Ngorongoro Crater Day Tour
Ngorongoro Crater Day Safari: A day safari to Ngorongoro Crater offers an unparalleled wildlife experience within one of the planet’s most stunning geological features. By following this itinerary, you can ensure that your adventure is both thrilling and maximized for the best possible encounters with the diverse flora and fauna that call the crater home.
The Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of Tanzania, is a natural wonder that attracts travelers and wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. Formed over two million years ago from a collapsed volcano, this vast caldera spans approximately 260 square kilometers and offers a unique sanctuary for wildlife. With its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity, a day safari in the Ngorongoro Crater is an unforgettable adventure and a highlight of any Tanzanian expedition.
The Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of Tanzania, is a natural wonder that attracts travelers and wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. Formed over two million years ago from a collapsed volcano, this vast caldera spans approximately 260 square kilometers and offers a unique sanctuary for wildlife. With its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity, a day safari in the Ngorongoro Crater is an unforgettable adventure and a highlight of any Tanzanian expedition.
Ngorongoro Crater Day Safari Itinerary
Your day safari to Ngorongoro Crater starts early to maximize wildlife spotting when animals are most active. Your guide will be waiting for you at 06:00 am at your lodge/home in Arusha after a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee, and you will leave for the adventure in your 4x4 safari vehicle.
Your transfer from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area takes about 2-3 hours. On the way, you will enjoy beautiful misty highlands, local Maasai bomas, and coffee plantations.
At 08:00 am, when you arrive at the crater rim, take a moment to enjoy the breathtaking view, then continue down into the crater. At this 600-meter descent, you start your safari and get your first glimpse of the diverse habitats inside, such as lakes, savannahs, and swamps. The Ngorongoro Crater is perfect for wildlife lovers. During your exploration of the crater floor, make sure to spot the Big Five – lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and the rare black rhinoceros. The crater’s enclosed nature makes it easier for you to see these creatures in their natural habitats. You will also visit the hippo pool close to Mandusi Swamp and Lake Magadi, a favorite location for flamingos. It offers an excellent bird-watching and photography experience.
At lunchtime, you’ll stop at a prearranged picnic point with a view of the crater for lunch. Afterward, you continue your safari with a game drive, looking for predators and other animals you didn’t see earlier.
Drive through the Lerai Forest, where you may see elephants, baboons, and birds, among others. The forest differs from the open grasslands in that it gives you a chance of seeing animals under the shade of acacia trees.
At 04:00 pm, you leave the crater floor and ascend to the crater’s rim, where you get another chance to see the ecosystem. You enjoy the scenery as the sun starts to go down, casting the surroundings in golden light.
After leaving the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you head back to Arusha, arriving around 7:00 PM.
NGORONGORO CRATER DAY SAFARI COST
Solo: US $ 785
2 People: US $ 455 per person
3 - 4 People: US $ 350 per person
5 - 7 People: US $ 250 per person
NGORONGORO CRATER DAY SAFARI INCLUDES:
- Transportation in 4WD safari Land Cruise with photographic roof thatch
- Service of professional English speaking driver guide
- Good packed lunch
- Mineral water (1 liter per day per person)
- All park fees including VAT
NGORONGORO CRATER DAY SAFARI EXCLUDES:
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees
- Tips/gratitude for safari driver guide
- All items of a person nature
- Travel insurance etc.
Note: For your comfort, we recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen, a camera, and binoculars to help you make the most of your safari experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does It Cost to Visit Ngorongoro Crater?
A tourist who is not a citizen of East Africa and intends to visit the Ngorongoro Crater floor must pay between $260 and $750+ per person for a one-day visit, depending on whether they join a group safari or travel in a privately hired car.
While splitting the total charges, it is important to note that the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority (NCAA) divides the total charges into two government fees as follows:
1. Mandatory Government Fees
Conservation Entry Fee: $70.80 USD per person (16+) per day ($60 base + 18% VAT). Children aged 5-15 pay $23.60 USD, while children under 5 enter for free.
Conservation Entry Fee: $70.80 USD per person (16+) per day ($60 base + 18% VAT). Children aged 5-15 pay $23.60 USD, while children under 5 enter for free.
Crater Service Fee (Descent Fee): $295 USD per vehicle per descent. This is a flat charge to descend to the crater floor. You will pay the full $295 if you travel alone, or about $49 per person if you travel with a group of six.
