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Adventure
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Ngorongoro Crater Safari Trips & Tours
Ngorongoro Crater
Wildlife wonderlands don’t get much better than the Ngorongoro Crater, possibly one of the most iconic animal-viewing areas in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site (and with very good reason), the cavernous bowl-shaped crater is in fact a caldera, formed two to three million years ago when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself. Today, the flat floor is covered in nutritious grasses and home to an unprecedented number of black rhino as well as black-maned lion, magnificent tuskers and smaller plains game, but surprisingly no giraffe. We’ll leave you to ponder why when you visit!
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11 nights from $23,479 per person
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Essentially a giant bowl filled to the brim with Africa’s most iconic wildlife, visiting Ngorongoro is a highlight. Game drives are a given and in most cases, you’ll rise with the sparrows to ensure you’re on the crater floor in time to catch all the action. Usually you will return in the mid-morning before heading out again in the afternoon, but some lodges have private picnic spots, allowing you to spend a whole day exploring with time for drinks and snacks. Wildlife-wise, expect to see the Big Five, including good numbers of black rhino (this is the best place in Tanzania to spot the Jurassic creatures) and plenty of plains game - but interestingly no giraffe. Unless it’s a very short stroll, walking safaris aren’t possible in the crater itself. Instead, many lodges offer walks along the rim (spectacular views) and forest hikes in the wild and wonderful highlands, often with visits to local communities and the chance to explore the lesser-visited parts of the volcanic landscape.
If ever there was an area that ticked all the safari boxes, it would be the Ngorongoro Crater. Fabulous Big Five sightings, thrilling wildlife action, iconic animals, extraordinary landscapes, excellent guides and world-famous lodges – the list goes on. Just be prepared to share the excitement with other safarigoers.
Explore the dramatic Crater Highlands, a series of active (ish!) volcanoes surrounding the crater itself, where time seems to have stood still. Hike to lakes pink with flamingos, or mingle with the local Masai. This is a safari, Ngorongoro Crater style.
Several of the lodges that line the Ngorongoro Crater's rim are large and perhaps not quite as personal as others in Tanzania. If you like your camps small, intimate and authentic, let us know and we’ll point you in the right direction for your Ngorongoro trip.
Wet Season
Temperatures can be hot although lower than other parts of Tanzania, with occasional afternoon showers providing a unique spectacle.
An ideal month to visit the Crater, with very high sunshine hours, providing perfect photographic conditions.
Game viewing is particularly good during this, the birthing season, offering high predator activities and excitement.
During the green season, plants are in bloom, vegetation is thick and grasses can be long, making game viewing a little more difficult.
Visitor traffic can be particularly high during this time of year.
Enjoy exceptional birding with migratory species present and in full breeding plumage.
Wet Season
Temperature are relatively hot but low for Tanzania, there is plenty of sunshine with a decline in the amount of rainy afternoons.
An ideal month to visit the Crater, with very high sunshine hours, providing perfect photographic conditions.
Game viewing is particularly good during this, the birthing season, offering high predator activities and excitement.
During the green season, plants are in bloom, vegetation is thick and grasses can be long, making game viewing a little more difficult.
Visitor traffic can be particularly high during this time of year.
Enjoy exceptional birding with migratory species present and in full breeding plumage.
Wet Season
Temperatures are moderate to hot, with chances of prolonged rainfall.
Skies can remain cloudy for long periods of time, creating poor, low light conditions for photography
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
During the green season, plants are in bloom, vegetation is thick and grasses can be long, making game viewing a little more difficult.
The best time to visit the Crater, with low tourist traffic leading to more intimate sightings.
Enjoy exceptional birding with migratory species present and in full breeding plumage.
Wet Season
Temperatures are mild by Tanzanian standards, with the highest rainfall of the year over this period.
Skies can remain cloudy for long periods of time, creating poor, low light conditions for photography
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
During the green season, plants are in bloom, vegetation is thick and grasses can be long, making game viewing a little more difficult.
The best time to visit the Crater, with low tourist traffic leading to more intimate sightings.
Migratory birds begin to leave in search of warmer condition to the North.
Wet Season
Temperatures are cool but comfortable, with the end of the summer rains falling during this month.
Skies can remain cloudy for long periods of time, creating poor, low light conditions for photography
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
During the green season, plants are in bloom, vegetation is thick and grasses can be long, making game viewing a little more difficult.
The best time to visit the Crater, with low tourist traffic leading to more intimate sightings.
Migratory birds begin to leave in search of better conditions to the North.
Dry Season
Transition from the wet to the dry season, expect relatively low temperatures, mists, clouds and possibly rain.
Skies can remain cloudy for long periods of time, creating poor, low light conditions for photography
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
The end of the green season has arrived, vegetation begins to recede, improving your chances of spotting the more elusive species.
Visitor traffic increases greatly, causing sightings to be crowded at times.
Include a warm jacket in your packing list as morning game drive can get quite chilly.
Dry Season
The dry season has kicked off with cool temperatures, little rain, but still the chance of cloud and mist.Include a warm jacket in your packing list as morning game drive can get quite chilly.
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
The end of the green season has arrived, vegetation begins to recede, improving your chances of spotting the more elusive species.
A difficult time of year to predict light conditions with chances of cloud cover and mist, making photography unpredictable.
Visitor traffic is high during peak season, causing sightings to be crowded at times.
Include a warm jacket in your packing list as morning game drive can get quite chilly.
Dry Season
Temperatures are warm, with the chances of poor weather declining as the month wears on.
Mist and cloud cover are less likely as the month wears on, providing better photographic opportunities.
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
Vegetation has receded, animals remain close to the permanent water sources, improving your chances of spotting the more elusive species.
Visitor traffic is high during peak season, causing sightings to be crowded at times.
Include a warm jacket in your packing list as morning game drive can get quite chilly.
Dry Season
The Temperatures begin to climb, rain is very unlikely and sunshine hours start to increase.
Mist and cloud cover are less likely and short lived, providing better photographic opportunities and game drive conditions.
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
Vegetation has receded, animals remain close to the permanent water sources, improving your chances of spotting the more elusive species.
Visitor traffic is high during peak season, causing sightings to be crowded at times.
Include a warm jacket in your packing list as morning game drive can get quite chilly.
Dry Season
Temperatures are hot and humid until the first rains of summer fall, usually towards the end of the month.
Mist and cloud cover are unlikely and short lived, providing better photographic opportunities and game drive conditions.
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
Vegetation is at it's most sparse, providing a great chance of spotting the more elusive species.
Visitor traffic drops slightly after peak season, but can still be crowded in certain sightings.
Dry Season
The start of the wet season is characterised by high temperatures and regular afternoon showers.
Clear blue skies during the day with late afternoon showers or even electrical storms, providing a dramatic backdrop for any photographer.
Game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater is always good with incredible game densities.
Vegetation burst back into life rejuvenating the animals of the region after the hardships of the dry season.
Visitor traffic drops slightly after peak season, but can still be crowded in certain sightings.
Wet Season
Temperatures are comfortable, weather is sunny but expect some an afternoon shower during your safari.
Clear blue skies with exception of the odd late afternoon electical storm are expected, providing great photographic conditions.
Game viewing is particularly good during this, the birthing season, offering high predator activities and excitement.
This is technically the green season with vegetation at its thickest, however the Ngorongoro Crater region does not experience a severe dry season.
Migratory birds have returned to the region in full breeding plumage, creating a hive of activity in the tree tops.
Bring along some insect repellent as mosquito numbers increase with the arrival of the rains.
