ABOUT THE NGORONGORO CRATER

 FOR YOUR INFORMATION!

 

The immense volcanic Ngorongoro crater, along the northern circuit in Tanzania, is the world's largest unbroken caldera, also described as  the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The crater along with other places of interest is located in the Ngorongoro conservation area which is a  protected world heritage site and in the conservation area over 42,000 Maasai  live and farm in harmony with wild and dangerous animals.  The gigantic depression is 19km wide volcanic crater surrounded by towering steep walls and sheltering forests, grassland, fresh springs and a large lake called Lake Magadi well known for its flamingos.  For any visitor a breathtaking and unforgettable moment is when you first set your eyes on the crater about 600m below the crater rim.


The Ngorongoro Crater is home to large task elephants, black rhinoceros, lions, zebras, hyenas, herds of wildebeest, eland, Thompson's gazelle, reedbuck and more than a 100 species of bird, all living in perfect balance in this self contained environment. Visitors can view these animals at close quarters and also explore the forest in search of smaller craters, mountain rivers and waterfalls but they have to be accompanied by an armed guide.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season (July-October) is the best time as you can spot large mammals.  The wet season (November-June) is best for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing.

How to Get There

The park can be reached by road, charter or scheduled flights from Arusha which is 180km away. The first 80km of the road is smooth but the rest is gravel. The park can also be reached from the Serengeti National Park which is 152km away.