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Ngorongoro Conservation Area landscape

Destination

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

A 600-metre-deep caldera holding roughly 25,000 large animals in 260 km² — the single highest chance of seeing the Big Five in one morning anywhere in Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater is what remains of a volcano that collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago. The result is a natural amphitheatre with permanent water, grassland, swamp and acacia forest — everything a large animal needs, all year round.

Because the resident wildlife rarely leaves, the crater floor is the most reliable game drive in Tanzania. It is also the best place in the country to see black rhino, with a small protected population usually visible on the Lerai side in the early morning.

The wider Conservation Area is a multiple-use landscape where Maasai families graze cattle alongside wildlife. On the way through you can visit a Maasai boma, and the Olduvai Gorge museum sits on the road towards the Serengeti.

We always descend at first light. The crater is busiest from mid-morning, and the animals are most active before it warms up.

Highlights

  • Dawn descent to the crater floor
  • Black rhino sightings
  • Crater rim viewpoint over the caldera
  • Olduvai Gorge and Maasai boma visits

Wildlife you can expect

  • · Black rhino (best chance in Tanzania)
  • · Big-maned crater lions
  • · Elephant bulls with heavy tusks
  • · Flamingo on Lake Magadi
  • · Hippo, hyena, jackal, serval
  • · Buffalo and huge zebra herds

Best time to visit Ngorongoro

Excellent all year. June to October is dry and clear; the green months of January to March are quieter with beautiful light.

Check your own travel month →

Safaris that visit Ngorongoro

Guides about Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro safari FAQ

When is the best time to visit Ngorongoro?
Excellent all year. June to October is dry and clear; the green months of January to March are quieter with beautiful light.
How far is Ngorongoro from Arusha?
3–4 hours by road We collect you from your hotel in Arusha or from Kilimanjaro Airport, and the drive is part of the trip — the road out of town crosses Maasai country and the Rift Valley escarpment.
What animals will I see in Ngorongoro?
Black rhino (best chance in Tanzania), Big-maned crater lions, Elephant bulls with heavy tusks, Flamingo on Lake Magadi, Hippo, hyena, jackal, serval, Buffalo and huge zebra herds. Sightings are never guaranteed, but your guide radios with other drivers and knows where the resident animals have been feeding that week.
Which safaris include Ngorongoro?
3-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari, 5-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari, 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari, 7-Day Northern Circuit Safari, 8-Day Northern Circuit & Serengeti Safari. Prices start at $500 per person in USD, including park fees.
Are park fees included in your Ngorongoro prices?
Yes. Every quote we send includes national park and conservation area entry fees, the vehicle, your driver-guide, accommodation and meals. Park fees are set by the Tanzanian authorities and are the same for every operator, which is why unusually cheap quotes normally cut corners on vehicles or food.