View across the Ngorongoro Crater

National parks Tanzania

Ngorongoro

An enormous volcanic caldera teeming with life: one of the finest safari experiences in Africa, with the Big Five in a single day.

serengeti

tarangire

ngorongoro

lake manyara

arusha

lake eyasi

lake natron

  • Jambo - Hello

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  • Karibu - Welcome

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  • Hakuna Matata - No worries

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  • Rafiki - Friend

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  • Asante - Thank you

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Ngorongoro Conservation Area

A world within crater walls

The Ngorongoro Crater area in northern Tanzania is known for its striking landscapes and extraordinary biodiversity.

This enormous volcanic caldera, roughly 20 kilometres across, is one of the largest intact craters in the world and a true paradise for wildlife.

The crater is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and offers one of the best safari experiences in Africa. On the fertile crater floor, thousands of animals live close together all year round.

UNESCO World Heritage

The Big Five in a single day

Black rhino

Olduvai Gorge

View across the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Ngorongoro facts ✦

±20 km

The diameter of one of the largest intact calderas in the world.

UNESCO

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a World Heritage Site.

Black rhino

A strong chance of spotting this critically endangered animal.

No giraffes

The crater walls are too steep, so you won’t see giraffes here.

The Big Five

Everything in a single day

The Big Five and more

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the few places in Africa where you have a good chance of seeing the famous Big Five (lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard) in a single day. Large herds of zebras, wildebeest and gazelles inhabit the fertile grassland of the crater.

Predators such as lions, hyenas and cheetahs thrive here thanks to the abundance of prey. The crater is also one of the last refuges for the critically endangered black rhino in Tanzania. That makes a visit extra special.

See our sample itineraries

The Big Five

Everything in a single day

The Big Five and more

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the few places in Africa where you have a good chance of seeing the famous Big Five (lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard) in a single day. Large herds of zebras, wildebeest and gazelles inhabit the fertile grassland of the crater.

Predators such as lions, hyenas and cheetahs thrive here thanks to the abundance of prey. The crater is also one of the last refuges for the critically endangered black rhino in Tanzania. That makes a visit extra special.

See our sample itineraries

lake magadi · grasslands · forest

From crater rim to crater floor

Magnificent landscapes

Besides its abundant wildlife, the Ngorongoro Crater offers spectacular views. Ringed by steep walls and filled with grassland, forest and lakes, including beautiful Lake Magadi, the crater is a feast for the eyes.

This picturesque landscape, combined with the abundance of wildlife, makes Ngorongoro one of the most remarkable safari destinations in the world.

lake magadi · grasslands · forest

From crater rim to crater floor

Magnificent landscapes

Besides its abundant wildlife, the Ngorongoro Crater offers spectacular views. Ringed by steep walls and filled with grassland, forest and lakes, including beautiful Lake Magadi, the crater is a feast for the eyes.

This picturesque landscape, combined with the abundance of wildlife, makes Ngorongoro one of the most remarkable safari destinations in the world.

olduvai gorge

Cradle of humankind

A cultural and archaeological treasure trove

Ngorongoro is more than nature alone. Some of the oldest human fossils have been found in nearby Olduvai Gorge, making the area an important site for archaeological and anthropological research.

A visit to this place offers a unique chance to explore the history of humankind, while you enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and the Maasai, who have lived alongside nature in this area for generations.

Plan your safari with Kembe

olduvai gorge

Cradle of humankind

A cultural and archaeological treasure trove

Ngorongoro is more than nature alone. Some of the oldest human fossils have been found in nearby Olduvai Gorge, making the area an important site for archaeological and anthropological research.

A visit to this place offers a unique chance to explore the history of humankind, while you enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and the Maasai, who have lived alongside nature in this area for generations.

Plan your safari with Kembe

Our projects

Travel with meaning

Why Kembe and Ngorongoro are so closely linked

Kembe Safari grew out of a friendship in Tanzania, and it all began with a water source near the Ngorongoro Crater. Our guides grew up here: to them the crater rim is not a sight, but home.

That water source grew into much more: a farm for sustainable agriculture, a school completed with its own water supply and ongoing support for the community around the crater. Every trip you take with us contributes to these local projects.

Discover our projects

Our projects

Travel with meaning

Why Kembe and Ngorongoro are so closely linked

Kembe Safari grew out of a friendship in Tanzania, and it all began with a water source near the Ngorongoro Crater. Our guides grew up here: to them the crater rim is not a sight, but home.

That water source grew into much more: a farm for sustainable agriculture, a school completed with its own water supply and ongoing support for the community around the crater. Every trip you take with us contributes to these local projects.

Discover our projects

Through our lens

Ngorongoro in pictures

A selection of what our travellers and guides caught on camera on the crater floor, from rhinos to hippos.

The Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater
View across the caldera from the crater rim
African buffalo on the crater floor
Rhinos in the Ngorongoro Crater
Buffalo grazing in the Ngorongoro Crater
Hippos cooling off in the crater pools
A large flock of birds at Lake Magadi
Bird in the Ngorongoro Crater
Ostrich and warthog in the crater
Tanzanian landscape

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“Will you soon be standing on the crater rim?”

Ready to discover the wonders of Ngorongoro? We’d love to talk through what you have in mind.

Want to know more about your trip?