The Big Five Signature
Tarangire · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Elephants in Tarangire, a morning on the crater floor, and two nights in the Serengeti.
From $385 pp / night
From $1,540 pp (4 nights)
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater Safari: Itineraries & Prices
Private crater safaris from Arusha, with a full day on the caldera floor.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, about 20 kilometres across, with an estimated 25,000 large animals living inside its walls all year round. A crater safari is usually one full day on the floor, built into a northern circuit with Tarangire and the Serengeti. Compare our itineraries that include the crater below, then ask for a personalised quote. We reply within 24 hours.
Compare Safari Packages Ask About Safari Prices
- Tanzanian-ownedLocal team with offices in Arusha and Zanzibar.
- Licensed operatorMNRT licence 037503.
- Operating since 2015Founded as Migo African Safaris and Tours Ltd.
- Real guest reviewsRead live SafariBookings reviews.
Safaris that include the Ngorongoro Crater
Prices are per person, from, and depend on season, lodge class and group size.
Tarangire & Crater
Tarangire · Ngorongoro
Two parks in three days: elephants in Tarangire and a morning on the crater floor. The Serengeti does not fit into this time.
From $410 pp / night
From $820 pp (2 nights)
Family Safari Adventure
Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro
Elephants, a compact day at Manyara and one crater morning, with a pool waiting after the dust.
From $375 pp / night
From $1,500 pp (4 nights)
Great Migration Serengeti
Serengeti · Ngorongoro
A Serengeti week placed in the sector that matches your dates, with a crater morning on the way in or out.
From $430 pp / night
From $2,150 pp (5 nights)
Wildlife in the crater: the Big Five, often possible, never promised
The crater walls rise nearly 600 metres, so most resident animals never leave, which makes game viewing here reliable in any month. Dense lion prides rest on open grassland with little cover, and the crater holds one of East Africa's last viable populations of endangered black rhino.
The wildlife goes well beyond the headline animals. Lake Magadi, the shallow soda lake at the centre, draws flamingos when conditions are right. Spotted hyena clans are almost always present, and the grasslands support well over 500 recorded bird species.
For the longer read, see our Ngorongoro Crater wildlife guide.
How we plan your crater day
- First light start. We leave early so you reach the floor before the tour vehicles arrive in mid-morning.
- Rim lodges. Many have some of the best views in Tanzania, often with the caldera visible from your room. Nights are cool above 2,200 metres.
- Maasai context. The conservation area is also home to Maasai communities, who live alongside the wildlife. Many itineraries include a respectful village visit on the rim before you descend.
- Private 4×4. Your own vehicle and driver-guide, so you stop where you like and stay as long as you like.
Looking at the wider picture? See the Serengeti safari packages, our Serengeti safari guide and Tanzania safari cost.
Ngorongoro Crater safari: your questions
Can you see the Big Five in Ngorongoro Crater?
Often, but never for certain. The crater is one of the few places in Tanzania where all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) can be seen in a single day. Black rhino and leopard are the hardest, and we do not sell the crater as a checklist.
How long should we spend in the crater?
One full day on the floor is normally enough to drive a loop through the swamp, forest, grassland and the soda lake at the centre. Guests who want more usually add days in the wider conservation area, including Olduvai Gorge, rather than a second descent.
Is Ngorongoro Crater crowded?
Mid-morning can get busy because most lodges send their vehicles down at the same time. We leave at first light so you reach the floor before the crowd.
What is the weather like on the crater rim?
Rim lodges sit above 2,200 metres, so nights and early mornings are cool, and a warm layer is worth packing. Game viewing on the floor is reliable in any month.
Can we combine the crater with the Serengeti?
Yes. Most of our itineraries pair the two because they are only a few hours apart, and the Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti loop is the classic northern circuit.
Is the crater included in the price?
Park and crater fees are included in our published from-rates, together with a private 4×4 and a driver-guide. Fees are set by the park authorities, so we confirm the current figures in every quote.
Talk to the team in Arusha
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply within 24 hours with a costed itinerary, not a bracket.
Call +255 680 501 501 [email protected] Ask About Safari Prices
