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Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area

Size

Conservation Area: 8292 km2 (3201 mi2) | Crater: 260 km2 (100 mi2)

Founded

1959

Best time to visit

year-round

Like a pot of gold

Anywhere between 25,000 and 30,000 animals of 115 species live on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater and along its densely forested crater walls. Like a pot of gold, filled with shimmering grass, dotted with lions, herds of buffaloes, zebras, and wildebeest, shy caracals, lounging hippos and elegant flamingos. It’s a glamorous place in the animal kingdom, a place of abundance and awe. It truly is one of its kind – the largest unbroken caldera in the world and a wildlife spectacle.

Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater: A place of unparalleled beauty

The feeling of anticipation as you descend the narrow road into the Crater is unlike anything you’ll experience in other protected wildlife areas. It’s not only one of the best places for wildlife sightings on the continent, but also a place of uniqueness, wonder, and abundance, leaving you in awe of the natural world.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, inactive, and unfilled caldera in the world. With a diameter of approximately 19 km (12 miles) and its majestic walls that rise just over 610 m (2000 feet), the crater floor covers an area of 260 sq km (100 sq miles). Over 30,000 animals including the rare black rhino as part of the Big Five call this unique place their home. The Crater was formed when a gigantic volcano – said to have been as high as Mt Kilimanjaro – erupted and collapsed about 2.5 million years ago.

Today, the crater floor is covered by various landscapes that range from dense mountain forests and woodlands to grasslands, lakes, and swamps. Water sources include the two main rivers, Munge River in the west and Lerai River in the east as well as the Ngotokitok spring that spills into a swamp.

Huge herds of ungulates dominate the crater floor with zebras, wildebeests, elands, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles as the species most commonly seen. But the crater is also home to the Big Five and elephants, lions and buffaloes are often spotted. Leopards are rarely seen as the prefer staying in the forests on the crater rim. The very rare black rhino is also at home in the crater and sightings are fairly common. Serval cats, spotted hyenas and jackals are also often seen while cheetahs are more difficult to spot.

But it is not only mammals that reside here. You can see a great number of lesser flamingos at Lake Magadi, a primarily alkaline lake. Other common birds include ostriches, Kori bustards, crowned cranes, white backed vultures, black kites, cattle egrets, tawny eagles, augur buzzards and many more.

A walk along the Ngorongoro Crater rim accompanied by a ranger takes visitors on a trail created by livestock, passing moss covered trees and Masai bomas, offering breath-taking views of the crater below. It’s one of the few popular wildlife areas in Tanzania, where you can experience your surroundings on foot.

The famous Crater is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a large area of protected land. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was officially declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979. The area consists of various landscapes and includes dense mountain forests, woodlands, grasslands, lakes, and swamps. Some of the most important archaeological sites in the world, such as Oldupai Gorge and Laetoli are in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Archaeologists found evidence showing that the area was occupied by hominids over 3 million years ago and thus claiming that it could be the birthplace of mankind.

Today over 40,000 Masai reside in the area making the Ngorongoro Conservation Area one of the only places in Tanzania where human habitation is allowed within a wildlife protected area. The conservation shares a boundary with the Serengeti National Park, and you need to drive through the conservation in order to get to the Serengeti.

There are no accommodation options located at the bottom of the Crater floor. You drive into the Crater for game drives during the day but drive back up before the sun sets. There are a few exclusive lodges and camps as well as one campsite along the Crater rim, overlooking the caldera. Staying here grants you the view of a lifetime and an unforgettable sunset.

However, most accommodation options however are located close to the small town of Karatu in the Ngorongoro highlands. You can stay at coffee plantations and beautiful manor houses, overlooking coffee fields and rolling hills. It does take about an hour to drive from Karatu to the Crater. And while this means you won’t be the first to reach the Crater floor for your game drive in the morning, you will still have an amazing safari experience – and an accommodation that’s friendlier on your wallet too.

Ngorongoro Crater map
diamond

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is recognised by the UNESCO for its natural as well as its cultural heritage.

rhino

The Big Five

The Ngorongoro Crater is a Big Five destination. Even the rare black rhino is spotted here.

calendar

Shoulder Season Travel

During the high season, the Crater can get very busy with visitors. We recommend travelling in the shoulder or low season for a more intimate experience.

Man looking at elephant on game drive

Ngorongoro Crater is home to a large variety of wildlife including the Big Five.

Man looking into Ngorongoro Crater

There are a few accommodation options on the crater rim with views of the crater floor.

Crater walls visible from vehicle

On game drives on the crater floor, the steep crater walls are always visible.

Ngorongoro Farm House in Karatu

Most accommodations – such as the Ngorongoro Farm House – are spread across the Ngorongoro Highlands and the town of Karatu.

Rhino and Big Five seen in the Ngorongoro Crater

It is one of the best places in Tanzania to see the rhino.

