Outdoors Crater floor, Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro Crater
An outdoor spot in Crater floor, Ngorongoro, a splurge ($$$$) and worth most of a day (about 6 hours). Best time to go: Dawn.
Why go
Caldera about 20 km across, home to lions, buffalo, flamingos and one of the best chances to see black rhino.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Ngorongoro, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Ngoitokitok Springs, 5.6 km away as the crow flies. Set aside most of a day (about 6 hours) here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.
- Type
- Outdoors · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Crater floor
- Price
- $$$$
- Time needed
- 6 hr
- Best time
- Dawn
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Ngorongoro, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Ngoitokitok Springs
Spring-fed pool on the crater floor used as a picnic stop, with hippos nearby.
Outdoors · 5.6 km straight-line - 2Lake Magadi
Shallow soda lake on the crater floor where flamingos feed and hippos wallow.
Outdoors · 6.5 km straight-line - 3Lerai Forest
Yellow-barked acacia forest on the crater floor, a good spot for elephants and bushbuck.
Outdoors · 9.9 km straight-line - 4Entamanu Ngorongoro
Small Nomad Tanzania camp on the crater's western rim, serving set meals with views across the crater floor.
Food · 10 km straight-line - 5Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Stone lodge built into the crater rim, with a bar and terrace looking over the caldera.
Drinks · 13 km straight-line - 6Gibb's Farm
Coffee farm and lodge near Karatu serving lunches built on its own organic gardens.
Food · 17 km straight-line
On these curated routes
Ngorongoro Crater is a stop on our Kenya & Tanzania Safari route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro Crater is our only outdoors pick in Ngorongoro; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Ngorongoro guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Ngorongoro run from 22°C in June to 26°C in October; April is usually the wettest month. For Ngorongoro Crater itself, we suggest: Dawn.
Modelled monthly averages for Ngorongoro from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Ngorongoro weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Ngorongoro Crater, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
- Coordinates
- -3.16175, 35.58767
- Destination
- Ngorongoro, Tanzania
- Website
- ncaa.go.tz
Ngorongoro Crater: quick answers
How much time do you need at Ngorongoro Crater?
Plan on most of a day (about 6 hours) at Ngorongoro Crater. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater?
Our pick: Dawn. Insider tip: Descend at opening time (6am) to beat the vehicle crowds.
Where is Ngorongoro Crater?
Ngorongoro Crater is at Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, in Crater floor. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Ngorongoro Crater?
Ngorongoro Crater appears on Kenya & Tanzania Safari, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Ngorongoro Crater to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Ngorongoro.
Plan Ngorongoro
- Ngorongoro travel guide 8 places
- Best time to visit Ngorongoro weather by month
- Serengeti to Ngorongoro 122 km straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Ngorongoro
- Olduvai Gorge Museum Sight
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.