Ngorongoro Crater

Info

Size: 8,300 square kilometres.

Location: Between Lake Manyara National Park and Serengeti National Park.

Best Time: Year round.

To Do: Game drives, Olduvai Gorge, visits to nearby Empakaai Crater or Olmoti Crater, and cultural visits.

Known For: Rhinoceros, the starting point of the Great Migration, and stunning views.

Details of Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Your first view of the stunning Ngorongoro Crater will likely come from a forested viewpoint, offering a breathtaking look at the sun-drenched, cloud-dappled caldera. Surrounded by tropical forest, it feels like something straight out of myth. Home to the Big Five, Ngorongoro is one of the best places in the country to see the endangered black rhinoceros and offers year-round sightings of lions and cape buffalo. While many animals migrate north during the Great Wildebeest Migration, the lush landscape ensures abundant wildlife throughout the year.

As you descend into the crater, you’ll witness vast herds of buffalo, wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras roaming freely, often closely watched by hyenas, lions, and jackals. The alkaline Makat Lake is home to colorful flamingos, and the Ngorongoro Picnic Area provides a great spot to watch hippos lounging in the pool. The park’s diverse terrain is also home to leopards, black rhinos, and playful baboons. Ngorongoro is unique not only for its wildlife but also for being home to the Maasai people, who live alongside the animals, tending their cattle. Nearby attractions like Olmoti Crater, Empakaai Crater, Lake Ndutu, and Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano offer exciting excursions for those looking to explore further.