The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, a vast bowl about 20 kilometres wide and 600 metres deep that holds one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Within its walls live around 25,000 large animals, including the Big Five, and the setting is so dramatic that many visitors say it is the most beautiful place they have ever been on safari.
The crater is the best place in Tanzania to see black rhino, and it is excellent for lion, spotted hyena, elephant, buffalo and hippo. Flamingos gather on Lake Magadi, and the Lerai forest shelters leopards and bushbucks. The wider conservation area includes the highland forests of Empakaai Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and the volcano of Ol Doinyo Lengai, with Maasai communities living and grazing alongside the wildlife.
A crater descent is normally a half-day or full-day drive, and we place it at the end of a Serengeti safari or on its own after Tarangire and Lake Manyara.
The crater floor is a self-contained world with resident lion, spotted hyena, elephant (mostly big bulls), buffalo, hippo, wildebeest, zebra, eland and Thomson’s gazelle, and a small population of black rhino. The crater has no giraffe or impala. Cheetah and serval are sometimes seen, and leopards live in the Lerai forest.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The crater walls rise steeply from a flat, open floor with a soda lake, a forest, a swamp and grassland. From the rim you can see right across the caldera, often with cloud rolling over the edge in the early morning.
Activities here
The crater rim at 2,200 metres is cool and often cloudy, with temperatures of 8°C to 20°C, while the crater floor is warmer by day. Rain falls from November to May, heaviest in March to May.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20 | 8 | 100 |
| Feb | 20 | 8 | 120 |
| Mar | 20 | 9 | 190 |
| Apr | 19 | 10 | 280 |
| May | 18 | 9 | 170 |
| Jun | 17 | 7 | 30 |
| Jul | 16 | 6 | 20 |
| Aug | 17 | 6 | 20 |
| Sep | 18 | 7 | 20 |
| Oct | 19 | 8 | 40 |
| Nov | 19 | 9 | 120 |
| Dec | 19 | 8 | 130 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
June to October is dry, with clearer skies and excellent game viewing on the crater floor. Mornings on the rim can be cold, so bring a warm jacket.
The rains bring mist and fresh green grass, and some of the roads down to the crater can be slippery. The crater is quiet in these months, and the animals are still easy to find because the floor is open.
The crater is rewarding all year because the animals live there permanently. June to October is the driest and most comfortable, and the green season from November to May is quieter with lower rates.
Best time to visit Jun to Oct
The crater is about 180 kilometres from Arusha, a drive of around three and a half to four hours via Karatu, and many guests stay on the rim. It lies on the road between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, and light aircraft use the Lake Manyara airstrip.
Conservation area fees and the crater vehicle fee are included in our safaris. Most visitors need a Tanzania visa, applied for online before travel or bought on arrival, and a passport valid for at least six months.
The crater rim is high and cold, so pack warm clothes. The crater floor is dry and dusty. Please take advice on malaria before you travel; the risk is low at altitude but the crater floor is lower.
National ParkSerengeti National ParkThe Great MigrationOur take
“Our take”
Stay on the rim if you can, so you reach the crater floor early, before the other vehicles, when the animals are at their most active.
Safaris from
US$1,786 per person
Plan your time in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.
Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
Start planningCookies
Essential cookies keep this site working. With your permission we also remember the safaris and places you have viewed. You can change your mind any time from Cookie settings in the footer.
