A serene scene of zebras feeding in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater with distant mountains.

Ngorongoro Crater

A volcano that is estimated to have been marginally taller than Mount Kilimanjaro erupted two million years ago with such force that the volcano's mouth imploded. The Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact caldera, remained after the dust settled.

A large herd of wildebeest grazing in the vast savannah of Arusha, Tanzania.

Overview

Spanning 260 km² with a 610-meter rim, the crater’s fertile soil is a result of past volcanic activity, while underground rivers nourish the surface with springs.

Consistent water sources sustain a diverse animal population, which fertilizes the soil, leading to lush grasslands. Eventually, swamps and forests developed, creating a haven for the world’s highest density of large mammals.

Ngorongoro Tour

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Maasai tribe

A Maasai tribe visit is an option during your safari, given their livestock grazing rights. To fully experience their lifestyle and rituals, consider booking a Maasai Tour.

Activities

Game Drives

Visitors can choose half or full-day tours, joining a knowledgeable guide to explore the crater floor in search of the Big 5 and diverse wildlife.

Hot Air Balloon Trips

This serene experience presents an exclusive view of the area encircling the crater.

Archaeological Excursions

Archaeological Excursions

Discover the history of human evolution at nearby archaeological locations.

Diverse wildlife

Cultural Visit

Learn about the area’s original cultures by exploring local family dwellings.

Picnic

Organize a provided lunch at a specific spot on the crater’s ground.

Bird Watching

Bird enthusiasts can discover more than 500 species in this region.

Ngorongoro Crater offers consistent wildlife viewing, independent of migration, due to its abundant resources. With roughly 25,000 large mammals, its flat landscape and limited vegetation facilitate animal sightings, particularly post-rain. The crater features high lion densities, but faces inbreeding issues.

Commonly seen are hyenas, but cheetahs, leopards, and wild dogs are less so, with leopards favoring Lerai Forest. Large herbivores, including hippos, buffalos, elephants, and rhinos, are plentiful, minus giraffes. Wildebeest, zebra, warthogs, antelopes, and many birds are also present, ensuring year-round East African wildlife diversity.

Within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

A shallow soda lake, filled by rainfall and rivers, stands out against the dry grasslands, providing habitat for numerous bird species. Lesser flamingos, in their thousands, turn pink from algae consumption. Hippos, Cape buffalo, elephants, black rhinos, and warthogs are frequently seen here.

The park’s entry and airstrip sit by the Tarangire River. Travelers cross baobab-filled grasslands and ascend to hills overlooking Lake Manyara. Lake Burungi attracts wildlife in wet periods, and Silale Swamps shelter a resident lion group.

Nutritious grasslands and acacia woodlands in Tarangire’s Gursi Plains draw elephants and Cape buffalos, which then attract predators like lions and hyenas. The area near Kitibong Hills is ideal for seeing the endangered African wild dog.

In the south of Tarangire, you’ll find remote wilderness, with sparse infrastructure and low tourist numbers. This region offers walking safaris, regular cheetah and ostrich encounters, and plentiful waterbirds in wet-season swamps. Be aware, though, that roads can be blocked by seasonal floods.

Seasonal Overview

April / May – ‘Shoulder Season,’ sees consistently high tourist numbers, though with a small dip.”

June – September – “The ‘Dry Season’ brings minimal rainfall and short grass, which aids in easier wildlife viewing.”

November – May–”The ‘Wet Season’ brings forth lush, green grass, which amplifies the landscape’s natural beauty.”