The Ngorongoro Crater was formed when a huge volcano collapsed around two to three million years ago, leaving a caldera about 19 km across with walls some 600 m high. Its floor is a self-contained world of grassland, swamp, forest and a soda lake, home to lion, spotted hyena, elephant, buffalo, hippo and one of the last populations of black rhino in the region.
A day on the crater floor is one of the most reliable wildlife experiences in Africa. The surrounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area is shared with the Maasai, whose cattle graze the highlands, and includes Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most important sites for the study of human origins.
Highlights
- Crater floor game drive
- Black rhino
- Views from the crater rim
- Olduvai Gorge
Wildlife & what you'll see
- Black rhino
- Lion and spotted hyena
- Old bull elephants
- Flamingos on Lake Magadi
- Buffalo, zebra and wildebeest
Things to do
- Crater floor game drive
- Crater rim walk
- Olduvai Gorge museum
- Maasai cultural visit
Best time to visit
Excellent year-round. June to October is dry; the green season (November–May) is quieter and beautiful.
Getting there
About 3–4 hours by road from Arusha, usually visited between Tarangire or Manyara and the Serengeti.
Experiences in Ngorongoro Crater
FAQs about Ngorongoro Crater
How long is a crater game drive?
Vehicles may spend up to six hours on the crater floor. We descend early to beat the crowds and have a picnic lunch by the hippo pool.
