Best time for Ngorongoro crater experience
What to know before you go
We arrange more than the activity
Through out the past ten year, we have arranged exciting and unforgettable journeys to hundreds of thousands of guests.
We are definitely going to make your visit to East Africa worth while through our simple and engaging steps that involves.
Trip design
We match the activity, destination, trip length and wider safari to your priorities.
Permits & reservations
We book all your permits and entrances at the right times so you never get to meet any suprises.
Private transport
All our tours include free airport pickups and drop offs. No extra payments at any point for the same.
Guides & local teams
All our guides are experienced, calm and local. They shall definitely make your stay worth while.
Accommodation
We use only lodges we have been to and all accommodations we use are perfectly located to give you more fun
Safari extensions
Feel free to add more activities and destinations to your visit. Just let us know in advance for a better planning.
Combine Ngorongoro crater experience with more of East Africa
Gorilla Habituation Experience
Tanzania Great migration
Questions travellers ask before booking
Build your Ngorongoro crater experience safari
Tell us your dates, number of travellers, preferred activity, comfort level and the other destinations you want to include. We will use those details to recommend a practical itinerary.
You do not need to know the exact route before contacting us.
Got any questions
about traveling to Uganda?
Get in touch.
