Overview

Ngorongoro Crater is located in the northern safari circuit in Tanzania. It is one of the popular destinations in the country. It covers an area of about 8,292 km2. It is perfect for wildlife viewing, spotting predators, and watching birds. Tourists combine a Ngorongoro Crater safari with other destinations such as Serengeti National Park. It is easily accessible from Arusha town. Here are the reasons why you should visit Ngorongoro Crater.

Ngorongoro Crater animals

The black rhino is one of the special Ngorongoro Crater animals. It is hard to spot rhinos in Tanzania. But it is almost a guarantee to spot them here. They are common in the Lerai forest at night. Daytime, they are found in open grassland. The other 3 of the Big Five are common in the crater. These are lions, elephants, and buffalos. Other common animals in the crater are spotted hyenas, jackals, zebras, and wildebeests among others. It is possible to spot these animals across the year. But the best time is during the dry season. During this period, the grass is shorter to spot animals. Most animals are also found around water sources. Rain during the wet season may interfere with wildlife viewing.

Birdlife

 Ngorongoro Crater is home to many bird species. It has recorded over 500 species. In the highland forest, birdlife is rich at the crater. The common species are Livingstone turaco and slaty flycatcher. Some common grassland species are crowned crane, Kori bustard, the secretary bird, and ostrich. Tourists can enjoy birding across the year. But the best time for watching birds is between November and April. In this period, migratory birds from northern Africa and Europe are present at the crater.

Scenery

The conservation area has a beautiful view. The Ngorongoro Crater is itself beautiful. It has a unique view. It has several viewing points that allow visitors to enjoy its spectacular view. It has soda lakes that attract water birds such as Loreal Forest and flamingos. This creates a scenic view of the crater. The Gol Mountains are scenic features at the crater. Other beautiful features at the crater are Oldupai Gorge and the Oldupai museum.

Weather

Ngorongoro Crater weather is good for many activities. It is usually mild and temperate. The dry season is between June and October. Daytime is usually sunny with cloudless skies. Temperatures on the crater floor are around 19°C. Nights are cooler.

The wet season is between November and May. Daytime is warmer. Temperatures are around 23°C. They drop to around 6°C at night on the rim. The wettest months are March, April, and May.

FAQs about Ngorongoro Crater

• Where is Ngorongoro Crater located?

Ngorongoro Crater is located in the Eastern Rift Valley in Tanzania. This is in the northern part of the country. It is 120 km west of Arusha town. Its coordinates are 3.1618° S and 35.5877° E. It is easily accessible by road or air transport.

• Why visit Ngorongoro Crater?

Tourists engage in several activities in Ngorongoro Crater. The main activity is wildlife viewing. Game drives are great for spotting wildlife at the crater and the conservation areas. Other common activities are watching birds, nature walks, and camping. This great destination is also close to other popular destinations such as the Serengeti National Park.

• Which is the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater?

Visitors can enjoy a Ngorongoro Crater safari at any time across the year. But the dry season is the best for wildlife viewing. This is between June and September. The wet season is good for colorful photography.

• How to get to Ngorongoro Crater

During a Ngorongoro Crater safari, tourists can travel by road from Arusha town to the crater. Arusha is the starting point of safaris to the northern safari circuit in Tanzania. Tourists can also fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport. Your tour operator will pick you up from the airport for transfers to the crater.