Crater floor game drive
Half or full day on the crater floor with lion, buffalo, elephant, hippo pools and black rhino.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A living Eden inside an ancient caldera
- Best time
- Good all year
- Recommended stay
- 1 – 2 days
- Nearest airport
- Lake Manyara Airstrip (LKY)
- Main attraction
- Ngorongoro Crater
About Ngorongoro
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world. Its floor, about 260 km² and roughly 600 metres below the rim, holds a remarkable concentration of wildlife, including one of the last populations of black rhino in Tanzania.
The wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where wildlife and Maasai pastoralists share the land. It also includes Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important sites in the story of human origins.
- Crater floor
- ≈ 260 km²
- Crater depth
- ≈ 600 m
- Rim altitude
- ≈ 2,300 m
- Drive from Arusha
- ≈ 3 h
What makes it special
Lake Magadi
A shallow soda lake on the crater floor, often pink with flamingos.
Olduvai Gorge
Museum and viewpoint at the site where early human fossils were found.
Maasai culture
Visits to Maasai bomas on the highlands, arranged respectfully with local communities.
What you can see and do
- Black rhino
- Lion
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Spotted hyena
- Wildebeest
- Zebra
- Hippo
- Golden jackal
- Serval
- Lesser and greater flamingo
Crater tour
Descend at dawn for the best light and quieter roads.
Crater rim walks
Guided forest walks on the rim with an armed ranger.
Cultural visits
Maasai bomas and Olduvai Gorge.
When to go
Good all year; June – October is driest
- January: Best
- February: Best
- March: Good
- April: Rainy / low season
- May: Rainy / low season
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Good
- Best
- Good
- Rainy / low season
The rim is cool all year, around 5–15 °C at night. Bring a warm layer.
Recommended stay: 1 – 2 days
Getting there
By road: about 3 hours from Arusha on a paved road to Lodoare Gate, then up to the rim. Usually combined with Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Serengeti.
Nearest airports & airstrips
- Lake Manyara AirstripLKY
- Kilimanjaro International AirportJROInternational arrivals
Where to stay
Lodges on the crater rim offer views over the caldera. Karatu, 30 minutes from the gate, has a wide choice of mid-range lodges.
Entry and conservation fees
| Fee | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation fee — adult non-resident | $70.8 per person / 24 h | +18% VAT |
| Crater service fee | $295 per vehicle / entry | +18% VAT |
One crater descent per vehicle per day; time on the crater floor is limited to about 6 hours.
Park and conservation fees are set by TANAPA, NCAA and the Zanzibar authorities and can change. Figures shown are indicative; your quotation always uses the current official rates.
Ngorongoro in pictures
Tours & safaris
Packages that visit Ngorongoro
Wildlife Safaris
Classic Northern Circuit Safari
Arusha · Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
- Game drives
- Crater tour
- Picnic lunches
Family Tours
Family Safari: Tarangire & Ngorongoro
Arusha · Tarangire · Ngorongoro
- Game drives
- Maasai village
- Kid-friendly lodges
Wildlife Safaris
Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Short Safari
Arusha · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro
- Game drives
- Crater tour
- Treetop walkway
Honeymoon
Serengeti & Zanzibar Honeymoon
Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Zanzibar
- Balloon safari
- Private dinners
- Beach resort
Keep exploring
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