The Ngorongoro Crater is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area – a UNESCO world heritage site of great beauty. The crater is a truly unique ecosystem with unparalleled landscapes – guests traverse the floor of the collapsed caldera, encircled by the towering walls of the volcano rim.  The nutrient rich grasses draw 25,000 larger animals, including the black-maned lion and black rhino, 100 species of birds, and the Big 5, so the game viewing is truly phenomenal. You can’t sleep inside the crater itself, so guests explore on a day-trip game drive from properties located either on the crater rim or a little farther away in the lush highlands. Given the crowded game drives, we find that 1-2 nights in area is usually enough.

The major downside to the crater is that, unlike almost every other region of Tanzania, it gets extremely crowded. Game drives in the crater can often feel like zoos, as there are lines of vehicles waiting to enter and exit at the gates and there are masses of people wherever there are animal sightings. This is especially true between June and October. Game sightings are excellent in the crater and it’s very beautiful, but it’s best to visit in the off-season to avoid the crowds.