21 Ngorongoro Crater Facts You Should Know

The Ngorongoro Crater is a unique safari destination in northern Tanzania.

With an area of about 1892 km², the Ngorongoro Crater is located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA).

Before we dive into interesting facts about the Ngorongoro Crater, let’s get some quick facts about this beautiful safari destination in Africa.

How was Ngorongoro Crater formed?

Ngorongoro Crater is named “Eden Garden for Africa”.

This destination features a vast caldera formed more than 2.5 million years ago.

The crater formed after a massive volcanic eruption estimated to be the size of Mount Kilimanjaro.

How is Ngorongoro Crater this time?

As of today, the Ngorongoro Crater remains an intact, inactive volcano that has become a haven for wildlife and plant life.

With an impressive size of over 600 meters deep, with beautiful crater walls around the Ngorongoro crater edge covering around 259 Km

After getting the highlights about the Ngorongoro Crater, let’s dive in for 21 incredible facts about Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater.

This will give you the best reasons to visit Ngorongoro Crater.

1. When is the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater?

As with other parks, the dry season is the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater.

The dry season in Tanzania runs from June to October and from December to February.

Despite these popular recommendations for the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater, the green season should never be taken for granted.

For a photography safari in Tanzania, the green season is the best time to take the best photos of nature.

The bonus of visiting Ngorongoro Crater during the green season is the breeding season for birds.

So for birds, lovers are your piece of cake. The rainy season, or green season, runs from March to May, and rain showers occur in November.

2. How to visit Ngorongoro Crater?

Ngorongoro Crater is accessible by road or by air if you are traveling from abroad or outside Tanzania.

The best idea is to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is almost 50 km from Arusha.

You can fly from other parts of Tanzania to the Ngorongoro Crater. You might be in Zanzibar or

Dar -Salaam or Nairobi, Kenya. You can arrive at Arusha Airport, Seronera Airstrip in the Serengeti, or Mwanza Airport. From there, you can take a safari vehicle to Ngorongoro Crater.

3. Ngorongoro has been declared a UNESCO Heritage site for 46  Years now  ( since 1979)

This place has universal value for humanity, both for this generation and for future generations.

Since 1959, Ngorongoro has practiced a unique model of conservation. Ngorongoro is recognized as multiple lands,

This means humans and animals can coexist in the same environment.

This is very different from other forms of protection worldwide, and even from neighboring parks such as Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks.

The UNESCO designation of multiple land uses was a unique human decision to address wildlife conflicts.

The native Maasai were permitted to graze their cattle along the rim of Ngorongoro Crater.

4. Ngorongoro Crater is home to rare species, including the Black Rhino

Ngorongoro Crater remains one of the few places in the world where rhinos can live and thrive.

Sad facts about the massive decline of these species, up to 98% by 1995.  With less than 6,000 remaining in the field.

Ngorongoro Crater itself supports more than 20 Black Rhinos living along the crater rim.

The rhino is one of the Big Five. A  Big Five safari without seeing the Black Rhino is incomplete. Ngorongoro Crater is home to the other Big Five, including Lions, Leopards, African cape Buffalo, and Elephants.

5. Masai people and wild animals cohabitate in Ngorongoro

For many years, the Ngorongoro conservation area was inhabited by the Maasai people.

But before the other ethnic groups lived here, the Datoga and Barabaig peoples lived here.

Over time, the Masai pushed out these communities and dominated the entire area.

Maasai cohabit with wildlife; they graze their livestock along the crater rim.

The Masai are nomadic, and over 40,000 live here.

This ethnic group is proud of its confidence and courage against wild animals, including lions.

Young men are the heroes of Maasai communities, protecting livestock from invading wild animals.

Read more about 5 Interesting facts about the Masai people

6. Standing at the viewpoint ( rim ),  the crater looks empty

If you stand on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the view of the crater looks empty.

The main reason is that you will be standing too high above the basin floor.

Ngorongoro Crater rises about 600 meters above the surrounding landscape; that elevation is limited to the eye.

Your eyes can create the illusion that the mind believes the crater is empty, even though it is filled with life.

Sometimes, standing at the rim, you can see small lakes and a few streams, marshlands, and forests.

In reality, Ngorongoro Crater is teeming with large, wild animals, including the Big Five.

Think of animals like elephants; you can see them because you’re too far away to see them.

About 22,000 to 30,000  large mammals live in the Ngorongoro Crater here in Tanzania.

During descending time, it is where you get charmed by the magic of this fantastic place on the planet.

The zig-zag road into the crater offers a welcome note for wildlife viewing in Tanzania.

Once you reach the base of the crater, the trip turns into a Disney dreamland while the sound of the wild creates an opera world for you.

