When Is The Best Time To Visit The Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater?

When Is The Best Time To Visit The Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater? : The Ngorongoro Crater, located in northern Tanzania, is a fantastic place to visit any time of year. Animals tend to stay put since they don’t need to roam in search of food or water because there is always water available in the crater. This implies that there will always be a lot of wildlife present. When to go on a safari in Ngorongoro seems to depend more on your preferred type of weather (or level of rain tolerance) than it does on how many other people and vehicles you wish to be with.

For travelers who like privacy and don’t like crowded Tanzania safari destination, the best time to visit Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater is from April to May during the rainy season, despite the fact that the roads surrounding the crater can become somewhat muddy. This time of year, there are significantly fewer visitors, and the crater is incredibly lush and verdant in contrast to the barren, dry-season surroundings. High visitor numbers can be anticipated during the peak months of July to September and once more during the calving season from December to February that follows the November rains.

The choice of when to go on Ngorongoro Crater safaris is less about maximizing your game-watching experience and more about how many other people and vehicles you want to share the crater with, as Ngorongoro’s wildlife remains in the steep-walled crater all year.

MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE FOR TRAVELING AND VISITING TO NGORONGORO CRATER:

Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater from January to May

The Ngorongoro Crater is best visited in January because it is the breeding season for the local wildebeest. On the lush plains immediately outside the crater, the herds experience what is referred to as “mass calving,” providing a wonderful photographic opportunity of newborns attempting to stand up. The two rainy seasons that the area sees each year, known as the “short rains” and the “long rains,” are separated by the months of January and February. During these months, there may be a dry spell.

 Before the rains start in the crater around the end of March, one of the dry months is February. This is a great time to go game-viewing, especially if you want to see lions and hyenas getting ready to hunt the large herds.

To avoid crowds and take advantage of low prices, March is regarded as one of the best months to visit the Ngorongoro Crater. The ‘long rains’ turn the crater into an emerald paradise, starting around the end of March and lasting through April and May.

Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater from June to October

One of the best months to travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is June. Since the ‘long rains’ are over, game drives are now noticeably less crowded. Only in late June or early July does the Ngorongoro Crater’s peak safari season begin. A common add-on to a Ngorongoro safari during this month is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, which is made possible by the milder temperature.

The months of July and August are considered peak travel times to the Ngorongoro Crater, and lodging surrounding the crater is typically very crowded during these times. The visibility of wildlife in the desolate plains and their frequent excursions to watering holes during the dry season is what draws tourists from all over the world. This is the time of year when seeing a leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo, and elephant all in one day is common.

Spring officially starts in September, but the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is still in the midst of its highly popular dry season. This time of year, the crater may be quite frigid. The recent dry weather has caused the grasslands to turn yellow and left some areas of the crater floor looking like a dust bowl.

In terms of the weather, October is a transitional month in the Ngorongoro Crater because the lengthy dry season peaks at the beginning of the month and the’short rains’ start just before November.

Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater from November to December

In November and December, the Ngorongoro Crater is warm and occasionally rainy. This is the time of the “short rains,” which are actually brief downpours that normally happen in the afternoon and hardly ever affect safaris. One of the best times to visit the Ngorongoro Crater for birding is in November, when the first migrating birds arrive along with the rain.

 THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE NGORONGORO CRATER IN SUMMARY

The dry season and the wet season are the two main seasons in the crater. The Crater is typically most visited during the dry season, which lasts from June through October. Since there is less rain during this period and the grass is shorter, viewing and photographing wildlife is made simpler. Lakes and other drinking holes are frequented by wildlife, making it simpler to spot them. Seeing a leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo, and elephant all in one day is not rare. You will be able to see the crater well if the skies are clear. However, July through September is when the park sees the most visitors, making this a highly crowded season in the crater.

The rainy season runs from November to May and includes both brief rains (November and December) and extensive rains (March to May). It is extremely unlikely that rain during the brief showers will have an influence on your safari because it normally occurs in the evening.

 It can be somewhat unpredictable, but a dry spell usually occurs in January and February. Due to the fact that it is The Great Wildebeest Migration calving season, this is also a fantastic (and well-liked) time to visit the Ngorongoro region. During this season, the region is frequented by mega-herds of wildebeest, some of which number more than a million animals. Predators are numerous at this time because they are taking advantage of the opportunity to feed on weak victims. Being present for the daily birth of new calves is a wonderfully thrilling occasion.

If you want to avoid the throngs that frequently visit the crater during the dry season, going there during the lengthy rains and Short rain (March to May and November to February) is a great choice. There will be rainy days, although they usually do not continue all day. There are significantly fewer visitors, and the crater scenery turns lush green. Cold fronts can, however, make this time exceedingly chilly. Additionally, it is the most beautiful time of year to go bird-watching.

Due to its proximity to the equator, the Ngorongoro Crater experiences generally constant temperatures all year. This region of Tanzania is about 10 degrees cooler than most other regions because of its high altitude. The difference is more apparent at night, and while it may be nice on the crater floor in the afternoon, it can get very cold on the rim at night. Throughout the year, the average daytime temperature will be between 19°C and 23°C (66°F and 74°F), while the average nighttime temperature will be between 8°C and 10°C (46°F and 50°F). Warmer clothes are always advised for the early mornings and evenings.

No matter when you visit Ngorongoro, you’ll always have an incredible opportunity to see wildlife all year round. There are not many places in the world that can compare to Ngorongoro in terms of animal viewing, even during the wet season. There is absolutely never an “off season” here.

READY TO START PLANNING YOUR VISIT TO THE NGORONGORO CRATER?

Talk to someone who has experienced it. To create a trip to the Ngorongoro Crater that is ideal for you, get in contact with one of our Africa Travel Experts at Focus East Africa Tours.