Tarangire · Ngorongoro
2 Days Tanzania Budget Safari
- 2 days
- Camping
- Joining group
From$500per person
View safariNorthern circuit
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano with a floor of grassland, swamp and a soda lake, and wildlife that lives there all year. It is the most reliable place in Tanzania to see black rhino.
- Best: Jul–Sep
- 148 safaris
- Park fees in every price
From$350per person
About Ngorongoro
Why go to Ngorongoro
A collapsed volcano with a floor of grassland, swamp and a soda lake, and wildlife that lives there all year. It is the most reliable place in Tanzania to see black rhino.
The crater is about 19 km across and around 600 m deep, with a floor of roughly 260 km². Steep walls keep most of the animals in, which is why the game viewing is so dependable: buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lions, spotted hyenas and, with luck, black rhino out on the open grass.
It sits inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where Maasai families still graze their cattle on the highlands. That is why you will see herders on the drive up, and why the area is run differently from a national park.
Most of our routes spend one morning on the crater floor. Go down early, when the light is soft and the other vehicles are still on the rim road. Bring a warm layer: the rim is high and mornings are cold even in the dry season.
What you’ll see
Black rhino (the crater is your best chance in Tanzania)
Big-maned lions on the open floor
Buffalo, zebra and wildebeest all year
Hippos at the Ngoitokitok spring
Flamingos on Lake Magadi when the water is right
Golden jackals and spotted hyenas
- Best timeAll year; Jun–Oct is driest
- Time neededOne morning on the crater floor, usually on the way to or from the Serengeti
- From ArushaAbout 3 hours to the crater rim
- AltitudeRim about 2,300 m: mornings are cold
- Our safaris here148, from $350 pp
- RegionNorthern circuit
More about Ngorongoro
The crater
Ngorongoro is the largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera in the world: about 19 km across, with a floor of roughly 260 km², some 600 m below the rim.
It formed two to three million years ago, when a large volcano collapsed on itself. Today the floor is grassland, swamp and the soda lake Lake Magadi.
About 25,000 large animals live in the crater, including lions, elephants, black rhino, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, with hyenas, jackals and many birds.
Good to know
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site, inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Game drives on the crater floor are the main activity; the Ngorongoro museum covers the area’s history and wildlife.
Seasons
When to go
Good all year · Jul–Sep busiest · Apr–May wettest but quietest. Best time to visit Tanzania, month by month
Where it is
Location
Distances, as the crow flies
- Arushaabout 130 km
- Serengetiabout 110 km
- Tarangireabout 100 km
- Lake Manyaraabout 50 km
Road distances are longer; driving times are in the facts above.
In pictures
Photo gallery
Lodges and camps
Where to stay
-
On the Ngorongoro Crater rim
Simba Campsite, Ngorongoro
A campsite on the crater rim, so you are among the first down into the crater in the morning.
- Public campsite
- Inside the park
-
On the Ngorongoro Crater rim
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
A lodge on the crater rim, looking down onto the floor you'll be driving the next morning.
- Lodge
- Inside the park
-
Less than an hour from the Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Ang’ata Camp
A tented camp up in the Ngorongoro highlands, close to the road down into the crater.
- Tented camp
-
Less than an hour from the Ngorongoro Crater
NyEmbalakai Ngorongoro Camp
A camp in the Ngorongoro highlands, used for the night between the Serengeti and the crater.
- Tented camp
These are the places we use most in this area. See all lodges and camps
Good to know
FAQs
Can we stay all day on the crater floor?
Time on the floor is limited by the conservation authority. Most guests spend a full morning, have a picnic lunch and climb out in the early afternoon.
Is a day trip from Arusha worth it?
It is a long day, but yes if you are short on time. The Ngorongoro Crater Day Trip starts very early and gets you back in the evening.
Do we need warm clothes?
Yes. Mornings on the crater rim are cold all year. A fleece and a windproof layer are enough.
Safaris that go here
Visit Ngorongoro with us
All 148 safarisTarangire · Ngorongoro
2 Days Tarangire & Ngorongoro, Mid-Range Lodge (shared)
- 2 days
- Lodges
- Joining group
From$650per person
View safariSerengeti · Ngorongoro
3-Day Fly-in Luxury Honeymoon
- 3 days
- Luxury lodges
- Fly-in
From$2,100per person
View safariNgorongoro
Ngorongoro Crater Day Trip
- 1 day
- Hotel pick-up
- Private or joining
From$350per person
View safariTarangire · Ngorongoro · Materuni
3 Days Tanzania Safari, Waterfalls & Coffee Tour
- 3 days
- Camping
- Joining group
From$620per person
View safariTarangire · Ngorongoro · Lake Manyara
3 Days Big 5 Safari, Mid-Range Lodge (shared)
- 3 days
- Lodges
- Joining group
From$850per person
View safariTarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
4-Day Unforgettable Luxury Private Safari
- 4 days
- Luxury lodges
- Private
From$2,198per person
View safariSerengeti · Ngorongoro
3-Day Unforgettable Adventure to Serengeti & Ngorongoro
- 3 days
- Camping
- Joining group
From$635per person
View safari
Guest reviews
Travellers on travelling with Makini
5.0Excellent · 105+ reviews
The communication with the company was very good, and we were in good hands from the minute we arrived… we got a lot of value for the money.
Saudat N. TripAdvisor The communication with Lucas via WhatsApp was always very friendly, direct and immediate… our tour guide Aboh was very familiar with all animals and plants.
Godfrey M. TripAdvisor Great value local Tanzanian operator that provided an unforgettable safari experience.
Damas F. TripAdvisor
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