7. Ngorongoro Crater plays a Major role in the Serengeti’s great migration

Serengeti National Park always receives all the credit for the wildebeest migration.

However, we did not mention the significant role of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area ecosystem in supporting migration.

Each September, millions of wild animals migrate between the Serengeti Plain and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Large gatherings often occur near the Ngorongoro Crater.

The best time to witness the great migration is during the dry season, which starts in July.

Millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other animals start the annual migration from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

An estimated 1.5 million animals join the migration each year.

Read more about the wildebeest migration.

8. The Ngorongoro Crater has different ecosystems.

The well-known places in Ngorongoro Crater are Lerai forest and Lake Magadi.

These areas support a wide range of habitats for wildlife thriving within the Ngorongoro Crater.

Diving deep to observe the ecosystems of this crater, the most notable are the following:

The Ngorongoro Crater grasslands

The highest concentration of wildlife was observed here, including wildebeest, lions, plains zebras, hyenas, black rhinos, and more.

This is the best place for walking safaris while in Ngorongoro Crater.

You can enjoy guided walks in the wall’s forest, and experience the best view of nature.

Enjoy the waterfalls, birds, and crater basin.

Ngorongoro Hippo Pool

If you have a chance to visit Ngorongoro Crater, then this is a popular picnic site among safari-goers.

You will have the opportunity to enjoy your lunch here.

The Hippo pool is located near the edge of Gorigor Swamp.

Lerai Forest in Ngongoro

Yellow fever trees and acacia dominate this area.

Despite being a small woodland, this area provides refuge for baboons, monkeys, elephants, and Lovebirds, including Fischer’s birds.

Montane Forest

The Ngorongoro Crater receives substantial rainfall each year.

The crater wall is covered with thick forest, and in a few places with euphorbia.

This area is home to leopards to hide, so during your descent to the crater, don’t forget to wander around.

Lasser flamingos and other waterbirds are found around Lake Magadi, which is a seasonal lake, and its soda flat surroundings.

Mandusi and Gorigor Swamps

Hippos, lions, elephants, and all other big mammals dominate these swamps. But also, water birds found a home here in these swamps within the Ngorongoro Crater.

9. The lion population within the crater holds the world’s records

Ngorongoro Crater should be on your safari bucket list if you want to see lions in Tanzania.

The lion population is substantial compared to other parks in Tanzania and across Africa.

The wildlife statistics show that for every 3 Km², you can see a lion within the crater.

Compare this to well-known parks in Africa, including Kruger (12 km²) and the Serengeti (5 km²), which offer similar coverage for spotting lions.

By August 2022, eight pride members were identified, bringing the total to 75 lions living within the crater.

According to KopeLion, it claims to be the area with the highest lion population per square kilometer on Earth. The total area is 264 km².

Your chances of seeing lion hunts and seeing lions being killed are much higher than in other places in East Africa, including the famous Maasai Mara in Kenya.

Read more about the best places to see lions in Africa.

10. Its name is the mimic sound of Jingle Bells tied to the cow

Is this not a mysterious understanding? The name “NGORONGORO” is an onomatopoeic.

The Maasai people name this place by coining the sound produced by the jingle bell tied to the neck of the cow.

If you get a chance to visit a Maasai village, you will encounter cows tied with bells on their neck.

The Maasai people called the sound made by the bell “ngor-ngor” when cows are on the move, hence the name Ngorongoro.

Therefore, the name was adopted, and the place is now known as Ngorongoro Crater, the same as other renowned parks in Tanzania, such as the Serengeti, Manyara, and Tarangire.

All of these names have their roots in the Maasai people of East Africa.

Read more Interesting facts about the Maasai people.

11. Is the famous ground for human evolution discoveries

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a stepping stone for human evolution worldwide.

The famous discovery, made by the British archaeologist Dr. Louis Leakey, examined the evolution of humans and animals in natural habitats.

During his study with his wife, they discovered the Homo habilis skeleton near Olduvai Gorge.

This set the benchmark for the study of human evolution.

The skeleton is estimated to be about 300,000 years old. Other significant discoveries include fossilized footprints dating back 2-3 million years.

It’s possible to visit Olduvai Gorge for a historical tour.

The area is open to visitors and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Many archaeological studies have been conducted on the site to date.

Read more about Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. 

12. Research about its lion has gone on for decades

If you’re thinking about the best places with extensive studies about lion populations around the world.

You should never forget the Ngorongoro Crater.

Wildlife scientists have been tracking the pride of lions within the crater for decades.

These studies have yielded numerous findings on lion characteristics and the best way to manage their population.

For years, scientists have been able to assign names for pride and even for individual lions.

