Ngorongoro Crater Safari
A Ngorongoro safari takes you to one of the most spectacular wildlife areas in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater. It is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, about 19 kilometres wide and 600 metres deep, and its floor holds an estimated 25,000 large animals. Lions, hyenas, elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and the rare black rhino live on grasslands, swamp and a small lake, all within a few hours’ drive.
A Ngorongoro safari takes you to one of the most spectacular wildlife areas in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater. It is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, about 19 kilometres wide and 600 metres deep, and its floor holds an estimated 25,000 large animals. Lions, hyenas, elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and the rare black rhino live on grasslands, swamp and a small lake, all within a few hours’ drive.
You can visit the crater on a one day trip from Arusha or as part of a longer safari with the Serengeti and Tarangire. Our crater safaris start from USD 250 per person.
What you can see in the crater
The crater floor covers about 260 square kilometres, and the animals live there year-round, so game viewing is excellent in every month. The crater has one of the highest densities of large predators in Africa, and lions, spotted hyenas and jackals are easy to find. Black rhinos live in the crater, and it is one of the best places in Tanzania to have a chance of seeing one. Hippos wallow in a pool in the centre, flamingos gather at Lake Magadi when it has water, and large tuskers walk through the Lerai forest.
The crater has no giraffes, because the steep walls and the lack of tall trees keep them out. Elephants are mostly bulls. Leopards live in the forests on the crater walls and are rarely seen.
Ngorongoro Crater day trip from Arusha
A day trip to Ngorongoro from Arusha is possible but long: it is about three hours each way, and the time on the crater floor is limited to about six hours. You leave Arusha at dawn, descend into the crater around 7:00 in the morning and drive back in the evening. It suits travellers with one free day. If you can, stay overnight near Karatu or on the crater rim, which gives you a relaxed start and more time on the floor.
Park fees and rules
The Ngorongoro Conservation Authority charges an entry fee per person per day, a vehicle fee and a separate crater service fee per vehicle. These fees are set by the authority, charged in US dollars and revised from time to time. All fees are included in our packages, and your quote lists them. Visitors must leave the crater floor by late afternoon, and the descent is only allowed in 4x4 vehicles with a trained driver.
More than the crater: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The conservation area is bigger than the crater. It includes Olduvai Gorge, where early human fossils were found, the Empakaai crater with its lake, and the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu, which host the calving season from January to March. Maasai families live in the conservation area with their herds, and a respectful visit to a village is part of many itineraries.
Best time to visit
The crater can be visited all year. The dry season from June to October has the clearest roads and the most reliable wildlife. January to March is green and has fewer visitors. The long rains from April to May make the roads slippery and the crater quieter and cheaper. Our best time to visit Tanzania guide has details for each month.
How a crater day unfolds
You leave your lodge on the rim before dawn so that you are on the crater floor when the gates open. The descent road is steep, and as you drop through the mist you see the floor spread out below. The first hours are the best, with lions and hyenas still active, and herds of wildebeest and zebras on the grass. By mid-morning you head to the Gorigor swamp and the Ngoitokitok spring for hippos and a picnic. After lunch you drive past Lake Magadi and Lerai forest for elephants, and begin the climb back out before the afternoon curfew.
Where to stay near the crater
The rim lodges give you the view and the shortest drive to the descent road. Lodges in Karatu, about 30 minutes away, are lower in cost and often quieter, with farm and garden settings. For a night before or after the crater, choose the rim for the view and Karatu for the value. Both put you at the descent road early.
Ngorongoro and the Maasai
The conservation area is a place where people, livestock and wildlife share the land. Maasai families graze their cattle on the crater rim and highlands. A visit to a Maasai boma, arranged with the community and with fair payment, is a respectful way to learn about their culture. We explain what to expect, and we do not stage visits.
Rhinos in the crater
The crater is one of the few places in Tanzania where you have a real chance of seeing a black rhino. The animals are usually far across the floor, so a good binocular helps. Rangers monitor the rhinos closely. Your guide will take you to where the animals have been recently, but sightings are never guaranteed.
Ngorongoro Crater safari packages
- 5 Day Shared Group Camping Safari (5 Days, from USD 1,250 per person) Five days on the Northern Circuit with public-campsite nights: Tarangire, two nights in the Serengeti, a crater-rim night at Simba, then Ngorongoro Crater befor
- 3 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Joining Safari (3 Days, from USD 750 per person) A short joining safari for travellers who want Serengeti and Ngorongoro without a private vehicle. Two nights in the Serengeti, a full day on the plains, then t
- 2 Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Joining Safari (2 Days, from USD 500 per person) Two days from Arusha for travellers with limited time: a full day in Tarangire, one lodge night, then Ngorongoro Crater before the evening drop-off in town.
- Ngorongoro Day Trip Joining Safari (1 Days, from USD 250 per person) A one day joining safari from Arusha into Ngorongoro Crater. Shared 4x4, professional English-speaking guide, picnic lunch, and evening drop off in town, no ove
- 1 Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Arusha (1 Day, from USD 500 per person) A private one-day safari from Arusha into the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater with a full day game drive and picnic lunch.
- 2 Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Zanzibar (2 Days / 1 Night, from USD 1,350 per person) A private 2 day safari from Zanzibar: fly to Arusha, explore Tarangire, then descend into Ngorongoro Crater before an evening flight back.
- 7 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) The classic Northern Circuit in 7 days: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in mid range lodges and tented c
- 7 Day Northern Circuit Luxury Tanzania Safari: Drive to Serengeti & Fly Out (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,300 per person) A private 7 day luxury Northern Circuit safari: drive through Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro to the Serengeti, then fly out from Seronera Airstrip.
- 6 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,300 per person) A private 6 day midrange safari through Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in a 4×4 jeep with pop-up roof.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ngorongoro Crater?
The caldera is about 19 kilometres wide, with a floor area of roughly 260 square kilometres, and its walls rise about 600 metres.
What animals live in the Ngorongoro Crater?
Lions, hyenas, elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, rhinos and many bird species. Giraffes do not live in the crater.
Can I visit the crater in one day?
Yes, from Arusha, but it is a long day with about six hours of driving. An overnight trip is more comfortable.
How much are the Ngorongoro park fees?
Fees are set by the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority in US dollars and change from time to time. We include them in your package and list them in your quote.
Is Ngorongoro better than the Serengeti?
They are different. The crater is compact and rich in wildlife, and the Serengeti is huge and has the migration. Most itineraries include both.
What time does the crater open?
Vehicles can descend from early morning, usually from about 6:00, and must leave the floor by late afternoon. Your guide will plan the day around the rules.
Is the crater crowded?
It can be busy from 8:00 to 11:00, especially in the high season. An early start and a guide who knows quieter tracks improve your day.