Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcano about 260 square kilometres wide, with walls roughly 600 metres high. Inside is a self-contained world of grassland, swamps, forest and a soda lake. Here is how a typical day on the crater floor goes.
Early start on the rim
Most guests sleep in Karatu or on the rim at about 2,300 metres. It is cold in the morning, especially June to August, so bring a fleece and a jacket. We usually descend soon after sunrise, when animals are most active and the queue of vehicles is shortest.
The descent and first sightings
The road down winds through forest into open grassland. Within minutes you can see zebra, wildebeest, gazelle and buffalo. Lions are often resting near the road, and hyenas patrol the plains.
Black rhino, elephants and hippos
The crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to look for the endangered black rhino, though they are usually far away, so bring binoculars. Big bull elephants wander the forest edges, and hippos wallow in pools on the floor.
Picnic lunch by the hippo pool
Lunch is usually at the Ngoitokitok springs, where hippos and birds share the view. Watch your food, because black kites are quick.
Flamingos and Lake Magadi
The soda lake in the middle of the crater can draw flamingos when water levels and conditions are right. Your guide will tell you if the lake is worth a visit on the day.
How long can you stay?
Vehicles are allowed about six hours on the crater floor, so your guide plans a loop to make the most of that time. After that you climb back to the rim by mid-afternoon.
Best time to visit
Wildlife is in the crater all year. June to October is driest and clearest. March to May is wetter but quieter. See our Ngorongoro Crater guide for the month-by-month calendar and distances from Arusha, Karatu and the Serengeti.
Combine it with the Serengeti
Ngorongoro sits on the road between Karatu and the Serengeti, so it fits naturally into a Northern Circuit safari. Try our 3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari, the 4-day safari with Tarangire, or add culture with our Hadzabe and Datoga cultural tour. Learn about the neighbouring Serengeti too.
Plan it with a local team
Tell us your dates and what you want to see, and we will reply within 24 hours with a tailor-made private itinerary and a clear price. Send us your questions or message us on WhatsApp. Let’s Wander Tanzania is locally owned and TALA licensed (#036127).