Day Trip to Ngorongoro Crater

Tour Information

This day begins very early—usually around 5:30 AM—as you depart Arusha in the pre-dawn hours, heading west through rural landscapes and misty highlands toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive takes approximately three and a half hours, offering views of farms, small towns, and eventually the forested rim of the crater. After check-in at the gate, your vehicle descends into the ancient volcanic caldera, one of the most wildlife-rich environments on the planet. The crater floor stretches before you like a living amphitheater, home to the Big Five and countless other species. Throughout the morning, your guide takes you across grasslands, around soda lakes, and through acacia woodlands in search of lions, elephants, rhinos, hyenas, and herds of wildebeests and zebras. Flamingos gather at the lake's edge, while hippos wallow nearby. Around noon, you’ll stop at a designated picnic area near the Hippo Pool, enjoying your lunch in the heart of the wilderness. Afterward, you continue your exploration of the crater before ascending the steep rim road in the early afternoon. The long drive back to Arusha offers quiet time to reflect on the remarkable day, with arrival expected around 6:30 PM.