Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a big bowl caldera located in the northern part of Tanzania. It is largest intact volcanic caldera. The Crater is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is hub for top-tier Tanzania wildlife viewing all throughout the year, especially the blackrhinos which are hardly seen elsewhere in Tanzania national parks.
Ngorongoro hosts all the big 5 animals which are rhinos, elephants, buffalos, lions and leopards that are much sought after by many who visit Tanzania and Africa. The Crater alone hosts well over 25,000 animals resident in there throughout the year, making safaris available and fulfilling all year round.
Is it Worth to Visit Ngorongoro Crater?
Yes, resoundingly. It is worth visiting Ngorongoro Crater. It is worth visiting because of the abundant wildlife, throughout the year. It is here that you can almost easily see all the big 5 animals as wellas so many other animals in Tanzania, in large quantities. Massive elephants, lion prides, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, buffalos, and over 300 bird species all flaunt the Crater floor, making it a worthwhile Tanzania safari destination.
How To Get There
Travelers after visiting Ngorongoro Crater at any time of the year have 2 ways of getting there.
By air.
Travelers can visit Ngorongoro Crater by flying in from either Kilimanjaro InternationalAirport, Arusha Airport in northern Tanzania, or even Dar es Slaam or Zanzibar. There are domestic flights that fly to Lake Manyara Airport which is the nearest airport to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, only about 1 hour away.
By Road.
By road, travelers look to get to Ngorongoro Crater by driving from either Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport. From Arusha it is approximately 4 hours to Ngorongoro Crater, driving through good well-tarmacked roads for about 80km and the rest is gravel, once in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The road transfer option to get to Ngorongoro Crater, though long, is by far the best way to get to the Conservation Area, for you get to drive through communities and towns, say Mto wa Mbu, where you would enjoy a cultural tour and souvenir shopping; the rift valley views make the whole experience all the more amazing.
Things to Do When You Visit Ngorongoro Crater
Inside the Ngorongoro Crater once can only enjoy a crater game drive to see the different animals, birds, and scenic beauty of the Ngorongoro Crater floor. As noted earlier that the Ngorongoro Crater is part of or inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, there are a number of activities that you can enjoy while on your visit.
Crater Rim Walk
One of the unique activities in Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a crater rim walk. The Ngorongoro Crater rim walk is a guided activity that has you in the company of armed ranger guides, following animal tracks, and coming up close with animals like giraffes and zebras.
Game Drives
Game Drives in Ngorongoro Crater as well as the conservation area gives you a chance to cover more ground, to explore the conservation area to see so much more. Animals, birds, and the scenic views of the Ngorongoro highlands should be looked out for while on a game drive in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the crater floor itself.
Visit Ol Duvai Gorge
The Ol Duvai Gorge is a museum and gorge with the history of mankind, as discovered by the Leakys. Visit it for a chance to learn so much about our history, as well as follow some historical excavations and findings.
Visit Masai Bomas
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area still has communities of the Masai tribe that dwell inside the conservancy, alongside the animals! It is actually a sight to watch them freely walk through Ngorongoro Conservation Area! Visit the Masai Bomas, their traditional homes and see how they live, take part in some of the activities say beading by the women, or even sing and dance along with the, in their famous high jumping dance.
Hot Air Balloon
A hot air balloon safari is only possible in the Ndutu area in the months of December to March during the great wildebeest migration. Have a chance to watch the conservancy and animals with a bird’s eye view, watch amazing sunrise, and climax your experience with a bush breakfast experience.
Where to Stay while you Visit Ngorongoro Crater
As you visit Ngorongoro Crater, having somewhere to sleep and act as a base is important. There are many accommodations in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, both in and outside the conservancy, that travelers can choose to stay in, based on their budget. Accommodation in Tanzania is grouped as budget or basic, Mid-range or comfort, and then luxury, all catering for different kinds of travelers’ tastes, preferences and budgets.
Accommodation in Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes Ngorongoro Lodge by Melia, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Acacia Ngorongoro Tented Camp, Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp, and so many others. Accommodation outside Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes Hhando Coffee Lodge, Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge, Neptune Ngorongoro Lodge, Ngorongoro Wild Camp, among others.
It is important to note that accommodation in Ngorongoro Conservation Area attracts an extra cost to your overall Ngorongoro safari price with concession or camping fees. Accommodation outside Ngorongoro Conservation Area does not attract any extra cost.
Best Time To Visit
Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania is an all-year-round Tanzania safari destination. There are subtle experience variations only due to season of travel.
The dry season is the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater as per many travelers. The dry season is in the months of June to October, which is also the wet season. During this time, the conservancy is easily accessed and animals are easily spotted given the short and thing grass, and that animals gather in the few available waterholes for a dip or drink. The skies are clearer then as well. Given it is the peak season too, crowds should be expected, as well as high prices of all things due to demand.
The wet or rainy or green season is considered not so good a time to visit Ngorongoro Crater. The wet season falls in the months of November to May, where rains are experienced intermittently. Heavy rains are experienced especially in the months of April and May. The green during this time is very beautiful to see, more even as the rest of the conservancy blooms. The months of December to March has the great wildebeest migration in season in the Ndutu area, which is in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and as such is a great time to witness the wildebeest calving season.
Ngorongoro Crater Safari Price and Costs
To visit Ngorongoro Crater 1 has to organize a Tanzania safari to this beautiful “Garden of Eden” as referred to sometimes. Safari prices differ according to how many people, length of stay, the choice of accommodation, as well as season of travel. For example, a 1 Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Arusha can range from $475 up words, or even lower if you are say a group of 7 people.
Visit Ngorongoro at any time of the year and be amazed by the amazing beauty of this place. A day safari, 2 days, or even including it as part of your Tanzania safari is a great way to explore it. Reach out to us at Focus East Africa Tours for a fitting safari price and plan.
