Explore the Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most remarkable and popular wildlife destinations and the major attraction within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania. Located on the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley, the area is known for its spectacular landscapes, abundant wildlife, archaeological sites, Maasai culture, and exceptional opportunities for a Ngorongoro safari.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established in 1959 as a multiple-use area where wildlife conservation coexists with traditional livestock grazing by semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists. The conservation area covers approximately 809,440 hectares of highland plains, savanna, woodlands and forests. It includes the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and is famous for its high concentration of wildlife. The crater and the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area form part of the northern Tanzania safari circuit and are close to destinations including Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park.
Ngorongoro National Park – What You Need to Know
Many travelers searching online for Ngorongoro National Park are referring to the Ngorongoro Crater and the wider protected area. The official name is Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is managed by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.
Unlike a conventional national park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area combines wildlife conservation with human settlement and traditional livestock grazing. This distinctive approach is one of the features that makes Ngorongoro different from other protected areas in Tanzania.
Ngorongoro Safari Packages & Tanzania Safaris
A Ngorongoro safari can focus entirely on the crater or combine Ngorongoro with other destinations on the northern Tanzania safari circuit. Our safari packages cover the itinerary, transportation, accommodation, meals, and the required park or conservation fees, depending on the package selected.
You can choose a safari focusing on the Ngorongoro Crater or combine Ngorongoro with Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and other destinations.
If you are looking for a longer Kenya and Tanzania, Tanzania and Zanzibar, Uganda and Tanzania, and Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro safari itineraries, send us an Inquiry
Ngorongoro Crater Safari
A Ngorongoro safari offers the opportunity to explore the crater floor and surrounding conservation area while viewing a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes.
The Ngorongoro Crater is particularly famous for the African Big Five: lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos. Other wildlife found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, reedbucks, hippos and many other species.
The conservation area is also an important part of the Serengeti ecosystem. During the wet season, the short-grass plains around Ndutu become important grazing and breeding areas for the annual wildebeest migration. From December to May, depending on rainfall, large numbers of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move south to the plains around Ndutu.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also home to hundreds of bird species, including flamingos and other water birds around Lake Magadi, Empakai Crater Lake and Lake Ndutu.
Wildlife in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to approximately 115 different animal species, while the wider area supports hundreds of bird species.
The Ngorongoro Crater provides year-round wildlife viewing, with elephants, rhinos, lions, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and numerous other species found within and around the crater.
The crater’s permanent freshwater ponds and wetlands provide habitat for hippos, while Lake Magadi attracts lesser flamingos and other water birds.
Beyond the crater, the short-grass plains around Ndutu and the areas west of the Gol Mountains are important wildlife viewing locations, particularly during the wildebeest migration and calving season.
The Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is the major attraction within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is a vast volcanic caldera surrounded by a high crater rim and provides a remarkable setting for wildlife viewing. The crater floor contains open short-grass plains, freshwater and brackish lakes, marshes, swamps and acacia woodland. The Lerai Forest and surrounding vegetation add to the variety of habitats found within the crater.
The crater rim rises to approximately 2,200 metres and has a cooler climate than many other safari destinations in Tanzania. Views from the rim provide a dramatic perspective over the crater floor and its wildlife.
The Ngorongoro Crater is located near Serengeti National Park and is one of the major destinations on the northern Tanzania safari circuit.
Things to Do in Ngorongoro
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers a wide range of wildlife, cultural, archaeological, and outdoor experiences.
Game Drives and Wildlife Viewing
A game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater is one of the main activities for visitors. Wildlife viewing is possible throughout the year because many animals remain within the crater.
The dry months from December to March and June to September generally provide good conditions for wildlife viewing. Because of the shorter grass and animal concentrations around the water sources during the dry season, it becomes easier to see a lot of animals during the game drives.
