Tailor-made safaris that include Ngorongoro Crater.
Most requested
- 10 days
- Kenya, Tanzania
- 1 lodge
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
10 Day Luxury Fly-in Kenya & Tanzania Tour
- 1 night at Gran Meliá Arusha, then 2 nights at Meliá Ngorongoro Lodge
- Guided game drive on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater
- 3 nights at Nimali Serengeti in the heart of the migration corridor
- 3 nights at Entim Mara Camp with twice-daily drives in the Masai Mara
- Big Five tracking across Tanzania and Kenya's top reserves
- Light-aircraft flights between Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and the Mara
- Photo
- Ballooning
Per person, complete package, from
US$11,890
Most requested
- 10 days
- Tanzania, Zanzibar
- 2 lodges
- All-inclusive
10 Day Bush and Beach Safari
- 2 nights at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha bookending the safari
- Game drive in Lake Manyara, home to tree-climbing lions
- 2 nights at Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp with full-day Central Serengeti drives
- Descend 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater for Big Five viewing
- 3 nights at the 5-star Melia Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean
- All internal flights and transfers included
- Bush & Beach
- Photo
Per person, complete package, from
US$5,340
Most requested
Special
- 6 days
- Tanzania
- 1 lodge
6 Day Great Migration Safari - Natures Most Spectacular Show
- 1 night at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge exploring Tarangire's baobab-dotted savannah
- 3 nights at Kati Kati Tented Camp, positioned seasonally to track the herds
- Witness wildebeest and zebra crossings on the Serengeti plains
- Game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor with chance of black rhino
- 1 night at Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp with sunset views over the caldera
- Throughout in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with open roof and private guide
- Photo
Per person, complete package, from
US$3,540 US$3,670
- 9 days
- Tanzania
- 1 lodge
- All-inclusive
9-Day Exquisite Tanzania Wilderness Safari
- 1 night at Arusha Coffee Lodge with a guided coffee plantation walk
- 1 night at Melia Ngorongoro Lodge overlooking the crater
- 2 nights at Siringit Serengeti Camp with daily game drives and a bush picnic
- 2 nights at Siringit Migration Camp tracking the Great Migration herds
- 2 nights at Lemala Mpingo Ridge in Tarangire, home to large elephant herds
- All meals, local beverages, transfers and conservation fees included
- Family
- Big 5
Per person, complete package, from
US$12,610
No itineraries match those filters. Try clearing one to see more.
Brochure
Our Signature East Africa Guide
Your guide to the best of East Africa: the Serengeti, Masai Mara, gorilla trekking, and Zanzibar.
Where to stay
Lodges in Ngorongoro Crater.
Three price bands, the most-requested in each. 2 lodges across this destination.
The basics
Why, when, and where.
Ngorongoro Crater: Africa’s Garden of Eden
Why
The Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact caldera, is the crown jewel of Tanzania's northern circuit. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains one of the finest places on Earth to witness the Big Five in a single day.
It is one of the best places in Tanzania to see the famous Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo), making a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater essential for any safari experience in Tanzania.
Ngorongoro offers an exceptional year-round game viewing experience. The crater is renowned for its abundant wildlife; here, game drives offer photographers unparalleled opportunities to capture predators and prey in close proximity. Experiences in the Ngorongoro Crater include Big Five game drives on the crater floor, birdwatching, cultural interactions with the Maasai tribe, and visits to Olduvai Gorge.
While lodges perched on the crater’s rim offer iconic views, the nearby town of Karatu provides a quieter, more intimate alternative with boutique stays and local walking trails.
When
Because the crater’s steep walls act as a natural enclosure, game viewing is world-class throughout the year.
Tourist activity peaks during the dry season, which runs from June to September. This period is considered the best for game viewing, as the sparse vegetation allows for better visibility around rivers and waterholes. Be sure to bring warm clothing for the chilly mornings during this season.
Tourist numbers decrease during the rainy season, from October to May, when the landscape becomes lush and green. The higher water levels in Ngorongoro Crater’s Lake Magadi attract more birdlife, including the famous flamingos. Rainfall typically occurs as brief afternoon showers, except for the heavier rains from March to May.
Where
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an impressive UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Tanzania, continues to be a remarkable wilderness region. The pristine expanse includes short-grass plains on the southern border of the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Highlands, featuring dramatic ancient volcanoes on the western edge of the Great Rift Valley.
The star attraction remains the Ngorongoro Crater, Africa's largest inactive, intact volcanic caldera.
The crater is home to the ‘Big Five’ as well as the following wildlife:
- cheetah,
- serval cat,
- jackal,
- hyena,
- Grant's and Thomson's gazelle,
- and over 400 species of bird.
In addition to the rich wildlife, the crater features several natural sites, including Lake Magadi; the Lerai Forest; and the picturesque Ngoitokitok Spring, a haven for hippos, elephants, and lions.
Must-see attractions within the greater Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area include the smaller Empakaai Crater, known for large flocks of flamingos, and the spectacular Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge. This steep-sided ravine is one of the world’s most significant prehistoric sites with a museum that showcases replicas of the hominid and fossil discovered there.
Photos from our guests
A traveller's view.
Every photo below was taken by a guest of ours on a recent trip to Ngorongoro Crater. No stock imagery, no marketing shots. What they saw, on their cameras.
Imagery
Ngorongoro Crater, in pictures.
Recent travellers
Word from people who have just been to Ngorongoro Crater.
Quotes pulled directly from Trustpilot. Where we have specific reviews mentioning Ngorongoro Crater, those come up first. Otherwise these are recent five-star notes from across the trips we have planned.
"Jayson was very professional helpful and patient with me. I would recommend him Anytime. Too bad the Ngorongoro crater lodge will be closed during our visit"
"We, 3 friends from switzerland (Anna, 62; Jürg, 60; Amélie, 21), had a great time with Roy Safaris in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara. We really recommend to book there. We felt very happy and comfortable with our guide and driver, Ally Kimea. He gave us unforgetable experience in wildlife we‘ve never expected, because of his profound knowlege about a…"
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your trip to Ngorongoro Crater.
Tell us when, who's coming, and what you're hoping for. One specialist looks after the rest.