Ngorongoro as a Day or Overnight
Usually paired with the Serengeti or Lake Manyara. Ask us how the drive times fit your dates.
← All DestinationsTanzania · 3.2°S, 35.5°E
Ngorongoro Crater
A Collapsed Volcano Full of Wildlife
The crater is the caldera of an extinct volcano, roughly 260 square kilometres across, with walls rising several hundred metres above a floor of grassland, swamp and a soda lake. It sits inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What You'll See
Who Lives Here
Black Rhino
One of the few places in Tanzania where this critically endangered species is regularly seen.
Lion
Resident prides hunt the crater floor's grazing herds.
Elephant
Mostly older bulls on the crater floor, with herds in the highland forests.
Hippo
Found in the pools near the centre of the crater.
Flamingo
Gather on Lake Magadi when water levels and food allow.
The Landscape
Ground That Shapes the Light
A caldera wall covered in forest and cloud on the rim, dropping to open grassland, a freshwater swamp and a shallow soda lake on the floor.
Best Season
June to October
Drier roads and clearer views. Animals live in the crater all year, so it works in any season.
Weather
What to Pack For
- Dry
- Jun – Oct
- 8–24°C
- Cold on the rim at dawn, warmer on the crater floor by midday.
- Wet
- Nov – May
- 10–24°C
- Rain is heaviest in April and May. The rim is often in cloud.
Find Your Bearings
Ngorongoro Crater on the Map
Select any point to see where else the ground leads.
- Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Tarangire
- Lake Manyara
Recommended For Ngorongoro Crater
Built for This Exact Ground
Ready When You Are
Start Planning Your Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Tell us a little about how you'd like to travel. We'll take it from there.