The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania is one of Africa’s great safari destinations. It combines a huge volcanic crater, dense wildlife, Maasai grazing lands and some of the oldest human history on earth. This guide explains what to see, where to stay and how to get there by 4×4, including from Rwanda.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) was set up in 1959 under the NCA Ordinance No. 413 of 1959. It is a multiple land use area. Its aims are to conserve natural resources, protect the interests of the indigenous residents and promote tourism. As a result, it is one of the few protected areas in Africa where conservation works side by side with human development.
What You’ll Find in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The best-known feature is the Ngorongoro Crater itself. However, the conservation area covers much more. It includes part of the Serengeti plains, which support around 2 million migratory animals of the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem (TAWIRI, 2003). It also protects the Northern Highland Forest Reserve, known as “Entim Olturot” in the Maa language.
The NCA also holds major archaeological and palaeontological sites. Oldupai (Olduvai) Gorge is the most famous. In addition, early human footprints were discovered at Laetoli (Alaitole) in the Ngarusi area.
Where people and wildlife share the land
The NCA measures about 8,300 square kilometres. It is known as a place where people, livestock and wild animals live side by side. In fact, you may see Maasai cattle grazing next to zebras on the grasslands.
The area was originally part of Serengeti National Park, which the British set up in 1951. Then, in 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) was formed and the NCA became separate. It became a Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1971. Later, in 1979, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.
Tourist Activities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Crater game drives
The Ngorongoro Crater is a vast caldera formed when a volcano collapsed millions of years ago. Today its floor holds grasslands, swamps, forest patches and a soda lake. Because the walls keep many animals inside, game viewing is excellent all year.
On a crater game drive, you can look for lion, elephant, buffalo, hyena, wildebeest, zebra and flamingos. The crater is also one of the best places in Tanzania to spot the rare black rhino. Leopards live here too, but they are harder to find.
Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is often called the “Cradle of Mankind”. Researchers have found some of the earliest evidence of human evolution here. There is a small museum, so you can learn about the finds before you look out over the gorge. It makes an easy stop on the road between the crater and the Serengeti.
Highlands, forests and Maasai culture
Beyond the crater, you can walk in the highland forests with an armed ranger. You can also visit a Maasai boma to learn about local life. Always book walks and cultural visits through approved operators or the NCAA.
Flora and Fauna in Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro has lush, rain-fed vegetation as well as desert plants. You will see lowland bush, arid and semi-arid plant communities, short grass for grazing and highland forest. Scrub heath, grassland, open moorland and remnants of evergreen forest cover the steep crater slopes.
Highland trees include Peacock Flower, Yellow-Wood, Kousso and Sweet Olive. Meanwhile, the short grass plains attract huge herds during the wet season. So the scenery changes a lot as you climb from the plains to the rim.
Where to Stay in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The area has some of the best-known lodges in Tanzania. The classic Ngorongoro Crater Lodge was built in 1939 and is now run by the andBeyond group. Other long-standing lodges include Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge (1942), Ndutu Lodge (1946) and Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge (1971).
Newer lodges include Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge and Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, both built in the mid-1990s. Together, the six rim lodges listed in the original records had about 560 beds. The NCAA also runs 16 campsite areas. Further lodges have since been planned, so capacity keeps growing.
Tips for choosing a place to stay
- Crater rim lodges give you early access to the crater floor and great views.
- Campsites such as Simba campsite suit travellers with a rooftop tent or camping kit.
- Karatu town outside the gate has cheaper lodges, but you pay daily entry each time you return.
Camping gear can come with your vehicle. See our car rental with camping gear page for details.
Getting to Ngorongoro Conservation Area by 4×4
Most visitors fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) or Arusha Airport. From Arusha, the drive to the Lodoare gate takes roughly three to four hours on good tarmac. After the gate, the roads become rough gravel, so a proper 4×4 is strongly recommended.
Driving from Rwanda
You can also start your trip in Kigali. Many travellers combine gorillas in Rwanda with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro in Tanzania. The usual route crosses at the Rusumo border, in eastern Rwanda. From there, plan on at least two long driving days to reach the Arusha area.
- Cross-border paperwork: we prepare the vehicle documents you need. Read more on our cross-border car hire page.
- Driver or self drive: you can self drive or book a car hire with driver who knows the route.
Ngorongoro Crater Highlights and Fees
The crater is the centrepiece of the conservation area. Game drives on the floor are usually limited to a set number of hours per day. In addition, vehicles pay a crater service fee on top of the normal conservation fee per person.
All fees are set by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and change from time to time. So check the current rates before you go. Also note that payments at the gate are usually by card, not cash.
Car Rental Tips for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Choose the right vehicle
- A real 4×4 is essential. The crater descent and ascent roads are steep and rocky.
- Comfort matters on long days. A Toyota Land Cruiser Safari with a pop-up roof is ideal for game viewing.
- Safety first. Check the spare tyre, jack and first aid kit before you leave.
Book and prepare
- Book early. Vehicles fill up in the dry season, from June to October.
- Carry supplies. Bring water, snacks, warm clothes and a torch. The crater rim gets cold at night.
- Read up first. Our essential tips for car rental in Rwanda also apply to long regional trips.
Best Time to Visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
You can visit Ngorongoro all year, because the crater holds water and grazing in every season. However, each season feels different, so pick the one that suits your plans.
- June to October (dry season): clear skies, thin grass and easy game viewing. On the other hand, the crater is busiest and nights are cold.
- December to March: green landscapes and calving herds on the southern Serengeti plains near Ndutu. It is a great time for photographers.
- April and May (long rains): fewer visitors and lower lodge rates. Still, some gravel roads turn muddy and slippery.
A sample three-day route from Arusha
- Day 1: drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara or Tarangire for an afternoon game drive. Then overnight in Karatu.
- Day 2: enter the NCA early and descend into the crater. After lunch on the floor, climb out and sleep on the rim.
- Day 3: stop at Olduvai Gorge on your way to the Serengeti, or head back towards Arusha.
Leave the crater floor before the gates close, because rangers enforce the times strictly. Also, keep your fuel tank topped up in Karatu, as there is little fuel inside the area.
Related Destinations Near Ngorongoro
- Serengeti National Park: a short drive north-west of the crater, famous for the great migration.
- Lake Manyara National Park: known for its varied habitats and tree-climbing lions.
- Tarangire National Park: big elephant herds and baobab trees, especially in the dry season.
If you start in Rwanda, you can add gorilla trekking before you head east. For ideas, see our Rwanda car hire safaris or check Rwanda car rental options.
Plan Your Trip
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area rewards travellers who choose the right car and plan ahead. With a solid 4×4 and a clear route, you can enjoy the crater, Olduvai and the Serengeti at your own pace. Message 4×4 Car Rental Rwanda on WhatsApp at +250 725 074659 for a quote.