Ngorongoro Crater: What It Is, Wildlife and How to Visit
A natural amphitheatre packed with wildlife.
Ngorongoro Crater is a large volcanic caldera in northern Tanzania, with a floor of about 260 square kilometres surrounded by walls about 600 metres high. It supports dense wildlife including lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos and rhinos, and is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Most visits are a half-day or full-day descent into the crater. It is usually combined with the Serengeti and Lake Manyara. See the Serengeti and the 4-day Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti safari.
This guide is part of our East Africa travel guides. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Uganda safaris and tours.
At a glance
- Crater floor: About 260 sq km
- Walls: About 600 m high
- Wildlife: Lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, rhino
- Visit: Half or full day
Wildlife
The crater supports large herds of wildebeest and zebra, and a high density of predators. Rhinos are among the rarest sightings.
Plan a Visit
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Related Tours, Guides and Resources
- Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
- Uganda safari packages
- Uganda travel guide
- How to book a Uganda safari
- Plan your safari with our team
Itineraries That Include This Experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Uganda Safari Pages
- Serengeti National Park: Location, Wildlife, Migration and Best Time
- Tanzania Travel Guide: Where It Is, Capital, Map, Parks and Best Time to Visit
- Zanzibar and Stone Town: Beaches, History and Combining With a Safari
- Diani Beach in Kenya: Beaches, Activities and Safari Add-On
- East Africa Travel Guides: Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo
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