Safari John Tours

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater Safari Tanzania

Nicknamed the 8th natural wonder of the world, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, inactive and unfilled caldera in the world. With a diameter of approximately 20 km, this fertile plain is surrounded by majestic walls that rise up over 610 m. The crater floor covers an area of 260 km² and is covered by various landscapes that range from dense mountain forests and woodlands to grasslands, lakes and swamps. Water sources include the two main rivers, Munge River in the west and Lerai River in the east as well as the Ngotokitok spring that spill into a swamp.

Home to the Big Five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos), the Ngorongoro Crater is also home to a multitude of other wild animals such as the lesser flamingos of Lake Makat, to wildebeest, elands, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles, zebras, hippos and hyenas. Nowhere else in the world will you find such an impressive concentration of different animal species in such a small area!

Today over 40,000 Massai reside in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, one of the only places in Tanzania where human habitation is allowed within a wildlife protected area. As you drive through this zone, you will be amazed by the Massai villages that dot the beautiful landscape and be captivated by the Massai herdsmen as they walk along the road in their colourful traditional clothing, armed with their spears. The protected zone shares a boundary with the Serengeti National Park and you must drive through the conservation area in order to get to the Serengeti.

The Ngorongoro crater and the surrounding conservation area is definitely one of Tanzania’s must-see attractions!

 

Best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area can be visited all year round, with two distinct seasons offering unique treasures.

The dry winter season (June to August) is the best time for wildlife viewing, while the rainy summer season (November to April) is less crowded with tourists and the best time for bird watching. You’ll see greater populations of the famous pink flamingos when the water levels of the soda lakes are higher.

Top highlights

  • One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Possibility of spotting the resident population of endangered black rhinos, though small in number.
  • One of the few places where you can see all of Africa’s Big Five in a single day.
  • Incredible wildlife viewing all year round.
  • Amazing landscapes that change drastically from dry to rainy seasons.
  • One of the most unique safari destinations in the world with a stunning natural backdrop.
  • Availability of luxurious accommodations in an unparalleled setting.