Can I see the Big Five in the crater?

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.

Is Ngorongoro the same as the Serengeti?

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.

Do people live inside the conservation 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.

Destination guide

Ngorongoro Crater

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

Where to eat

Places to eat

National Park

Ngorongoro Crater

Crater floor picnic sites

Designated hippo-pool picnic spots where lodges pack boxed lunches for game-drive days.

Lodging

Ngorongoro Crater

Rim lodge restaurants

Full-board dining at the crater-rim lodges, many with panoramic views into the caldera.

Hotel

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Sopa buffet

Generous buffet meals at the eastern-rim lodge, convenient for early crater descents.

Hotel

Ngorongoro Crater

Karatu town restaurants

A wider choice of eateries in nearby Karatu, the gateway town below the crater.

Coffee Shop

Ngorongoro Crater

Simba campsite meals

Simple cooked meals prepared by safari crews at the public rim campsite.