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

How to get there

Getting to Ngorongoro Crater

However you're arriving — from overseas, from another part of Tanzania, or just moving around once you're here.

Flying in from abroad

International visitors

Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) near Arusha, then travel overland to the crater, roughly a three-and-a-half-hour drive.

From elsewhere in Tanzania

Upcountry & other cities

Light aircraft serve nearby airstrips such as Lake Manyara and Serengeti's Seronera, but most visitors reach the crater by road via Karatu.

Getting around locally

Once you're in the region

Access into and around the crater is strictly by 4x4 vehicle with a guide; the steep descent and ascent roads are one-way and closely regulated.

Want the door-to-door leg handled? Travel with a driver who knows the roads.

Book a driver