The dry season
June to October
Clear skies, firm tracks and animals gathering near water. The rim is cold in the early morning.
Best for
Easy game viewing and sharp photographs.
Keep in mind
The busiest time, so an early start matters.
A whole world inside one crater.
Ngorongoro is a collapsed volcano 19 km wide, and its floor is one of the most crowded wildlife stages on the continent. Descend at first light and spend a day among lions, elephants, flamingos and the rare black rhino.
The crater at a glance
About 600 m deep
Roughly 25,000 large animals on the floor
Open all year, with a limit of about six hours on the crater floor, so an early start is everything.
A world within a world.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a place of rare concentration and astonishing scale: an immense natural amphitheatre where every turn reveals another layer of Tanzania’s wilderness.
From open plains and shimmering wetlands to the crater rim’s sweeping views, a Ngorongoro safari combines remarkable scenery with the chance to see an extraordinary range of wildlife in a compact, dramatic setting. Steep walls hold the community together, so the animals you meet here live their whole lives in one enormous bowl.
- How it formed
- A giant volcano collapsed into itself roughly two to three million years ago, leaving a caldera.
- Type
- Often described as one of the largest intact, unflooded calderas in the world.
- Width
- About 19 km across, with a floor of roughly 260 km².
- Depth
- Roughly 600 m from the rim to the floor.
- Rim elevation
- About 2,300 m above sea level, so mornings are cool.
- Wildlife
- Around 25,000 large animals live on the floor.
- Status
- Part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Every descent tells a story that begins with a fall.
-
1
A giant rises
Over millions of years, a volcano thought to have stood as high as Kilimanjaro was built up by eruption after eruption.
-
2
It collapses
Roughly two to three million years ago, its magma chamber emptied and the summit fell in on itself, leaving a vast caldera.
-
3
Life moves in
Rain filled the bowl with grass, springs, a forest and a soda lake, and its steep walls sheltered a largely resident community of animals.
Take the descent, stop by stop.
A crater safari has a natural shape: down at first light, across the floor, lunch by the springs, and back up. Step through the day below, or select any stop on the map.
About 2,300 m above sea level
The crater rim
First light, about 06:00
You begin above the clouds. The rim is cool and often wrapped in mist, and the first look down into a green and gold bowl 19 km wide is the moment most people remember from the trip.
What to look for
- Mist pouring over the rim at sunrise
- A view across the whole caldera
- Highland forest around the rim
A guide’s tip
Bring a warm layer. It can feel like a different country up here compared with the plains below.
Who lives on the crater floor, and who does not.
Being honest about what to expect makes a better day. Here is how sightings usually break down.
Seen on almost every visit
The crater’s density means the everyday sightings are exceptional.
-
Zebra and wildebeest
Large herds on the open plains, year-round.
-
Gazelles, eland, hartebeest
Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles are everywhere on the grass.
-
Lion
Resident prides that hunt in the open and are often near the road.
-
Spotted hyena
Numerous clans, often seen hunting, resting or at the lake.
-
Golden jackal
Small, bold and easy to spot, especially in the morning.
-
Hippo
At the Ngoitokitok pool, usually half-submerged.
-
Elephant
Mostly older bulls, often with large tusks, around Lerai Forest.
Rare and special
A sighting here is something to be pleased about, not something to expect.
-
Black rhino
A small, closely protected population. Usually seen far off on the plains.
-
Cheetah
Present on the open grass, though seen less often than lion.
-
Serval
A slender, long-legged cat of the tall grass and swamp edges.
-
Leopard
Shy and rarely seen, mostly around Lerai Forest.
-
Flamingos
At Lake Magadi when water levels are right.
Not in the crater
Knowing what is missing helps you set the right expectations.
-
Giraffe
Generally absent from the crater floor. You will see them elsewhere on the trip.
-
Impala and topi
Also generally absent, though common in the Serengeti.
