Ngorongoro Crater

One of Africa's most extraordinary landscapes - an ancient volcanic caldera filled with wildlife.

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Overview

The Ngorongoro Crater is a wildlife haven in northern Tanzania. It is both a breath-taking sight and an extraordinary place. The great buttressed slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater lies at the south-eastern edge of the Serengeti. Nearly 3 million years ago, Ngorongoro towered alongside Kilimanjaro as one of the highest peaks in Africa. Now all that remains is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, at 18km wide.

A steep 'wall' of thick atmospheric forest surrounds the rim of the crater. And from this rim you look down onto a natural amphitheatre, 260 sq km in size. The mineral-rich crater floor is host to an unbelievably high concentration of game, with water being provided by Lake Magadi. So naturally most of the game have no reason to leave. The view from the rim, especially in the early morning mist is unforgettable; a moment that silences even the most seasoned traveller.

It is understandable that an Ngorongoro safari remains virtually a โ€˜mustโ€™ on anyoneโ€™s first safari to Tanzania. However this popularity has naturally brought its own issues. Somehow the lions continue to hunt in complete disregard for the safari vehicles following them. But sometimes it is more difficult for the visitor to ignore the game-viewing crowds.

Ngorongoro safari - crater rim approach

The Tanzania wildlife authorities have tried to limited access to the Ngorongoro Crater by increasing park fees, but this has not had much effect. (The Ngorongoro crater is en route to the Serengeti so it is natural that people will want to visit.) You will have excellent game-viewing on your Ngorongoro safari. But it will not be an exclusive experience!

So, at Cedarberg Africa, we aim to combine a visit to the Ngorongoro crater with a greater focus on untrammelled wilderness elsewhere on your Tanzania safari. That's why we recommend combining your crater visit with quieter, more remote corners of Tanzania, such as Tarangire, the Zanzibar Islands, or the Serengeti's quieter conservancies. Create a journey that balances spectacle with solitude.

Rhinos on a Ngorongoro Crater safari

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Why We Love It

  • Complete eco-system comprising of nutritious grasslands, swamps, lakes, rivers, woodlands and forest.
  • Hundreds of Flamingos reflected in Lake Magadiโ€™s shimmering waters.
  • Abundance of wildlife including predators.
  • Visit local Masai Villages
  • Easy combination with the Serengeti or Lake Manyara for a perfect northern circuit.

When to visit Ngorongoro Crater

Summer brings the Crater to life

The Ngorongoro crater is different from the Serengeti due to its mountainous terrain and altitude (2300m or 7500ft at the crater rim). It has rain for much of the year with the only real dry season being June to September. The Summer offers the warmest temperatures (23C during the day) but itโ€™s still cool at night given the altitude. On the crater floor, given the altitude is slightly lower (1700m or 5,600ft), it tends to be 3-4C warmer than on the craterโ€™s rim. There is moderate rain all summer, often in the form of thundershowers in the afternoon or evenings. But thereโ€™s also plenty of sunshine.
AVG RAINFALL 130 mm
MAX TEMP 23 โ„ƒ / 73 โ„‰
MIN TEMP 10 โ„ƒ / 50 โ„‰
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The Long Rains

This is the wettest period and the Ngorongoro crater is noticeably wetter than the Serengeti and the Tarangire. April is the wettest month by far and is not an ideal month for safari. May tends to be drier and quieter than many other months so it could be a good option.
AVG RAINFALL 305mm
MAX TEMP 29 โ„ƒ / 67 โ„‰
MIN TEMP 10 โ„ƒ / 50 โ„‰
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Classic Safari Season

This is the prime safari time in the Ngorongoro crater as it is the dry season. Game viewing is superb, though visitor numbers rise sharply in July and August. We recommend earlier as being less busy in the crater. Temperatures are cool during the day (19-20C) and noticeably cold at night (8C on average). Mornings are usually cloudy with the sun burning off the cloud during the morning to give sunshine from late morning onwards.
AVG RAINFALL 49mm
MAX TEMP 19 โ„ƒ / 66 โ„‰
MIN TEMP 8 โ„ƒ / 46 โ„‰
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Sonja Brand

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

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