A brief Overview of Ngorongoro Crater
On average most who visit the northern parks of Tanzania will spend at least a couple of nights on or by the Ngorongoro Crater, and for good reason. Originally estimated at around the same height as the nearby Kilimanjaro (approx 5,800m), the volcano is thought to have blown its top around 2 million years ago, with much of the debris landing on the Ndutu Plains in the south of the Serengeti (which is part of the reason that this area of the Serengeti is favoured by the wildebeest for calving due to the rich mineral content of the grasses here).
Today, the volcano is a Mecca for those looking to witness a whole host of animals and to take in “that” view. The crater floor itself, with its flat expanse and fertile soil, has become the year round home for many of Africa’s largest animals such as the black rhino, black maned lion (the blacker the mane the older and more virile the lion) and the continent’s densest population of spotted hyena to name but a few.
Do see our best camps & lodges in Ngorongoro Crater picks for 2026/27 on this page.
Where to stay around the ngorongoro crater
Often, when visiting the area, which is good in any season, the main decision that needs to be made is whether to stay in one of the larger hotels on the rim of the crater itself, or in one of the smaller and more personal hotels that lie on the slopes of the volcano around the town of Karatu.
With the lower altitude, and so better temperatures, in the Highlands, we tend to err on the side of the Highlands for 2 night stays in the area to benefit from pools etc. and on the rim for a night to benefit from closer (so earlier) access and views.
Do see our best camps & lodges in Ngorongoro Crater picks for 2026/27 on this page.
Best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater
Often used in conjunction with a visit to the Serengeti National Park, the timings for a visit here tend to crescendo in the dry months between June and November and again between January and March.
Do see our interactive best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater guide on this page as well as on our parent guide to tanzania page for more in-depth information on when to go.
Or call us on +44 1525 840 149. That’s what we’re here for.
Need more help?
As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on USA +1-917-336-2937
This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.
With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.
Alternatively please feel free to › send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.
Get help with a Safari to Ngorongoro Crater
As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on USA +1-917-336-2937
This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.
With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.
Alternatively please feel free to › send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.
Where is Ngorongoro Crater?
Ngorongoro Crater