2. Total Cost for Package Tour
For visitors who book the tour with Wilds of Africa, we will take care of everything, including gate fees, a 4x4 safari vehicle, fuel, a driver, a guide and even lunch.
Day Tour for Group Sharing: The total cost per individual is between $260 – $320. It will include transportation from Arusha, shared $295 descent fees, entrance fees and lunch.
Solo Day Tour: The total cost per individual is $746 – $770. It will include transportation in a 4X4 vehicle, covering the entire $295 descent fees by your own.
2-day Budget Camping Safari: The total cost per individual is $500–$800, including park fees, 1 night camping on the rim, meals and shared transport.
3-day Mid-Range Lodge Safari: The total cost per individual is $1,000 – $1,800, including all park fees, mid-range lodge accommodation and transport.
Additional Costs to Consider
Concession Charges for Accommodations: Should you decide to spend your nights at a lodge or tented camp within the conservation park, there is an additional government charge of $59 to $71 USD per person per night above the cost of your room.
Concession Charges for Accommodations: Should you decide to spend your nights at a lodge or tented camp within the conservation park, there is an additional government charge of $59 to $71 USD per person per night above the cost of your room.
Tips: It's customary to tip your driver-guide $10 to $15 USD per person per day.
Ranger Charge for Self-Drive: If you want to self-drive using a rented 4x4 car, you will have to pay $20 to $40 USD (in cash at the entrance) for the park ranger to accompany you inside the crater.
What amount of time do you require for the Ngorongoro Crater?
You need a day to fully enjoy Ngorongoro Crater’s wildlife and landscapes, with 5 to 6 hours on the crater floor.
Crater Floor Time
Half-day or 5 to 6 hours: This is both the legal and practical time you can spend inside the crater each day.
Half-day or 5 to 6 hours: This is both the legal and practical time you can spend inside the crater each day.
Gate opening times: Gates open at 6:00 AM, and you must leave the crater by 6:00 PM.
The reason why it is enough: As it is a relatively small crater of only 260 sq km, there is an exceptionally high density of animals in this area, allowing you to see the Big Five in one day
Extra Time Spent
1 to 2 days: Most visitors spend one or two nights near the crater rim or in Karatu town to allow time for travel.
Activities to add on the second day: Walk the crater rim, visit a Maasai village or explore Olduvai Gorge.
Activities to add on the second day: Walk the crater rim, visit a Maasai village or explore Olduvai Gorge.
When should one visit the Ngorongoro Crater?
When to Visit Ngorongoro Crater – Discover Africa. The ideal time to go on safari to Ngorongoro Crater is from June to October, when the weather is dry, and fewer plants and dwindling sources of water make it easy to observe wildlife
Dry Season (June to October) – Best for Wildlife Viewing
Advantages: Sunny skies and fewer mosquitoes, plus an abundance of animals at the crater’s water holes. The short grasses make it easier to see the Big Five and the black rhino
Advantages: Sunny skies and fewer mosquitoes, plus an abundance of animals at the crater’s water holes. The short grasses make it easier to see the Big Five and the black rhino
Disadvantages: It is the peak tourist season, which leads to high prices for accommodations and a shortage of available rooms and viewing spots. Very cold mornings and nights are experienced at the crater rim.
Calving Season (Jan to Feb) – Good for Predators and Calves
Good: Wildebeests and zebras give birth on the nearby southern plains, attracting predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
Bad: Warm climate, dusty, and afternoon rain showers.
Good: Wildebeests and zebras give birth on the nearby southern plains, attracting predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
Bad: Warm climate, dusty, and afternoon rain showers.
Green/Wet Season (Nov to May) – Good for Landscape and Budget
Good: Rain makes the caldera look very green and dramatic, with amazing skies for photography. Fewer people in the park with reduced park fees. Bird watching is superb between Nov and April due to migratory birds.
Bad: Heavy afternoon rains (March to May) can make dirt roads muddy and leave tall grass.
Good: Rain makes the caldera look very green and dramatic, with amazing skies for photography. Fewer people in the park with reduced park fees. Bird watching is superb between Nov and April due to migratory birds.
Bad: Heavy afternoon rains (March to May) can make dirt roads muddy and leave tall grass.