The standard features of Ngorongoro Crater lions are dark-maned lions and blonder manes.

The study shows that the lions with dark manes were very attracted to lionesses for mating.

However, the unforeseen disadvantage for Ngorongoro Crater lions is breeding issues.

The majority of these lions have been born and died within the crater.

So the cycle continues: lions mate with relative lionesses. Over the long run, without cross-breeding, this will create a weak generation of lions living within the Ngorongoro Crater.

13. Ngorongoro is the land of the three (3’s) Tribes for over 2000 years

The area was designated for multiple land uses for years. The well-known tribes that live here are the Maasai, Datoga, Hadzabe, and Mbulu.

Historical records indicate that the Mbulu people were the first tribe to live here for over 2000 years, followed by the Datoga (1700).

The arrival of pastoralists, including the Maasai, pushed these communities out of the area by the 1800s, including the Hadzabe.

As of this writing, the Maasai people are 98% of the resident population of Ngorongoro Crater.  More than 40,000 Maasai live here.

Ngorongoro Crater has undergone a different restructuring of how humans can coexist with wildlife.

Certain restrictions on agricultural activities have been introduced to control human-wildlife conflicts.

Read more about Tanzania’s cultural tourism.

14. Is the leading Safari destination in Africa

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. With features like “the moving sands”, Olduvai Gorge, and the crater itself.

It is the must-visit safari destination for visitors coming to Africa.

Every year, more than 50,000 tourists visit Ngorongoro Crater for game drives and walking safaris.

The area is highly attractive year-round, with a strong chance of seeing the Big Five in Tanzania.

Many celebrities and major TV networks have featured the Ngorongoro Crater.

Explorers and scientists who have visited Ngorongoro have endorsed it as a remarkable destination in Africa and even named it the Eden Garden of Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater is compared with famous destinations like Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.

If you are planning to visit the Ngorongoro Crater, you can also combine it with a visit to the Serengeti National Park.

15. The Giraffe is missing from the list of 30,000 species in Ngorongoro Crater

The animal density in this area is incredible.

The Ngorongoro Crater provides shelter for more than 30,000 species.

From the giants of the wild to small birds of the sky.

In addition to having the largest concentration of wild cats, it is home to the rare Black Rhino.

Despite that, the giraffe is missing from this list.

The main reason is that the crater’s sides are too steep for them to walk down.

But you should be able to spot a Giraffe surfing along the plain of Ngorongoro as you head toward Serengeti.

Ngorongoro Crater is the best safari destination for families, especially kids.

They would enjoy it greatly because of the highest wildlife density per square meter.

Kids love Elephants and Lions; this chemistry is not a dare-to-miss experience for families on safari.

Read more about how a Tanzania safari is safe for kids 

16. Is inspiration for the world’s films

The Ngorongoro Crater went beyond narration by inspiring the largest entertainment industry.

It caught the attention of proffesional photographers and filmmakers for fiction and non-fiction movies.

Ngorongoro Crater has been featured in many wildlife documentaries. This includes:

• The Amazing Race ( 2012 ): Maasai of Ngorongoro were featured
• Living Earth ( 2013)
• Great Natural Wonders of the World ( 2002)
• Tanzania Royal Tour ( 2022 ) by Peter Greenburg distributed through the CNBC  TV network
• Out of Africa Film (1985) -The Oscar-winning movie
• The Serengeti Africa ( 2020)

17. Provide a budget and the most luxurious accommodation for the safari

When planning a visit to Ngorongoro Crater, knowing where to stay is essential.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is well advanced in this category.

It offers budget accommodation for backpackers, including the well-known Simba A and B campsites.

On the other hand, Ngorongoro has numerous private luxury tented camps, lodges, and hotels.

Your safari budget will determine which accommodation will be suitable for you.

Best accommodations like Serena Lodge, Sopa Lodge, Ang’ata camps, Tortilis, Rhino Lodge, and many others.

All these accommodations offer 5-star rated services.

You can explore here for Ngorongoro accommodation

18. It’s a bird’s kingdom with more than 500 species

While the Wildcats and other big fives fight to dominate the land, here come the kings of the African skies, the  Birds.

Wildlife sightings may not be to your taste on safari. Maybe you don’t like to see the lion killing the innocent antelope, though it is the law of nature.

Ngorongoro Crater offers another excellent option for enjoying your trip to Tanzania.

With over 500 bird species, you can spend a whole day watching and listening to different sounds of birds within the crater rim.

From Ostrich to little sunbird or the Marshal Eagle.

A lot of interesting facts about birds will leave you speechless. Imagine witnessing the Egyptian Vulture using a stone to crack open the Ostrich eggs.

