Ngorongoro Crater

Wildlife

The crater’s steep walls and permanent water create one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. UNESCO puts the population of the wider conservation area at some 25,000 large animals, mostly grazers, together with one of the highest densities of large predators on the continent. On a single morning on the crater floor you can watch wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, eland and warthog, with spotted hyena and golden jackals never far away.

Lion are the stars. Prides are often seen resting in the open or watching the herds from the edge of the grass, and the crater’s relatively small area makes them easier to find than in larger parks. Leopard are more elusive and are usually seen in the forested areas and on the rim. Servals hunt in the long grass, and cheetah pass through occasionally.

Ngorongoro is also one of the best places in East Africa to see the critically endangered black rhino. The small population on the crater floor is closely protected, and although sightings are never guaranteed, the open landscape gives you a real chance with a good guide and binoculars. Elephant visit the Lerai Forest and the swamps, most of them older bulls carrying impressive tusks. Hippo wallow in the Ngoitokitok springs, and flamingos gather on Lake Magadi when water levels suit them.

Some species are notable by their absence: giraffe and topi are not found on the crater floor, largely because of the steep descent. Look for them instead on the surrounding plains and in the Serengeti. Birdlife is rich, with UNESCO recording around 500 species across the conservation area, including kori bustard, crowned crane and ostrich on the crater floor.

Key wildlife

• Black rhino
• Lion
• Spotted hyena
• Elephant
• Buffalo
• Wildebeest
• Zebra
• Eland
• Thomson’s gazelle
• Grant’s gazelle
• Hippo
• Golden jackal
• Serval
• Flamingo

All of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) live in Ngorongoro Crater.

Best Time to Visit

Short answer: Jun–Oct. Also good: Dec–Mar.

Peak Good Quieter

Because the crater holds water and wildlife all year, Ngorongoro is worth visiting in any month. The dry season from June to October is the most popular time, with clear skies, short grass and easy game viewing. It is also the busiest season, so an early descent is the best way to enjoy the crater floor before most vehicles arrive.

From December to March, the short-grass plains of the southern conservation area around Ndutu become the calving grounds of the Serengeti migration. Combining a stay near Ndutu with a day in the crater is one of the finest safaris in Africa at this time of year, with green landscapes, newborn wildebeest and intense predator activity.

The long rains in April and May bring the quietest period, when the crater can feel almost private. The roads are slower, but the scenery is at its most lush. Whatever the month, remember that the rim sits at well over 2,000 metres: early mornings and evenings are cold, and a warm jacket is essential.

Getting There

Most visitors fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and travel on from Arusha. The drive from Arusha to the crater rim takes around four hours on a tarred road through Mto wa Mbu and Karatu, and it is often broken with a stop at Tarangire or Lake Manyara along the way.

If you prefer to fly, the nearest airstrip is Lake Manyara Airstrip (LKY), served by light aircraft from Arusha and the Serengeti. Your guide will meet you there for the drive up through the highlands, which takes around an hour and a half to the crater rim. Ndutu, in the south of the conservation area, also has its own airstrip for the calving season.

Visitors enter the conservation area at Lodoare Gate. Descent to the crater floor is by four-wheel-drive vehicle only, on steep roads that are part of the adventure, and permits are valid for a half-day visit to the crater floor.

Fees & Access

Entrance fees

Fees are set by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and charged per person per 24 hours. Non-East African adults (16 and over) pay US$70.80, children aged 5–15 pay US$23.60, and under-5s enter free.

To drive down into the crater, each vehicle also pays a crater service fee of US$295 per trip. Guests staying at lodges and camps inside the conservation area pay a concession fee of US$59 per adult per night (US$11.80 per child), usually included in the lodge rate. Fees are normally arranged by your safari operator.

Gate hours

Gates 06:00–18:00. Crater descents in daylight hours only.

Health

Malaria risk: Low. Ask a travel clinic about antimalarials before you go.

Fees and gate times change. Check the latest rates with the park authority before you travel.

Things to Do

Crater game drives are the main event. Leave early with a packed breakfast to reach the crater floor at first light, when predators are active and the light is soft, and take a picnic lunch by one of the designated sites.

Crater rim and highland walks are possible with an armed ranger. Walks along the rim, or a hike down into the nearby Empakaai Crater with its deep lake, show a completely different side of the highlands.

Olduvai Gorge is a fascinating stop between the crater and the Serengeti. The museum explains the fossil discoveries that helped shape our understanding of human origins, with views over the gorge itself.

Maasai culture. The Maasai have grazed their cattle here for generations, and a visit to one of the cultural bomas offers an insight into their way of life. Ask your guide to arrange a respectful visit rather than a stop by the roadside.

The Karatu highlands are dotted with coffee farms and country lodges, and make a peaceful base with walks, farm visits and long lunches. Browse our Tanzania luxury safari and migration and beach safari for itineraries that include the crater, see all our safaris, or plan your safari with us.