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Ngorongoro Crater

Spanning across the vast expanses of savanna woodlands, highland plains, and forests, Ngorongoro Crater is a natural haven for wildlife.

It is the favored part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, established in 1959, with diverse wildlife coexisting with the semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists.

The site has become of global importance due to its biodiversity conservation with the presence of the highly threatened Black Rhino and the density of other animals in the area.

Why visit Ngorongoro Crater?

It is the world’s largest caldera that houses the BIG FIVE and other wildlife.

Ngorongoro Crater safari is among the best Safari destination in the African continent that hosts the annual Migration.

Dubbed as Garden of Eden, Ngorongoro Crater showcases stunning landscapes with 25,000 animals, including ungulates and other large mammals.

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Getting to Ngorongoro Crater

By Road

Ngorongoro Crater is approximately 185 km from Arusha by road. The trip usually takes four hours.

By Air

Daily flights are offered from Arusha to Lake Manyara Airstrip. From there, it’ll take around a one-and-a-half-hour trip to the Ngorongoro Crater.

Best Time to visit Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater can be visited year-round.

However, if you want an excellent game-viewing experience, the best time to visit Ngorongoro is during the dry season, from June to October.

You’ll get clear skies during this time, giving you a great view of wildlife and the other big games.

Let's plan your trip around Ngorongoro Crater.

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Weather in Ngorongoro Crater

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Things to do in Ngorongoro Crater

As a renowned wildlife haven, there are many things to see in the crater. Check out some of these fantastic activities below.

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Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater is well-known for the density of the diverse wildlife it houses. Thus, various incredible wildlife sightings are guaranteed here.

As one of the critically endangered animals, hunting dogs are hard to find everywhere. However, there's an unguaranteed possibility of seeing these animals in Ngorongoro.

Hunting Dog

Like hunting dogs, black rhinos are also on the verge of extinction. This is why you won't likely find them in other parks.

Black Rhino

Aggressive and fierce, buffalos are known to kill lions more than any other animals. So, it would be a great deal to see them personally.

Cape Buffalo

Known as gentle giants, elephants are among the wildlife in Ngorongoro. Seeing them up close is truly a spectacle.

Elephant

Among the unique animals in Ngorongoro are zebras. Their horse-like bodies are covered with black and white fingerprint-like markings, making them look striking and interesting.

Zebra

Distinguished by their well-camouflaged fur, leopards are opportunistic hunters. If you're lucky enough, you'll have a chance to see them hunt for a meal.

Leopard

As prime stars for the Great Migration, wildebeests are among the antelope species that thrive in Ngorongoro. They have box-like heads and heavily built bodies.

Wildebeest

With their enormous heads and bulky bodies, hippos are surely a sight! These are mostly found in small ponds in Ngorongoro.

Hippo

Primarily found in East Africa, spotted hyenas are only one of the common predators in Ngorongoro. Around eight spotted hyena clans live in Ngorongoro.

Hyena

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Birds in Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro is among the best birdwatching destinations, with around 550 species thriving in the park. So, ensure your binoculars are with you!

This is an interesting medium-sized bird with a pale grey throat, slate-grey upper parts, head sides, and a dark grey tail tipped with white.

Red-chested Cuckoo

As highly vocal birds, tropical boubous use a variety of calls. They are also relatively large for a bush shrikes family.

Tropical Boubou

Another bird species you'll likely encounter during bird watching is the African Grey Flycatcher. These birds are overall drab grey with pale wing bars.

African Grey Flycatcher

Another bird you can find in Ngorongoro is the lesser masked-weaver. These are small, slender birds with unique slate-colored legs and whitish eyes.

Lesser Masked-Weaver

Turacos are mostly medium-sized birds with short, rounded wings and long tails. You can usually find them moving nimbly through vegetation and branches.

Jackson's Turaco

Another interesting-looking bird species you can encounter in Ngorongoro is the white-bellied bustard. This species has a white belly, light brown head, and cream-colored legs.