Being on a safari in Tanzania is exciting. We use open-roof safari vehicles to provide you with an excellent view of the surroundings.

Hold your camera tight and get ready to capture the best pictures of birds within the Ngorongoro Crater.

The best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater for birdwatching is in September and April.

Some birds in the crater are endemic, and others are migratory.

Migratory birds in Ngorongoro Crater include European rollers. European swallows. Montagu’s harriers.

Pallid harriers. European bee-eaters. Caspian lapwings and Northern Wheatears.

Endemic birds in Ngorongoro Crater include. Storks. Gees. Plovers.  Sparrows. Cranes. Coots Rails. Swans. Pheasants. Pelicans. Gallinules. Martial Eagle. Augur Buzzard. Egyptian Vulture.  Secretary Bird. Kori Bustards.Black Crake.Fischer’s lovebird. Rosy-throated longclaw and greater and lesser flamingoes.

19. Ngorongoro Crater is best combined with other parks

When planning a visit to Ngorongoro for a safari, you might be considering other nearby parks.

If so, Ngorongoro Crater is an ideal destination to combine with.

You can combine Ngorongoro with Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti National Parks.

You can combine the Ngorongoro Crater with Mount Kilimanjaro climbing.

You can start by climbing Kilimanjaro and visiting the Ngorongoro Crater.

It also pairs well with the island of Zanzibar if you are interested in a beach holiday.

20. Ngorongoro Crater was discovered in 1892

Who discovered Ngorongoro Crater? This crater was discovered in 1892 by Oscar Baumann.

And until the outbreak of World War I, two German brothers, Adolph and Friedrich Siedentopf, farmed in the crater.

After WWI, the land was leased to the administration of  German East Africa.

21. Royal Families and Bill Clinton visit Ngorongoro

The Ngorongoro Crater has welcomed numerous famous people, including Prince William, Bill Clinton, and the Queen of Denmark.

Visitors to Ngorongoro account for approximately 30% of the 970,000 who travel to Tanzania each year.

And for every five visitors to Serengeti or other parks, three of them visit Ngorongoro Crater.

Conclusion

Ngorongoro Crater is the best safari destination to visit in Africa.

As we conclude with 21 incredible facts about Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, we believe you have gained great insights about this park.

You can visit as a solo traveler or with a group of either family or friends.

In case you have any questions or requests, feel free to contact us

Frequently Asked Questions for Ngorongoro Crater

What is special about Ngorongoro Crater?

The Ngorongoro Crater is unique as the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, often called “Africa’s Garden of Eden.” Unlike other parks, it’s a self-contained ecosystem where you can spot the Big Five in a single day. Its 260 sq km footprint creates a natural enclosure that supports exceptionally dense wildlife populations year-round, making it one of Africa’s most reliable wildlife-viewing destinations.

When is the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater?

The best time is from June to October and from December to February, during the dry seasons. During these periods, vegetation is thinner, animals gather around water sources, and wildlife viewing is exceptional. However, Ngorongoro offers excellent game viewing year-round due to its permanent water sources and stable wildlife populations.

How was Ngorongoro Crater formed?

The crater formed 2-3 million years ago when a massive volcano, estimated at 4,500-5,800 meters tall (higher than Mount Kilimanjaro), erupted and collapsed inward. This created the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, which measures about 20km across and 600 meters deep – a geological wonder that continues to fascinate scientists and visitors alike.

Can you see the Big Five in Ngorongoro Crater?

Yes! Ngorongoro is one of the few places where you have an excellent chance of seeing all the Big Five animals in one day: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino. The crater hosts about 30 endangered black rhinos, making it one of your best opportunities to see these magnificent creatures in Tanzania.

What’s the difference between Ngorongoro and Serengeti?

While both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they offer different experiences. Ngorongoro is a concentrated, enclosed ecosystem perfect for guaranteed wildlife sightings in a stunning crater setting. The Serengeti is vast (14,750 sq km) and famous for the Great Migration. Many visitors combine both: Ngorongoro for dense wildlife and the Serengeti for the migration and endless plains.

Can you stay inside the crater?

No overnight stays are permitted on the crater floor to preserve the ecosystem. However, there are excellent lodges and campsites along the crater rim offering breathtaking views. These include luxury lodges such as Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, as well as more affordable options. All accommodation requires booking, especially during peak seasons.

What are the entrance fees for Ngorongoro Crater?

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area requires conservation fees (currently $70 per person per day for adults), and the Crater fee is $250 per vehicle. Licensed guides must accompany vehicles, and there are strict rules about staying on tracks and maintaining distance from animals. Blessing Safaris handles all permits, fees, and logistics to ensure a seamless, compliant visit.

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