Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater lies in the 8000 square kilometer wide Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is adjacent to its northwestern extension of the Serengeti and north of Ol Donyo Lengai, the Maasai holy mountain of God. This unique area permits a harmonious coexistence of nature conservation, tourism and grazing of the Maasai and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the biggest caldera in the world and comprises very different habitats: open grasslands, dense mountain forest, scrubland and heathland. The Ngorongoro Crater is a massive wildlife-filled, volcanic caldera. The vast number of animals inside the crater are not confined by the crater’s walls and can leave freely – they stay because of the promising conditions however.

Location / Getting there

You can reach the Ngrorongoro Crater by vehicle from Arusha in around 3 hour drive.
Charter flights are available from Arusha, Dar es Salaam as well as all parks in the area.

Activities

Game drives in the 260 square kilometer wide caldera and walking safaris outside the crater (with a guide) are offered.

Best time to travel

The crater can be visited through out the entire year, even in the rainy season between March and May. Actually it's a good time to travel since you'll have the crater pretty much for yourself. The dry season begins in June and ends in October. Even the months of December to March, right after the short rains are recommended. Expect a lot of dust in the crater during the dry season.