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Tanzania safari
Ngorongoro Crater
The jewel in Tanzania’s crown where the Big Five roam free and there’s an animal around every corner.
Ngorongoro Crater Safari Trips & Tours
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About 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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What to do
Why you'll love it
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.
Off the beaten track
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.
Something to think about
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.
Where to stay
When to go
May - February
Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater
Elephant
Abundant
Giraffe
Rare
Hippo
Occasional
Black Rhino
Occasional
White Rhino
None
Lion
Abundant
Cheetah
Occasional
Leopard
Occasional
Hyena
Occasional
Wildebeest
Abundant
Buffalo
Abundant
Zebra
Abundant
Warthog
Abundant
Wild Dog
Rare
Meerkat
None
Show all wildlife
The Ngorongoro Crater, also known as Africa's Eden, is a place of remarkable beauty and diversity, with a mix of forest, savannah and grassland providing the perfect environment for wildlife to thrive. On the crater floor, experience the Big Five with great black rhino encounters, dense numbers of wildebeest, zebra, eland and exciting lions and cheetah sightings.
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