-
Big migration herds
The crater’s herds are largely resident. The great migration is in the Serengeti.
The crater is good all year. Each season is different.
Unlike the migration, the crater’s residents do not travel, so there is no wrong month. Here is what changes.
The short rains
November and December
Green grass, dramatic skies and the occasional afternoon shower. Migrant birds arrive.
Best for
Fresh landscapes and quieter roads.
Keep in mind
Showers can interrupt the afternoon.
The warm months
January and February
Warm and mostly dry between the rain seasons, with lush plains.
Best for
Pairing the crater with the calving season on the southern Serengeti plains.
Keep in mind
Some cloud is likely at the rim.
The long rains
March to May
Wet, very green and quiet, with the rim often wrapped in cloud.
Best for
Fewer vehicles, lush scenery and better value.
Keep in mind
Some tracks are muddy. Bring waterproofs.
Beyond the crater, a whole conservation area.
The crater is only one part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Add a day or two and the story gets deeper.
-
Olduvai Gorge
A dry canyon where fossils and stone tools helped reveal key chapters of early human evolution. A small museum tells the story of the Leakey excavations.
Half a day
-
Empakaai Crater
A smaller, forested caldera holding a deep lake, often with flamingos. You walk with a ranger along the rim or down to the shore, with Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano, on the horizon.
Half to full day
-
Maasai communities
Maasai communities live across the highlands of the conservation area and graze livestock alongside wildlife. We can arrange respectful visits led by local guides, so your time benefits the community directly.
A few hours
-
Ndutu and the calving plains
From January to March the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu are filled with calving wildebeest, a natural extension to a crater safari.
A separate stay
Planning to add the Serengeti? See how the migration moves through the year.
Three ways to fit the crater into your trip.
Illustrative routes. Every safari is tailored to your dates, pace and budget.
Crater in a day
2 nights, best in any season
- 1 Arusha to Karatu, the gateway town, and a night close to the crater
- 2 A first-light descent and a full day on the crater floor
- 3 Return to Arusha
The northern circuit
6 to 7 days, best in June to October
- 1 Tarangire National Park, with its elephants and baobabs
- 2 Ngorongoro Crater for a full day on the floor
- 3 Serengeti, staying in the region where the herds are
- 4 Fly or drive back to Arusha
Crater and calving
5 days, best in January to March
- 1 Arusha to the crater rim area
- 2 A full day on the crater floor
- 3 Ndutu and the southern plains for calving
- 4 Seronera, then fly back to Arusha
Good to know before you descend.
The questions we hear most often. If yours is not here, ask us.
How much time do we get on the crater floor?
Vehicles are limited to about six hours on the floor, so an early start matters. Descending at first light gives you the most time, the best light and quieter roads.
Is it worth visiting if we are also going to the Serengeti?
Yes. The two feel very different. The Serengeti is about scale and movement, while the crater is about concentration: a huge variety of animals in one compact, dramatic setting, with a very good chance of predators and, with luck, a black rhino.
What is the weather like?
The rim sits around 2,300 m, so early mornings are cold and often misty even in the dry season. Wear layers and take a warm jacket. By midday on the floor it is usually warm.
Can we see the Big Five?
Lion, elephant, buffalo and black rhino live in the crater, though the rhinos are usually distant and only a small number remain. Leopards are present but rarely seen. Guides can tell you honestly what is likely on your day.
Will it be crowded?
It is one of Tanzania’s most popular places, so yes, especially around midday and at the picnic site. We manage it by descending early, choosing quieter tracks and timing lunch away from the peak.
Can we walk in the crater?
Walking is not allowed on the crater floor for safety reasons. You can walk with a ranger on the rim and at places such as Empakaai Crater, and you can stretch your legs at the picnic site.
Let the crater stay with you.
Tell us when you are travelling and how you like to spend your days. We will plan your descent, your route and the rest of your Tanzania safari around it.
Start planning