WHEN TO GO

Best time to go to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The good news: No matter the month, wildlife viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is great! There are a few things to consider when choosing the travel time that’s best for you personally though. July to September is peak travelling season in Tanzania. This is because it’s the dry season which means sunny weather, dry roads and short grass – all important conditions for successful wildlife sightings. That being said, it also means the Crater floor will get busy and you will have to share sightings with quite a number of other safari vehicles. If you are looking for a more intimate experience, consider the rainy season months April and May. Vegetation is lush and green and it’s the only time of the year the Crater is less busy. When choosing the best time to travel, do consider the other national parks you would like to visit during your stay as well. Often, shoulder season – the months in-between the peak and the low season – will get you the best of both worlds.

dry season

Dry Season

June to October & December to February

Best for wildlife sightings, but it can get very busy.

rainy season

Green Season

November & March to May

Lush landscapes and fewer visitors in the Crater.

Why to go

Nothing Compares

While we don’t like to push destinations and experiences as “Must See” or “Must Do” – the Ngorongoro Crater might be an exception. If this is your first time to Tanzania, we would definitely recommend you allocate time and budget to a game drive in the Crater. It may not be as wild and untamed as the Serengeti or the parks in Southern Tanzania, but it is absolutely unique and breathtakingly beautiful. The density of wildlife on the comparably small space intensifies the experience even more. Additionally, the Crater’s location in the Ngorongoro highlands offers the opportunity to experience the Tanzanian way of life. On tours around a coffee plantation or visits to the small town of Karatu, you can get out of the safari car and get in touch with the locals.

 

Dramatic landscape Ngorongoro Crater
Sunset Ngorongoro Crater
We didn’t know where to look first – the diversity of wildlife was incredible. Right at the beginning, we saw a lion mother and her cub, having a buffalo for breakfast – we stayed again for quite a while to observe them in awe. Later on, we also saw two male lions. We will never forget this day. We saw all of the Big Five, except the rhino. Probably a good reason to come back one day! Conclusion Ngorongoro: Definitely the highlight of our tour.
Michael | Safari & Beach Trip
Game drives safari vehicle
Classic game drives

Look for wildlife from a 4×4 safari vehicle.

Panorama walk
Crater rim walk

Take short walks to view points along the crater rim.

Coffee walk at Ngorongoro Farm House
Coffee walks

Learn about local coffee production on a farm walk.

Things to do

Safari, Hiking & Local Life

Classic game drives in a 4×4 safari vehicle on the Crater floor are the highlight of a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater. But if you like to get active, you have the option to go on a walk along the Crater rim enjoying wonderful views and the natural world around you. If you overnight in Karatu, make sure to visit a coffee plantation to learn about this important sector of Tanzania’s economy.

  • Classic game drives
  • Crater rim walk
  • Coffee plantation visit in Karatu
Lion Ngorongoro Crater
Lions

The King of the Crater finds prey in abundance and is regularly spotted here.

Rhino Ngorongoro Crater
Black Rhino

It’s always a lucky day when you spot a rhino, but the Crater is a good place to look.

Hippo pool Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Hippos

The most dangerous mammal in Africa enjoys the cool pools on the Crater floor and comes out to graze on the lush green grass during the night.

WILDLIFE AND PLANT LIFE IN THE NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

The Big Five and many more

You can spot the Big Five and many other classic safari animals on a safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There are fewer elephants compared to other destinations and there are no giraffes on the crater floor – the slopes are too steep! But you can see them in the conservation area surrounding the crater.

Where to stay in and near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Kitela Lodge at night

Kitela Lodge

Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp

Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp

Gibb's Farm

Gibb’s Farm

Acacia Farm Lodge

Acacia Farm Lodge

Asilia The Highlands

The Highlands

Farmhouse Valley

Farmhouse Valley

Lions Paw Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro Lions Paw

Sanctuary Ngorongoro

Sanctuary Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro Farm House

Ngorongoro Farm House

Lake Masek Lodge

Lake Masek Lodge

Country Lodge Karatu Ngorongoro outdoors

Country Lodge Karatu

Lemala Ndutu Camp

Lemala Ndutu Camp

Ndutu Safari Lodge

Ndutu Safari Lodge

Lemala Ngorongoro Camp

Lemala Ngorongoro Camp

Entamanu Ngorongoro Camp

Entamanu Ngorongoro Camp

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Pakulala Safari Camp

Pakulala Safari Camp

Rhino Lodge

Rhino Lodge

Marera Valley Lodge garden

Marera Valley Lodge

Serena Ngorongoro Lodge

Serena Ngorongoro Lodge

The Manor at Ngorongoro Elewana

The Manor at Ngorongoro

The Retreat at Ngorongoro

The Retreat at Ngorongoro

Tloma Lodge

Tloma Lodge

Location

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is part of Tanzania’s northern circuit, a region with some of the most popular safari destinations in the country. It is about 180km (110 miles) from Arusha. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area shares a border with the Serengeti National Park. In order to reach the Serengeti, you need to pass through the conservation area. To access the Ngorongoro Crater you drive down a steep road through lush and dense forest.

Experience the Ngorongoro Crater

Lion paws closeup
Arno Snellenberg Tanzania Travel Expert
Tanzania-Experience safari vehicle

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