Welcome to Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania.

Nearly three million years ago Ngorongoro towered alongside Mt. Kilimanjaro as one of the highest peaks in Africa. Today, Ngorongoro’s caldera shelters the most beautiful wildlife haven on earth.
The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor support a resident population of some 20,000 to 25,000 large mammals. They are not confined by the Crater walls, and can leave freely; they stay because conditions are favorable. The birdlife depends on the season because there are resident birds and migrant birds.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a huge area with a total of 8,288 sq km. The area includes some other small craters known as Empakai, and Olmoti, together with mountains, the archeological sites of Olduvai Gorge, rolling plains, forests, lakes, dunes, and of course Ngorongoro Crater. The highest peak of the area stands at 3,600 meters above the sea level known as mount Lolmalasin. Active volcanoes of mt. Oldonyo Lengai is located on the North East side of the Area, Ngorongoro Crater, the first view of it is absolute splendor. The most striking feature, the Eden of Africa, one of the wonders of the world!. The Crater has an area of about 260sq km, which is 19 km across. It stands at 2,286mt. above sea level, the floor lies about 610mt. below the rim.
Ngorongoro crater has graduated a bowl known as “Caldera”, which is formed when the molten core of the volcano subsides into the earth and the steep crater sides fall inward
The crater has a spectacular concentration of wildlife. Within the crater, there is a shallow soda lake (Magadi) and flamingos who dwell around the lake which remains dry sometimes. The best place to see rhinos throughout the year, the birdlife is also rich and the hunting ground for lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.

How to get to the Ngorongoro Crater | Arusha to Ngorongoro

• Driving from Arusha. Depending on your party size, it may be cheaper for you to all share a private vehicle and guide from when you are picked up from your international flight at Kilimanjaro Airport all the way until you fly out of the Ngorongoro region. If you are driving, it is essential to have a night on either side of your crater descent either in a camp on the crater rim, or a 20-minute drive away in the Ngorongoro Highlands. This means you can get to the gates early to avoid the crowds!
• Flying from Arusha. If you are staying at a “fly-in” camp which means your guide and vehicle are provided by your camp, and not by a ground handler from Arusha, you can fly into Lake Manyara airstrip, and get picked up by the camp. This can be a good idea if there are fewer people in your party, making flying cheaper than driving in a private vehicle from Arusha

Ngorongoro Crater Weather – When to go?

Since the wildlife mainly stays in the crater all year round, there is really no good or bad time to visit. However given that the crater floor does get busy with vehicles, it can be more pleasant to visit during the low season. Higher water levels in Lake Magadi (in the center of the Crater) also result in higher concentrations of flamingos.  Whenever you visit Ngorongoro, you are guaranteed excellent safari action. The beauty of a Ngorongoro safari is because of its unique micro-climate, it can be enjoyed year-round.

How did the Ngorongoro Crater form?

Now classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater was formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed around 3 million years ago. The cone of the volcanic caldera collapsed inwards and created what we know today as one of the most unique safari parks in Africa, and indeed the world. A one-of-a-kind safari destination teeming with life.

Now Ngorongoro is a notoriously difficult destination to work out logistics for, but from 15 years of experience organizing such trips, we can guide you in the right direction – so give us a call to discuss your different options.

Ngorongoro Crater Itineraries