Where is the Ngorongoro Crater and why is it famous?
The Ngorongoro Crater lies in northern Tanzania, at the heart of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara. It is famous as the largest intact, unflooded volcanic caldera on earth and for the extraordinary density of wildlife on its floor — including a stronghold of the endangered black rhino — which makes it one of the very few places you can see all of the Big Five in a single morning.
Can you see the Big Five in Ngorongoro?
Yes — Ngorongoro is one of the best places in Africa to see all of the Big Five, often in a single day. Lion, elephant and buffalo are resident on the crater floor in good numbers, the crater holds one of the last populations of black rhino, and leopard live on the forested rim and in the Lerai forest. This concentration is what makes the crater so remarkable.
What wildlife will I see on the crater floor?
The crater floor holds around twenty-five thousand large animals, including lion, elephant, buffalo, black rhino, hippo, zebra, wildebeest, eland, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle and spotted hyena, with flamingos and pelicans on Lake Magadi. Cheetah and serval are also seen on the open grassland, and more than five hundred bird species have been recorded across the conservation area.
What is the best time to visit Ngorongoro?
The crater is rewarding year-round because its wildlife does not migrate away, but the dry months of June to October and the short dry season of January to February offer the best conditions and clearest views. The green season from November to May brings lush scenery, superb birding, newborn animals and lower prices, though the rim can be misty.
How do I get to the Ngorongoro Crater?
Most visitors reach Ngorongoro by road from Arusha via Karatu, a scenic drive of three to four hours, or fly into the nearby Lake Manyara airstrip on a northern-circuit safari. The crater combines beautifully with the Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, and our team arranges all flights, road transfers and crater-descent permits.
How many nights should I spend at Ngorongoro?
One to two nights on or near the crater rim is ideal, allowing a full day's game drive on the crater floor plus time for the rim viewpoints, a Maasai village and Olduvai Gorge. Most guests fold Ngorongoro into a longer northern-circuit safari with the Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara for a week or more.
Is the Ngorongoro Crater a malaria area?
The high-altitude crater rim, at over 2,200 metres, is cool and relatively low-risk, but the wider region and lower parks are malaria areas, so anti-malarial precautions are recommended. Speak to a travel clinic before you travel and pack repellent, warm layers for the cool rim mornings and a good sun hat. Our team will share current health guidance as part of your planning.
What is Olduvai Gorge?
Olduvai (or Oldupai) Gorge, a short drive from the crater, is one of the most important palaeontological sites in the world. Excavations by the Leakey family uncovered fossils and stone tools spanning nearly two million years of human evolution, earning it the name 'Cradle of Mankind'. A visit to the gorge and its museum adds fascinating depth to a Ngorongoro safari.
Which lodges are best at Ngorongoro?
Ngorongoro offers some of Africa's most celebrated lodges. &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is a theatrical rim icon, Gibb's Farm a beloved highland coffee-farm retreat, and The Highlands a striking design camp above the rim, while Lemala Ngorongoro Camp and Sanctuary Crater Camp offer intimate tented luxury close to the descent road. We match every guest to the lodge and location that suit them best.
