On the way to Ngorongoro, the road suddenly unfolds before you.
The forest thins. The mist disperses. Suddenly, a vast green bowl suddenly appears below, surrounded by dramatic highland scenery and wildlife.
This is more than just another safari destination.
You are looking down into the Ngorongoro Crater.
This is the time when a Tanzania holiday turns into a story that will be shared for years to come for many travellers. Lions lie among the grass, buffalo walk slowly over the plains, flamingos congregate around the shallow waters of Lake Magadi and, if you’re lucky, a black rhino will be spotted in the distance.
However, the true attraction of a ngorongoro crater safari is not the quantity of animals that are sighted. It’s a sense of stepping into an extraordinary nature filled with wildlife, volcanic landscapes, local culture and ancient history.
Welcome, dear travellers, to one of the most memorable experiences ever in northern Tanzania!
Why Ngorongoro Crater feels so different
Safaris can be quite large. The Ngorongoro Crater is like a small world.
The crater is part of the much larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania. The protected area spans approximately 8,292 km2, and extends well beyond the renowned crater.
The steep walls of the crater make for a beautiful scene for observing wildlife. The landscape transforms as you descend from the highland forest to the open grassland, wetlands and woodland.
And this is where the experience becomes special.
The concentration of wildlife around the crater floor can make game viewing particularly rewarding. Plenty of wildlife can be seen around the water and grazing grounds around the crater, making for great game viewing in a fairly small landscape.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority defines the crater as the largest continuous caldera in the world and the conservation area as comprising wildlife, landscapes, cultural and archaeological experiences.
It’s the mix of that that makes it more than just a typical game drive.
What can you see on a Ngorongoro safari?
If you have envisioned Africa as a land of lions, elephants and endless golden grasslands, Ngorongoro is not just about that, but adds a little bit of twist.
While on a ngorongoro crater safari you may have an opportunity to see:
• Lions
• African elephants
• Cape buffalo
• Leopards
• Black rhinos
• Hippos
• Zebras
• Wildebeest
• Thomson’s gazelles
• Hyenas
• Flamingos and other waterbirds
• Ostriches and other grassland birds
This region is an excellent location for wildlife viewing, particularly the Big Five animals.
The black rhino moment
Before coming into a crater, I would secretly wish for nothing more than the black rhino.
No responsible guide will guarantee sightings of a rhino. After all, they’re wild animals. However, the chance to witness one traversing the grasslands is one of the singularities of Ngorongoro.
Use binoculars and allow your guide to look for them.
The safari’s best moments are often simple:
“There — look carefully.”
Lake Magadi and the pink shimmer
Inside the crater itself the most beautiful scene is the alkaline shallow lake of Lake Magadi, which can draw huge flocks of flamingos and other waterbirds.
The birds look like a soft pink ribbon across the water from a distance. It is one of those times when I’m going to say “put the camera down for a few seconds”.
Watch. Listen. Do not just remember the landscape on your phone – remember on your mind as well.
Lake Magadi is particularly known for its lesser flamingos and other waterbirds.
When is the best time to visit Ngorongoro?
Many travellers will ask this question: which month is the wrong time to visit Ngorongoro? The answer is none.
Ngorongoro can be visited throughout the year, although conditions and wildlife-viewing experiences vary by season.
Yet, each season offers a different safari experience and ambiance.
Dry season
Wildlife are more likely to be found around the remaining water and the roads are more predictable in the drier months making them popular.
That classic golden African look can also manifest itself on the landscape.
For those who just want to see the wild animals this could be a great time to visit as the weather is less humid.
Green season
Then the change takes place.
Rain creates new colour in the landscape, grass is lush and skies can be dramatic. Peak tourist season is not as busy, which leads to a decreased level of stress.
It can be especially breathtaking for a photographer.
Green-season Ngorongoro is not a mere respite. It can have a personality of its own.
The Tanzania Tourism Authority, supported by the Tanzania Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, also notes that the green season is when the country has abundant green grass, stunning skies and great photo opportunities at places such as Ngorongoro.
How many days will it take you?
Many visitors to the craters come back for just one game drive.
I wouldn’t see Ngorongoro as just another stop between two others, though.
Try to stay for at least one night around the area if it’s possible. This will allow you to enjoy the highlands, the views and will stop you making the experience a rushed transfer.
Ngorongoro also pairs well with the Serengeti and other destinations in northern Tanzania.
If you’re looking for inspiration, read our East Africa Safari Guide for a broader overview of planning a safari in the region.
Alternatively, head on to our Tanzania Safari Guide if you still don’t know how to develop your broader Tanzania itinerary.
Should you stay on the crater rim?
This is a favourite of mine for those travelling with a desire to experience the scenery as part of the holiday.
Suppose you wake up high above the crater and peer out across the foggy terrain before breakfast.
The temperature can be significantly different on the edge and this is especially true in the early morning, therefore you should pack layers and not just the warm weather gear you might use at other parts of Tanzania.
According to the conservation authority, there are luxury lodges, tented camps, public camping and special camping sites in the area.
If you are looking for atmosphere, a rim stay will make Ngorongoro seem like more of a destination than a stop on a tour.
What is a crater safari in Tanzania actually like?
The typical crater safari Tanzania is an experience that starts early.
When you leave your accommodation, it’s still cool and the landscape can be enveloped in mist. Your car continues on the path to the crater and then starts going downhill.
Followed by that first reveal.
The road leads down through upland flora until the crater floor is revealed.
