Experience incredible wildlife on The Ngorongoro Crater Safari – in the world’s biggest Caldera
Once a gigantic volcano, the Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania is now the largest intact caldera in the world. About 20 kilometres across, 600 meters deep and 260 square kilometres in area, the Ngorongoro Crater is a natural breath-taking wonder! Nearly three million years old, the ancient caldera shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on earth.
Tens of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle dot the crater floor, and large herds of buffalo, black rhino and elephants roam the plains. There are more lions per square kilometre here, than anywhere else in the world, making it a great destination for predator viewing, while a closer look in the small forested areas might reveal a secretive serval cat or caracal.
The views from the lodge, which is perfectly set right on the Crater rim, are sensational. The lakes in the middle of the crater floor are often filled with flamingos and pelicans creating a dazzling pink and white effect, while the near year-round cloud cover over the crater rim gives a sense of a place long forgotten by time. With plush and elegantly decorated rooms, incredible food and superb service, this is luxury safari at its best.
Several other amazing locations relatively close to the Ngorongoro Crater, including Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, make it easy to extend your safari and take in some other sights and sounds. Contact our safari specialists to help you plan your dream safari!
All our Safaris are fully customisable to your needs, below is a Suggested Itinerary for a 9 day Safari.
Here is a little teaser: The Ngorongoro Crater Safari Video
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Gallery
Photos from previous safaris. Click to view at full-size.
Suggested itinerary for The Ngorongoro Crater Safari in Tanzania
Day 1
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by a local guide and transferred to the vibrant town of Arusha where you will spend the first night relaxing in a cosy lodge nestled amongst a coffee plantation perfectly set away from the hustle and bustle of Arusha Town, but close to Arusha Airport from where you will depart early the next day.
Day 2
An early start and a hearty breakfast will get you ready for the morning’s travels. Taking a charter flight from Arusha Airport you will arrive a short 30mins later at a dusty airstrip about an hour’s drive from your lodge at the edge of the Crater. The journey to the lodge is an enjoyable scenic drive along the Great Rift Valley walls and will give you a good feel for this part of Tanzania. A sumptuous lunch awaits you at the lodge before you set off on your first safari into the Crater below.
Day 3 - 8
Set off early each morning and make your way down the winding roads of the dense forests lining the walls of the Crater. Reaching the flat open plains below you are now in the midst of the action, with lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalos and thousands of other animals that call the Crater home. The best way to experience the Crater is to take a packed breakfast and lunch, so you can spend the whole day in the wildest Caldera in the world. Sundowners are enjoyed from the comfort of the lodge’s deck and lounge bar right on the edge of the Crater with views of the glowing volcanic lakes in the Caldera below.
Day 9
Enjoy a rare morning lie-in and a relaxed breakfast before making your way slowly back to the airstrip for your Charter flight back to Arusha, in time for your onward travels.
Highlights from The Ngorongoro Crater Safari in Tanzania
Best time to go:
This safari can be enjoyed year-round
Duration:
8 nights / 9 days
Accommodation:
5-star lodge on the Crater rim
Start/End point:
Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania (JRO)
Wildlife highlights:
Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Buffalo, Serval
Package includes:
Full board accommodation
All internal flights and transfers
2 scheduled safaris per day
Drinks (excluding premium brand alcohol)
Laundry
A La Carte:
International flights
FiveZero Tip:
If you would like to get that perfect shot, why not ask our professional photographer to guide you on this safari, and show you how! Make it a Photographic Safari!