After 20 years in and around the Ngorongoro Crater I still don't lose the excitement when we climb the rim early in the morning and descend into the mist in the crater. It is different every time. It is special every time.
What exactly is the Ngorongoro Crater?
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic crater in the world that is not filled with water. It has a diameter of 19 kilometres and an area of 260 km². It sits at an altitude of 2,300 metres — meaning mornings are cold, with mist and sometimes even rain, while on the bare crater floor it can be 28 degrees in the afternoon.
In that crater live permanently more than 25,000 large mammals: lions, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and — the jewel — the rare black rhinoceros.
The Big Five in the crater
The crater is the only place in Tanzania where you have a realistic chance of seeing all five Big Five in one day. Lions are visible daily — the males in the crater are famous for their dark manes. Leopards lie in the trees along the crater rim. Elephants swing along the western side. Buffaloes graze in massive herds. And the rhino — small, probably far away, but there. If you see it, you will never forget it.
The rhino — how great is the chance?
Realistically: 20–30% per day. Tanzania has fewer than 15 black rhinos in the crater right now. They are shy, they are large, and they move. But rangers follow them daily. My tip: enter the crater early (07:00) and drive immediately to the western part where rhinos are seen most often. Patience is everything.
When to go?
The crater is visitable year-round, but the dry months June–September are the best for visibility. In the rainy season (April–May) the crater is lush green and nearly empty of tourists — but the roads in can be muddy.
My personal favourite: January and February. The crater is less crowded, the light is beautiful and the morning mist hangs low over the plain. Indescribably beautiful.
How much time do you need?
Minimum one full day in the crater. Ideally two days — the first day you explore, the second day you go specifically hunting for the rhino or a specific animal. Staying on the crater rim (at 2,300m altitude) is an experience in itself — the lodges and campsites on the rim have breathtaking views.
Practical tips
Bring a warm jacket for the morning — on the rim it is cold (sometimes 10°C). The descent into the crater takes 30–45 minutes on a steep track. Lunch break in the crater is mandatory (Hippo Pool or under a tree). Vehicles may not stop outside designated spots — but our guides know exactly how to use every legal stopping place. Maximum visit time in the crater is 6 hours — use them all.