Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Northern Circuit

Ngorongoro Crater

A collapsed volcanic caldera holding one of Africa's densest wildlife populations.

Browse Safaris

Overview

About Ngorongoro Crater

A collapsed volcanic caldera holding one of Africa's densest wildlife populations.

A collapsed caldera 600 m deep and 260 km² wide, holding roughly 25,000 large animals. The crater floor is open from 06:00 to 18:00 and vehicles must exit by dusk.

Best time to visit

Year round

Getting there

Three hours by road from Arusha, or 45 minutes from Karatu. Lodges sit on the crater rim and in the Karatu highlands.

Highlights

  • •Big Five in one day
  • •Black rhino
  • •Maasai culture

Wildlife

Wildlife to look for

  • Black rhino
  • Lion
  • African elephant
  • Buffalo
  • Flamingo
  • Hippo
  • Golden jackal

Activities

Things to do

  • Game Drives

    Full and half-day drives in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and a private guide.

  • Cultural Visit

    Time with Maasai and Datoga communities, on their terms and at their pace.

  • Crater Descent

    A full day on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, Africa's densest wildlife arena.

Recommended safaris

Journeys that include Ngorongoro Crater

3-Day Luxury Northern Tanzania Safari3 Days

Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Manyara

3-Day Luxury Northern Tanzania Safari

Three luxury days across Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, finishing at Kilimanjaro International Airport.

From

$1,027

View Safari
Luxury tented camp in the Serengeti at dusk6 Days

Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire National Park

6-Day Luxury Fly-in Serengeti Safari

Fly in from Zanzibar for three days of luxury Serengeti game drives, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire.

From

$3,071

View Safari
8-Day Cultural Discovery & Timeless Midrange Safari8 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

8-Day Cultural Discovery & Timeless Midrange Safari

8-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire, Lake Eyasi - Hadzabe, Central Serengeti and Maasai Boma, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara.

From

$1,932

View Safari
8-Day Heritage Trails of the Great Migration – Midrange8 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

8-Day Heritage Trails of the Great Migration – Midrange

8-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire, Lake Eyasi - Hadzabe and Datoga Tribes, Central Serengeti and Maasai Boma Visit, Northern Serengeti, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater.

From

$2,202

View Safari
6-Day Luxury Tanzania Photography Safari6 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

6-Day Luxury Tanzania Photography Safari

A six-day luxury photography safari with a beanbag-equipped pop-up roof vehicle and an expert guide who positions you for the perfect shot.

From

$2,551

View Safari
6-Day Midrange Tanzania Photography Safari6 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

6-Day Midrange Tanzania Photography Safari

A six-day mid-range photography safari with a beanbag-equipped pop-up roof vehicle and a guide who positions you for the perfect shot.

From

$1,542

View Safari
9-Day Great Migration Adventure Mara River- Mid-Range9 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

9-Day Great Migration Adventure Mara River- Mid-Range

9-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti National Park, Northern Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park.

From

$2,934

View Safari
9-Day Iconic Northern Tanzania Mid-Range Safari9 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

9-Day Iconic Northern Tanzania Mid-Range Safari

9-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park.

From

$2,663

View Safari
9-Day Tanzania Mid-Range Wildlife & Culture Safari9 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

9-Day Tanzania Mid-Range Wildlife & Culture Safari

9-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti National Park & Maasai Boma, Northern Serengeti National Park, Central Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park & Departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

From

$2,465

View Safari
9-Day Tanzania Safari Adventure & Cultural Exploration9 Days

Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara · Serengeti National Park

9-Day Tanzania Safari Adventure & Cultural Exploration

9-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Central Serengeti National Park, Central Serengeti National Park & Maasai Boma, Ngorongoro Crater.

From

$2,332

View Safari
9-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari & Island Dreams-Midrange9 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

9-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari & Island Dreams-Midrange

9-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti National Park & Maasai Boma, Central Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park & Flight to Zanzibar, Zanzibar Relaxation.

From

$2,307

View Safari
9-Day Tanzania Wonders & Zanzibar Safari -Mid-Range9 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

9-Day Tanzania Wonders & Zanzibar Safari -Mid-Range

9-day mid-range private Tanzania safari visiting Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park & Flight to Zanzibar, Zanzibar Relaxation.

From

$2,307

View Safari
8-Day Luxury Family Safari Getaway8 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

8-Day Luxury Family Safari Getaway

A private 8-day luxury journey through Tarangire, the Central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.

From

$4,211

View Safari
13-Day Luxury Family Escape & Beach Getaway13 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

13-Day Luxury Family Escape & Beach Getaway

A private 13-day luxury journey through Tarangire, the Central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, finishing with beach days in Zanzibar.

From

$8,027

View Safari
13-Day Mid-Range Family Escape & Beach Getaway13 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

13-Day Mid-Range Family Escape & Beach Getaway

A private 13-day mid-range journey through Tarangire, the Central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, finishing with beach days in Zanzibar.

From

$4,935

View Safari
11-Day Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday-Mid-Range11 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

11-Day Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday-Mid-Range

An 11-day mid-range safari through Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and Zanzibar, ending with relaxed beach days on Zanzibar's white-sand shores.

From

$2,637

View Safari
8-Day Mid-Range Tanzania Wildlife Photography Expedition8 Days

Arusha National Park · Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park

8-Day Mid-Range Tanzania Wildlife Photography Expedition

A private eight-day photographic safari through Arusha National Park, Tarangire, three full days in Central Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, with comfortable mid-range lodges and a guide who helps with positioning, light and timing.

From

$2,182

View Safari
9-Day Luxury Tanzania Wildlife Safari with Hot Air Balloon9 Days

Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater

9-Day Luxury Tanzania Wildlife Safari with Hot Air Balloon

Nine days of private luxury safari across Tarangire, four nights in Central Serengeti with a sunrise hot air balloon flight, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, staying at Gran Meliá Arusha, Acacia Farm Lodge and Nyota Serengeti Camp.

From

$4,709

View Safari
9-Day Capturing the Heart of the Savannah Luxury Photographic Safari9 Days

Arusha National Park · Tarangire National Park · Serengeti National Park

9-Day Capturing the Heart of the Savannah Luxury Photographic Safari

A private nine-day luxury photographic safari covering Arusha National Park, Tarangire, three full days in Central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, with beanbag camera support and a guide focused on light and wildlife behaviour.

From

$4,225

View Safari

FAQs

Travel information

Ready to plan your Tanzania journey?

Tell us your dates and travel style. A Tanzania-based safari expert replies personally, usually within a few hours.

WhatsApp UsCall

OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS

Licensed, accredited and working alongside Tanzania's leading tourism and community organisations.

  • Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) logo
  • Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) logo
  • Amref Health Africa logo
  • Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) logo
  • Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) logo
  • Amref Health Africa logo
  • Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) logo
  • Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) logo
  • Amref Health Africa logo
  • Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) logo
  • Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) logo
  • Amref Health Africa logo