The transition to the new environment is truly impressive.
You can see grazing zebra and wildebeest before you find buffalo, elephants or predators on the floor. Your guide will read landscape, watch animal behaviour and help you to understand what you are seeing rather than just identify animals.
That is why it is important to be on the lookout for a knowledgeable guide.
A safari isn’t about the animals you look for.
It is all about knowing it.
The planet’s surface beyond the crater
The most common error made by visitors to Ngorongoro is to believe that the crater is all that they need to see.
It doesn’t.
The wider conservation area provides walking opportunities, volcanic landscapes, cultural experiences, archaeological sites and other crater areas. Other locations within the extended experience are listed as official conservation areas such as Empakaai Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Nasera Rock, Gol Mountains and Olmoti Crater.
Olduvai Gorge
For those who enjoy safaris with wildlife as their heartbeat, Olduvai Gorge is an additional dimension to the experience.
The area is of international importance for archaeological research and human origins.
It is a really interesting juxtaposition – observing the wildlife here in the present and the deep history of the landscape below.
Maasai culture
Maasai people also live in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
For a more enriching experience, seek out the cultural visits that are well-planned and community-conscious.
Best encounters are not scheduled for the purposes of photos. These are avenues to explore traditions, livelihoods and people’s relationship with the land.
Allow some time in your itinerary for meaningful cultural experiences alongside the wildlife
How Ngorongoro fits into a Tanzania safari
Ngorongoro is a perfect addition to a safari circuit in the north of Tanzania.
One of the more popular routes can lead to:
Tarangire is known for its elephants, baobab landscapes and diverse wildlife, while Ngorongoro offers a very different crater setting.
The various destinations offer different tastes.
The elephant and unique baobab scenery make Tarangire unique. The concentration of wildlife and the extraordinary setting of the crater in Ngorongoro. The scale of the landscape shifts dramatically when Serengeti comes out onto the wide plains.
For those who are especially interested in the Serengeti, look into our next Safari Guide: Serengeti Safari Guide.
If you’re hoping for a much larger African safari experience, our Ultimate African Safari Holidays Guide can help you compare different safari styles and destinations.
How to prepare for your Ngorongoro safari
There is a surprising amount that can be achieved with a little preparation!
Bring layers
Rims of the crater may be cold, particularly in the early morning. A comfortable set of layers works a lot better than a single heavy jacket.
Take binoculars
Not all interesting sightings will be near the vehicle. Binoculars may make a distant shape a memorable wildlife experience.
Pack sun protection
The sun can be harsh in Africa. Take sunglasses, sunscreen and hat.
Carry a camera — but don’t forget to look, You will be taking hundreds of pictures. Remember to enjoy the view between them.
Take your guide’s suggestions.
Safari rules are for the benefit of visitors and animals. Do not leave vehicle unless told to do so, avoid excessive noise and don’t chase or disturb an animal for photos.
Off-road driving is also banned, important for photographers who want to get closer to wildlife, the conservation authority adds.
When is the time of the crater?
It is important to plan your visit.
The gates to the crater will be opened at 6:00 am and closed at 4:00 pm; the gates to the wider conservation area are opened at 6:00 am and closed at 6:00 pm as per the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority.
It is another good incentive to make an early start.
Not only are you working with the daylight of the day; you are also taking advantage of the cooler morning hours and when wildlife activity can be rewarding.
Please remember that conditions, fees and entry requirements may vary and should always be checked with the conservation authority or your safari operator before travelling.
Is Ngorongoro worth adding to your safari?
To me, this is a no-brainer.
Not just because it’s well-known.
Ngorongoro is special because it offers a number of experiences in one single trip: impressive volcanic landscape, superb wildlife sightings, birds, culture and interesting human history.
For first-time safari travellers, a ‘crater safari’ Tanzania adventure can be particularly rewarding, as they are struck by the familiar landscape, even though there are still plenty of surprises.
It’s really very cinematic to go down to the crater in the morning.
Your start is above the clouds.
On the other side of the bend is the road.
The forest opens.
The wildlife appears.
Then you realize why this is still on travellers’ minds long after they leave.
My final thoughts for your Ngorongoro journey
Don’t rush Ngorongoro.
My most important tip would be that.
Yes, it’s possible to visit as part of a short trip. While a single game drive can provide extraordinary sightings of wildlife, it may not be the best choice for you. The true attraction is when you take the time to savour the entire scene; the cool highlands, the crater rim, the shifting light, the wildlife on the lower slopes of the crater, and the people who live in this extraordinary place.
Your ‘ngorongoro safari’ is not just about the number of animals that you spot on your list.
Take the measurement when you see the first edge of the rim. Before you, your guide, can see a lion.
Through the abrupt appearance of pink in the waters of Lake Magadi. Through the sudden pink flash in the waters of Lake Magadi.
By the sense of driving through another world. Also, maybe, and especially by the story you tell when you get home.
But the best safaris don’t just deliver just photos. They provide memories that have a place to them.
Although Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most popular safari destinations, what makes it the most special is that each traveller can have a unique experience in this crater world holiday vibes.
FAQ
The crater is open all year. It is easier to see the animals in the dry season and the green season is great for scenery and not as busy.
Arrange a night stay close-by to play a full day of crater game drive.
Yes, such as lions, elephants, buffaloes and rare black rhinos.
Access gates to the Crater open at 6:00 am and close at 4:00 pm.
Bring warm clothes for cool mornings on the rim, binoculars, sunscreen, hat and camera.
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