Ngorongoro Crater
Why safari in the Ngorongoro Crater?
A visit to the Ngorongoro Crater is high on most holidaymakers’ lists, and rightly so. Not only is it the largest intact caldera in the world but it is also said to house the greatest concentration of wildlife in Africa.
The crater itself is a stunning sight. The adventure begins as you descend over 600 metres down the steep forested slopes to the crater floor. Here you’ll find a unique and diverse eco-system that supports a variety of wildlife amongst the grasslands, swamps, forests and seasonal lake,. The Crater is home to tens of thousands of plains game, including wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and eland, and a large predator population of lions, hyena and jackal. Thanks to a successful conservation project, endangered black rhino thrive here too.
The Crater is incredibly popular and does get busy. Choosing a lodge on the crater rim means you can be first in line to get into the park. Alternatively, the inviting manor houses and family-friendly farms nestled among Karatu's coffee plantations provide a convenient and comfortable base for exploring the area. Our team will be happy to help you choose the best options for your trip.
Wondering what to expect on safari? Read our guide.
Discover the Ngorongoro Crater
Abundant wildlife
Ngorongoro Crater View
Lioness
Game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater
Sundowners overlooking the Ngorongoro - Serena Safari Lodge
Where to stay in the Ngorongoro Crater
" We had the most wonderful magical experience, the children loved it and the hotel was dreamy! We managed to see everything we went to see. The guide was great and the balloon ride was an exceptional experience. It will be a holiday we will remember for a lifetime, thank you so much for helping organise it! "
The S Family, via Global Independent Travel
" What an absolutely fantastic holiday that was! Everything about it was amazing, we had the best time. We had no issues at all, it all ran so smoothly. I can’t praise it all enough, both for the safari and then we did a trip swimming with dolphins in Zanzibar. The hot air balloon exceeded all expectations. THANK YOU "
Mr & Mrs H via Free Spirit Holiday
"We had a wonderful safari, found all the accommodation/lodges really good, the guide was brilliant and we saw a lot of good game including the migration."
Mr & Mrs C
We had a wonderful holiday. Accommodation all very good. Although tented in some places, they were definitely glamping. We could watch elephants from our decking and it was obvious at night they come right up to tent! (There were always Masaai security guards keeping watch). We saw the Wildebeest migration which was a big plus and unexpected as early this year. Until the next time...
Mr & Mrs F via Personal Travel Agent
"Great holiday! Our safari guide was really good, knowledgeable, polite and sensible. The Lodge was really good, which offset Janes worries about a tent... but plush tent with ceramic loo! We saw the big 5 and scenery was amazing. Video of hippos still makes us laugh and warthogs really do hop like the cartoon Lion King. "
Mr & Mrs F via Hays Travel
"We had an amazing holiday – more than we could have ever hoped for! We absolutely loved Tanzania. Our guide was fantastic. This was a first-time safari, so were very nervous but now want to go to Africa again!"
Mr & Mrs F via Travel Counsellors
"We were delighted with our holiday and the meticulous organisation."
Family N
Travel the Ngorongoro Crater Your Way
Guided Journeys
The Ngorongoro Crater is a key part of most small group tours around what is known as the Northern Circuit, which also includes the Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Tarangire. Combining these contrasting areas is a great way to experience the best of Tanzania. For a more private experience, this route can also be done with a private guide, tailoring the route to suit your needs.
Flying
The option to fly into the Ngorongoro Crater area is possible by several companies that operate a daily ‘circuit’ of light aircraft transfers between the parks, making it easy to incorporate the different areas into one time-efficient itinerary and to see Tanzania from a different perspective. Speak to the team at African Pride for details of the services available.
Lodge Activities
The main activity in this area is very much focused on a game drive down onto the Crater floor to see the amazing concentration of animals. However, there are an intriguing array of activities that take place around the crater rim or in the nearby Karatu area, including coffee plantation tours, bush walks, mountain biking or visits to local cultural villages.
When to travel to the Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is a year-round destination, but wildlife viewing is at its best from June to October, during the dry season when the grass is shorter. During the wet season from November to May, lush vegetation makes it spectacular.
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Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's only intact caldera in north-eastern Tanzania.
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