Overview
The Ngorongoro Crater is a world of its own: grassland, swamps, a soda lake and forest, all inside steep crater walls. It is one of the best places in Tanzania to see black rhino, and the wider conservation area is shared with Maasai herders.
The crater is the collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano. Its floor holds grassland, the soda Lake Magadi, swamps and the Lerai fever-tree forest, with steep walls all around. Because water and grazing are available all year, most animals stay put, which makes it one of the most reliable places in Africa to see the Big Five in a single day.
The crater is part of the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where Maasai herders live alongside wildlife. The area also includes Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most important sites for human origins.
Highlights
- Big Five in a single day
- Black rhino on the crater floor
- Maasai culture in the highlands
- Views from the crater rim
Things to do here
Wildlife to look for
- Black rhino
- Lion
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Flamingo
- Hippo
Good to know
Best time to visit
All year; June – October is driest
Getting there
About 3–4 hours by road from Arusha; the crater floor is reached by steep descent roads.
Where to stay
Lodges on the crater rim with sweeping views, or farm lodges in nearby Karatu.
How long to stay
Full day on the crater floor
Key facts
- UNESCO
- World Heritage Site since 1979 (Ngorongoro Conservation Area)
- Rim altitude
- About 2,200–2,300 m
- Inside the crater
- Lake Magadi, Lerai Forest, Ngoitokitok Springs
- Nearby
- Olduvai Gorge, the Ngorongoro highlands, Lake Eyasi
Seasons
Dry season (June – October)
The driest months and easiest game viewing, with the busiest roads. Mornings on the rim are cold.
Green season (November – May)
The crater turns green and the views are clear after rain. Wildlife stays all year, so it is worth visiting in any month.
Practical tips
- Bring a warm jacket: the rim is high and early mornings are cold.
- Time on the crater floor is limited each day, so we start early to have the quietest hours.
- A packed lunch by the hippo pool is a highlight of the day.
Frequently asked questions
No. Lodges and camps are on the crater rim or in the highlands around Karatu, and you drive down to the floor for the day.
Itineraries visiting Ngorongoro Crater
More places nearby
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