Wildlife Reserve · Northern Tanzania
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Not a national park but a mixed-use conservation area with its own UNESCO World Heritage listing (1979, extended 2010) for both natural and cultural significance — Maasai communities still graze cattle within its boundaries.
How to get there
By road from Arusha, roughly three to four hours, usually combined with the Serengeti.
What to find
The Ngorongoro Crater floor, one of Africa's densest large-mammal concentrations in a single caldera, plus Olduvai Gorge and the Laetoli footprint site within the wider conservation area.
Overview
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers about 8,292 km² of highlands, craters and plains between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara. It's a multiple-use area where Maasai herders live alongside wildlife, and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, then recognised again for its cultural value in 2010.
Its centrepiece is the Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcano whose floor covers about 260 km² and whose walls are around 600 m high. The crater floor holds a dense concentration of wildlife, including black rhino, lions, elephants, buffalo, hyenas and flamingos on Lake Magadi.
Highlights
- A game drive on the crater floor, one of the most reliable places in East Africa to see black rhino
- Big lion prides, spotted hyenas and huge buffalo herds
- Views from the crater rim
- Olduvai Gorge and the Ndutu plains (migration calving grounds)
- Empakaai crater hikes and Maasai culture
Things to do
Crater game drive
Time on the crater floor is limited, so start early.
Empakaai crater hike
A stunning walk down to the crater lake.
Olduvai Gorge
The museum and viewpoint.
Maasai cultural visits
Community-run boma visits.
Best time to visit
All year. The dry season (June to October) makes wildlife easier to spot. Calving at Ndutu is roughly January to March.
Getting there
About 3 to 4 hours by road from Arusha. Most visitors combine it with the Serengeti.
Where to stay
Lodges on the crater rim with extraordinary views, and lodges in the Karatu highlands.
Ngorongoro
A selection of well-known options, not a complete list. See all accommodation in Tanzania →
Good to know
- The rim is cold in the early morning and at night, so bring warm layers.
- Descend early to beat the crowds and see the best animal activity.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.