Conservation area

Ngorongoro Crater

A sweeping volcanic caldera, highland scenery and remarkable wildlife in northern Tanzania.
Ngorongoro Crater — Tanzania

A closer look

Ngorongoro Crater lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From the rim, the land drops into a broad caldera containing grassland, woodland and a shallow lake. A descent to the crater floor brings a different perspective on this distinctive landscape.

Allow time for the highlands as well as the crater. A visit can connect naturally with the Serengeti, Lake Manyara or Tarangire, with the driving route and overnight stops shaped around the rest of your safari.

Best time to visit

Wildlife viewing is possible throughout the year; rain, visibility and highland temperatures vary with the season.

Getting here

Usually reached by road from Arusha via Karatu, or connected with the Serengeti on a northern safari route.

Your kind of escape.

Your interests. Your companions. Your pace. Let us shape the details around you.

A few moments to look forward to

Crater panoramas

Take in the scale of the caldera from the highlands before exploring below.

Wildlife on the crater floor

Discover the different habitats within the crater on a guided game drive.

Northern highlands

Balance time in the crater with the scenery and slower rhythm of the surrounding highlands.

Journeys that take you here

A starting point for your own story. Each journey can be shaped around you.

Serengeti National Park — Tanzania
6 Days
5 nights

Northern Tanzania, Beautifully Connected

Northern Tanzania
Six days linking Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, with characterful stays along the way.
Guide price from
US$ 3,129
Per person
Serengeti National Park — Tanzania
12 Days
11 nights

Tanzania, From Highlands to Horizon

Tanzania · Zanzibar
Twelve days balancing northern wildlife, generous lodge stays and a Zanzibar finale.
Guide price from
US$ 7,027
Per person
Lake Manyara National Park — Tanzania
7 Days
6 nights

The Northern Safari, Unhurried

Northern Tanzania
Seven days across the northern circuit, with time to appreciate each landscape.
Guide price from
US$ 3,069
Per person

Stay a little closer

Places to stay in or near this destination, selected to fit the route and rhythm of your journey.

The Highlands — Ngorongoro Highlands
Ngorongoro Highlands, Tanzania

The Highlands

Canvas-and-perspex domes on the forested slopes of Olmoti, with warm interiors and wide highland views.
Marera Valley — real location photograph
Karatu, Tanzania

Marera Valley Lodge

Garden cottages in the Karatu highlands, between Lake Manyara and the approach to Ngorongoro.
Ngorongoro Serena — real location photograph
Ngorongoro crater rim, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

A stone lodge on the crater rim, with balconies opening towards the Ngorongoro landscape.

Let’s plan your time here.

Share your dates and what draws you here. We’ll help shape a visit around you.