Tanzania • Safari • Kilimanjaro • Zanzibar • Mafia Island
Tanzania • Northern Circuit

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Discover one of Tanzania's most remarkable landscapes, where the Ngorongoro Crater, dramatic highlands, abundant wildlife and living Maasai traditions come together in one extraordinary destination.

Plan Your Ngorongoro Safari Explore Ngorongoro
Landscape Crater, highlands and open grasslands
Wildlife Rich concentration of animals
Culture Maasai communities and traditions
Experience Wildlife, scenery and photography
About Ngorongoro

A Landscape Unlike Any Other

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a spectacular highland landscape in northern Tanzania. At its heart is the famous Ngorongoro Crater, a vast volcanic caldera surrounded by dramatic escarpments and rolling highlands.

The area is more than a wildlife destination. It is also a place where people, livestock, wildlife and a remarkable natural environment exist within the same conservation landscape.

A visit can combine a crater safari with highland scenery, wildlife viewing and carefully arranged cultural experiences.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area landscape
What You'll Discover

The Highlights of Ngorongoro

From the crater floor to the surrounding highlands, Ngorongoro offers wildlife, dramatic scenery and living cultural traditions.

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater

Descend into the famous caldera for a wildlife experience surrounded by steep crater walls and beautiful landscapes.

Ngorongoro highlands

Highland Scenery

Travel through cool highland landscapes, open grasslands, forested slopes and dramatic viewpoints.

Maasai people in Ngorongoro

Maasai Culture

Maasai communities and pastoral traditions are an important part of the wider conservation landscape.

Wildlife in Ngorongoro

Wildlife

The crater and surrounding habitats support a rich variety of mammals and bird species.

Flamingos in Ngorongoro
Wildlife & Landscape

Wildlife in a Remarkable Natural Setting

The Ngorongoro Crater contains a mixture of grasslands, woodland, wetlands and a lake, creating different habitats within the crater floor.


Wildlife encounters can include large herbivores, predators, water-loving species and an impressive variety of birds.


Beyond the crater itself, the wider conservation area adds highland scenery, forests, open landscapes and opportunities to experience the destination from different perspectives.

Wildlife

Animals You May Encounter

Wildlife sightings are naturally unpredictable, but Ngorongoro offers a remarkable range of species across its different habitats.

Elephants in Ngorongoro

Elephants

Lion in Ngorongoro

Lions

Hippos in Ngorongoro

Hippos

Zebras in Ngorongoro

Zebras & Wildebeest

Wildlife photography in Ngorongoro

Birdlife & Photography

Lions
Elephants
Buffalo
Hippos
Zebras
Wildebeest
Hyenas
Gazelles
Birdlife
Things To Do

Experience Ngorongoro Your Way

Your experience can be designed around wildlife, landscapes, culture, photography or a combination of different interests.

Game drive in Ngorongoro

Crater Game Drive

Explore the crater floor by safari vehicle and discover its different habitats and wildlife.

Safari landscape in Ngorongoro

Photography

Capture dramatic crater landscapes, wildlife and changing light across the highlands.

Cultural experience in Ngorongoro

Cultural Experiences

Add a respectful community or cultural experience where appropriate and available through local arrangements.

Exploring the Ngorongoro highlands

Highland Exploration

Experience the cooler landscapes and viewpoints surrounding the crater and wider conservation area.

Wildlife viewing in Ngorongoro

Wildlife Viewing

Spend time observing animals across the crater's varied habitats with your driver-guide.

Northern Tanzania safari circuit map

Northern Circuit Safari

Combine Ngorongoro with destinations such as Tarangire, Serengeti and Lake Manyara in a tailor-made safari.

Beyond The Crater

Explore the Wider Conservation Area

Ngorongoro is much more than the crater floor. The wider conservation area includes highland landscapes, grasslands, forests, cultural communities and important wildlife habitats.

Depending on your itinerary, you can experience different sides of this remarkable area rather than simply passing through for a crater game drive.

Avalia Adventure can combine Ngorongoro with Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and other northern Tanzania destinations.

Ngorongoro safari landscape
When To Visit

Best Time for Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro can be visited throughout the year. The character of the landscape changes with the seasons, so the best timing depends on the type of experience you want.

June – October

The dry season generally offers comfortable safari conditions, clearer landscapes and good opportunities for wildlife viewing. The highlands can be noticeably cool, especially in the early morning.

November – May

The wetter months can bring greener scenery, fresh vegetation and seasonal birdlife. Rain can occur, but it does not mean that safari experiences stop.

Why Ngorongoro

More Than a Crater Safari

Ngorongoro brings together several different sides of Tanzania within one conservation landscape.

Exceptional Landscape

Dramatic crater walls, highlands, grasslands and changing scenery create a memorable setting.

Rich Wildlife

The crater supports a diverse range of wildlife within a relatively compact landscape.

Living Culture

Maasai communities and pastoral traditions form an important part of the wider conservation area.

Easy to Combine

Ngorongoro fits naturally into northern Tanzania safari itineraries alongside other major destinations.

Ready to Explore Ngorongoro?

Tell us how you want to experience Ngorongoro and we will help shape it into a Tanzania journey that fits your time, interests and travel style.

Plan Your Journey