DESTINATION GUIDE // TANZANIA
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano holding 25,000 animals on its floor and the best chance in East Africa of seeing black rhino.
260 km2
CRATER FLOOR
25,000
RESIDENT ANIMALS
600m
CRATER WALLS
1979
UNESCO SITE
Black rhino
RESIDENT
Quick answer: Ngorongoro Crater is the worlds largest intact volcanic caldera, formed when a mountain collapsed around two and a half million years ago. The floor covers 260 square kilometres, the walls rise 600 metres and roughly 25,000 large animals live inside it year round.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Ngorongoro Crater At A Glance
Because the crater walls are steep, most of the animals inside never leave. That produces a density you will not find anywhere else, and it is the main reason Ngorongoro is the most reliable single day of game viewing on the northern circuit. It is also one of very few protected areas where Maasai still graze cattle alongside wildlife.
| Detail | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | Ngorongoro Conservation Area, northern Tanzania |
| Distance from Arusha | Approximately 180 km, 3 to 4 hours by road |
| Crater floor | 260 km2 at 1,800 metres altitude |
| Crater rim | 2,400 metres, genuinely cold at night |
| Established | Conservation Area 1959, UNESCO World Heritage Site 1979 |
| Time zone | EAT, GMT +3 |
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do
Black Rhino
One of the few places in Tanzania with a viable black rhino population. An early descent gives the best chance before they move into cover.
Dense Big Five
Lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino all live on the floor. Four of the five in a single day is realistic, and all five is not unusual.
Flamingo on Lake Magadi
The shallow soda lake at the crater centre draws flamingo in numbers, with hippo in the pools and marsh nearby.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
| Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| Jun to Oct | Dry and clear, easiest viewing, busiest on the floor | High |
| Jan to Feb | Warm and green, excellent for photography | Medium |
| Mar to May | Long rains, misty on the rim, very quiet | Low |
| Nov to Dec | Short rains, fresh grass, good value | Medium |
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