White-bellied Bustard

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Landscape in Ngorongoro Crater

Apart from the wildlife and birdlife of Ngorongoro, the place also boasts various stunning landscapes that add drama to your game viewing.

Generally open, flat and dry, grass plains are vital landscapes where many animals freely graze. Among the animals found here are zebras, elephants, and giraffes.

Grass Plains

Volcanic highlands are a special kind of mountain and are among the most stunning landscapes you can personally witness during your Ngorongoro safari trip.

Volcanic Highlands

Ngorongoro is filled with dense mountain forests, which are excellent for birdwatching. This also serves as a stunning backdrop for your Ngorongoro safari.

Mountain Forests

Aside from stunning forests and mesmerizing volcanic highlands, Ngorongoro also has savanna woodlands. It's a beautiful open canopy that supports the growth of the grasses.

Savanna Woodlands

Acacias are trees well adapted to deserts and tropical areas. Hence, these trees are widely distributed, including the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

Acacia Forests

Another important landscape you'll ever find in the crater is the swamps. These provide food, water, and shelter to many animals in Ngorongoro.

Swamps

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Where to stay in Ngorongoro

From backpackers to Mid-range lodges to Luxury camps, pick your top choice of places to stay in Ngorongoro.

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Reviews of Ngorongoro Crater

Top questions answered for Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro is unlike anywhere you’ve been before. So, you have questions. We’ve been visiting for decades. So, we have answers.

What is unique about Ngorongoro Crater?

Often called the ‘Garden of Eden’—the Ngorongoro Crater is a true paradise for many animals. It is also essential for global biodiversity since it houses highly threatened species like rhinos.

On top of that, Ngorongoro also boasts a high concentration of animals and is deemed the world’s largest unfilled volcanic caldera.

Read More: Top 10 amazing facts about the Ngorongoro crater

How was Ngorongoro formed?

Ngorongoro was believed to have formed around 2.5 million years ago from a large active volcano whose cone had collapsed inwards after a major eruption.

This had left the present vast, unbroken caldera as its primary remnant.

Can animals leave Ngorongoro Crater?

Most wildlife can’t leave the crater because of its steepness. This is why wildlife is very abundant in Ngorongoro.

Most animals never get to leave and multiply within the crater. As a result, there’s no limit to what you can see in Ngorongoro.

Why do many different animals choose to live in Ngorongoro Crater?

Many animals in the Ngorongoro crater were trapped after descending and could never come out again due to the steepness of the slope, making them multiply within.

All the African Big Five can be viewed in Ngorongoro, like elephants, black rhinos, buffalos, lions, and leopards.

What protects the wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater?

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the Ngorongoro Crater is located, is a multi-use zone combining full wildlife protection and traditional Maasai pastoralists, sharing the grazing lands with plains game.

Agriculture was also banned in the area, although currently, it is tolerated within limits. That’s how Conservation is protected from outside harm.

Why are there no giraffes in the crater?

Though all major animals are easily seen in the crater, giraffes aren’t one of them due to the crater’s steep descent.

How many lions are in Ngorongoro Crater?

During 2020, only 65 to 75 lions can be seen on the crater floor, with approximately eight pride. The decreasing numbers are due to habitat loss and human-predator conflict.

This primarily involves the local herders that share their land and livestock grazing areas with the lions’ habitat, which has been a worrisome trend.

When was Ngorongoro established?

Ngorongoro was established in 1959 as an area of multiple land use. This is where wildlife coexists with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists working on traditional livestock grazing.

How many black rhinos live in Ngorongoro Crater?

Currently, there are over 20 rhinos residing in the protected Ngorongoro Crater area, thanks to the conservation effort of many people involved.

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Other parks, lakes, and mountains

Aside from the wildlife rich Ngorongoro, many other national parks in Tanzania are worth your time and resources. Check out some of these beautiful parks below.

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