Photographic Safaris
The Ngorongoro Crater provides opportunities to photograph wildlife, birds, lakes, forests, savanna landscapes and the crater itself. The Maasai communities living around the conservation area also provide opportunities for cultural photography where visits are arranged appropriately.
Visit Maasai Bomas
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also known for its Maasai communities, and we can help you arrange cultural visits to Maasai homes or cultural centres to learn about traditional lifestyles, livestock keeping and local culture.
Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is one of the important archaeological attractions within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Archaeological research in the area has produced significant evidence relating to human evolution and human-environment relationships.
Empakai and Olmoti Craters
Empakai and Olmoti are among the other crater attractions in the conservation area. They can be explored on foot with local Maasai guides.
Great Migration at Ndutu
The Ndutu area, near the Serengeti border, is an important location for viewing the annual wildebeest migration and calving season. The migration generally takes place in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu area from December to May, depending on rainfall.
Other Attractions in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Beyond the Ngorongoro Crater, the conservation area contains numerous natural, cultural and archaeological attractions.
These include:
- Lake Magadi
- Olduvai Gorge
- Laetoli
- Lerai Fever Tree Forest
- Shifting Sands
- Gol Mountains
- Nasera Rock
- Salei Plains
- Ol Karien Gorge
- Hadzabe communities
- Maasai bomas
- Ol Doinyo Lengai
- Lake Natron
- Empakai Crater
- Olmoti Crater
The Ngorongoro-Lengai area also contains numerous geological, archaeological, cultural and natural attractions.
History of Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The history of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area extends from early human activity and archaeological discoveries to the establishment of the protected area in the twentieth century. The area was explored by Austrian explorer Oscar Baumann in the late 1800s. In 1951, the British established Serengeti National Park, which at the time included what is now the Ngorongoro area.
In 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was officially established as a multiple-use area. Its objectives included conserving natural resources, protecting the interests of indigenous communities and encouraging tourism while maintaining a balance between conservation and human activities.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Its boundaries were significantly modified in 2010, and UNESCO recognizes the area for its natural, cultural, geological and archaeological importance.
Weather and Climate in Ngorongoro
The high elevation of the Ngorongoro Crater and surrounding Crater Highlands gives the area a cooler climate than many other parts of Tanzania. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 25°C, while temperatures can fall below 10°C at night. Early mornings around the crater rim can also be misty.
Rainfall is seasonal. Much of the annual rainfall occurs between November and May, while June to September is generally drier. March and April are among the wettest months. Ngorongoro can be visited throughout the year, although weather conditions, wildlife movements and visitor numbers can influence the experience at different times of the year.
Vegetation and Landscape
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area contains a variety of vegetation zones, from highland forests and moorlands to grasslands, acacia woodlands, wetlands and semi-arid areas.
The crater floor includes open short-grass plains, lakes, marshes, swamps and areas of acacia woodland. The crater slopes contain scrub heath, grasslands and high open moorland, while the surrounding highlands include forests and mountain vegetation.
This variety of habitats supports the area’s large population of wildlife and bird species.
Accommodation in Ngorongoro
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area and its surroundings have a range of accommodation options for travelers on safari, including budget, midrange, and luxury properties.
Some of the accommodation facilities associated with Ngorongoro include:
Many accommodation facilities are located around the crater and provide views of the surrounding landscape and caldera.
Planning Your Ngorongoro Safari
With our field expertise and local knowledge, we can help you to organize transportation, accommodation, activities, and safari itineraries in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Our safari itineraries are arranged according to the length of the trip and the destinations you wish to visit. Ngorongoro can be visited as a standalone safari destination or as part of a longer northern Tanzania safari. Let us help you plan
The Ngorongoro Crater, wildlife of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, archaeological sites such as Olduvai Gorge, the landscapes of the Crater Highlands and cultural experiences with local communities make the area an important destination for Tanzania wildlife safaris.
Choose a Ngorongoro safari that matches your preferred itinerary, accommodation and activities, and plan your visit to experience the crater and the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
