5 days
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsNgorongoro Crater
The northern safari circuit · UNESCO World Heritage
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, about 20 kilometres across and 600 metres deep. Its floor holds grassland, swamps, the soda Lake Magadi and the Lerai fever tree forest, and around 25,000 large animals that live there all year.
It's part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO site where Maasai herders live alongside wildlife, and it's one of the best places in East Africa to see black rhinos.
What to see
- Black rhinos: A small protected population, usually seen on the open plains, often at a distance.
- Lions: Seen on most visits, sometimes beside the vehicles.
- Herds: Zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, gazelles and elands.
- Elephants: Old bulls with big tusks in the Lerai Forest.
- Flamingos and hippos: On Lake Magadi and the Ngoitokitok springs, a popular picnic spot.
Practical information
| Conservation area fee | About US$70.80 per adult per 24 hours, also paid in transit to the Serengeti |
| Crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle, shared by everyone in it |
| Descent and ascent | Separate one way roads; descents start at about 6am |
| Rules | 4x4 vehicles and licensed guides only; no walking on the floor |
| Nearby | Olduvai Gorge, Lake Eyasi, Empakaai crater walks |
Tip: Be at the gate at opening time. You get the best light and active animals, and you avoid the busiest late morning hours.
Where to stay
- Crater rim: Lodges with views into the crater and the quickest start; nights are cold at 2,300 m.
- Karatu: Farm lodges and guesthouses about 30 to 45 minutes from the gate, cheaper and outside the conservation area fee.
Who it suits
Almost everyone: it's compact, packed with animals and visited in half a day, which suits families and short safaris. Purists sometimes find it busy, with many vehicles at lion and rhino sightings. Sharing a vehicle keeps the crater fee manageable. Read more in our Ngorongoro Crater guide.
When to go
The crater is good all year because its animals don't migrate. June to October is dry, with clear views from the rim but more dust and more vehicles. From December to March it's green and close to the calving plains at Ndutu, so it pairs perfectly with a migration safari. April and May are wet and quiet, with the lowest prices.
How it fits a safari
- On the way in: Visit the crater the morning after Tarangire, then continue to the Serengeti.
- On the way out: Stay on the rim after the Serengeti and descend at dawn before driving back to Arusha, about 3.5 hours.
- With Ndutu: From December to March, the calving plains are about 2 hours away.
Where it is
Multi-day tours that visit Ngorongoro Crater
Every tour here includes Ngorongoro Crater in its itinerary. Best rated first.
5 days
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7 daysCombine it with
Serengeti National Park
UNESCOEndless plains, big cats on every kopje and the Great Migration for most of the year.
Visitor guide →Olduvai Gorge
UNESCOOne of the world's most important sites for early human fossils, on the road to the Serengeti.
Visitor guide →Lake Manyara National Park
Groundwater forest, a soda lake and the Rift Valley wall, on the road to Ngorongoro.
Visitor guide →Rather have a trip to Tanzania made just for you?
Answer a few quick questions and a local specialist will send you a free, no-obligation itinerary and price.
Ngorongoro Crater: questions
What is the best time to visit the Ngorongoro Crater?
Any time of year. June to October is dry and clear; December to March is green and close to the calving season at Ndutu.
How much does the Ngorongoro Crater cost?
About US$70.80 per person per 24 hours for the conservation area, plus US$295 per vehicle for the descent.
Can you see rhinos in the Ngorongoro Crater?
Yes, it's one of the most reliable places in East Africa for black rhinos, though they're often seen at a distance.
How long do you need in the Ngorongoro Crater?
A morning or up to about six hours, the limit for time on the crater floor.