Destination guide

Ngorongoro Crater

A collapsed volcano cradling one of Africa's densest wildlife arenas

The Ngorongoro Crater is a vast intact volcanic caldera whose 260-square-kilometre floor holds an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five. Travellers descend into it for a near-guaranteed, spectacular day of game viewing within the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

By the numbers

~600 m

Crater depth

from rim down to the floor

~260 km²

Floor area

the enclosed crater floor

~25,000

Large animals

resident on the crater floor

2-3 M yrs ago

Formed

collapsed volcanic caldera

UNESCO site

Status

listed for nature and human origins

All present

Big Five

including rare black rhino

Best time to visit

The crater rewards visitors year-round because its resident wildlife does not migrate, but the dry season from June to October offers the easiest game viewing and clearer roads. The green months from November to May bring lush scenery, newborn animals and fewer vehicles.

Common questions

Yes, the Ngorongoro Crater is one of the few places where all of the Big Five, including the rare black rhino, may be seen in a single day.

No. Ngorongoro is a separate conservation area with a self-contained crater ecosystem, though it borders the Serengeti and the great migration passes through the wider area.

Yes. Maasai pastoralists live and graze cattle within Ngorongoro, which uniquely combines wildlife protection with human habitation.

A single full day allows a thorough crater game drive; adding a night on the rim lets you descend early when wildlife is most active.